Book Review: “A Class Apart” by Alec Klein

One of the best books on teaching I’ve ever read. Klein takes a personal look at Stuyvesant High School in New York City, arguably the top school in the country, and turns out a real gem on academic pressure and the sacrifices involved in being a part of the academic elite. There’s a particular thread that he follows with a student named Jane struggling with drug addiction that is incredibly powerful; the piece in the epilogue where he expands on their relationship is thoughtful and will mean a lot to anyone whose life has been touched by addictive behavior in their loved ones.

Speaking of the epilogue, it should be required reading in ed schools around the country. Klein gets to the heart of why programs for the gifted and talented are so important and why they need to be protected against the twin dangers of heterogeneity and envy.

If you’re gathering some books for summer reading, this would be a good one.