The 20 essays in this book will open eyes to what really goes on in the classroom and on the school board. The author draws on his extensive experience to examine some of the hottest educational issues including school reform, civic education, the function of honor societies, the decline of reading and writing skills, the role of guidance counselors, and the effectiveness of school boards. Readers may not always agree with his perspective, but they will always be enlightened by it. Whether writing about the perils of standardized testing or the challenges of board service, the author's prose is as fresh as the start of a new school year. This book includes the following essays: (1) Top Ten; (2) Losing It; (3) Now Playing; (4) Not With a Bang; (5) Wilderness Road; (6) Graduation Day; (7) Honor Role; (8) A Darkness Darker Than Night; (9) Schoolhouse Rock; (10) Straight to Hell; (11) The Deepest Cut; (12) The Bard of Education; (13) These Truths; (14)"War Minus the Shooting"; (15) The Finger; (16) The Way of the Kayak; (7) After Story Hour; (18) Write and Wrong; (19) Sing!; and (20) Board-dom.