If Holden Caulfield Were in My Classroom: Inspiring Love, Creativity, and Intelligence in Middle School Kids: Inspiring Love, Creativity and Intelligence in Middle School Kids

Bernie:You finally did it, and you did it really well. I loved your book, "If Holden Caulfield Were in my Classroom," and could not put it down. It is a testament to your love of teaching and love of the most difficult age when children are babies one hour and young adults the next. You did an amazing job sharing your unorthodox teaching methods and celebrating the results. It is no wonder that your students who are at first scared to death with the idea of dealing with honesty and pain, are able to find themselves and deal with things that are real. You have done a magnificent job.I watched my kids enter your classroom with a great apprehension. When they emerged they were full of confidence, able to articulate their arguments and ready to face the real world. I can think of no teacher that had a greater influence on their high school and college success than Bernie Schein.You are one of my heroes. You did it your way. You knew what was important and you knew how to communicate with middle school kids. Congratulations on a great book and for dedicating your life to a noble profession.

Mr. Schein's methods of teaching need to be the norm in today's middle schools. I have three boys who all had serious behavior issues in middle school mostly as a result of boredom. The way he engages the students using literature and then develops their maturity through self awareness and writing on their reflections is unique and innovative. The book is a very easy read and spells out exactly what methods he uses including a detailed account of a case study.

I was a classmate of Bernie Schein's at Beaufort H.S. in S. Carolina. He and author Pat Conroy were BEST friends.

Bernie Schein has written a powerfully moving book portraying his experiences inside the classroom. He clearly shows how he motivates his students to reach outside themselves, and see themselves as they really are. In doing so he brilliantly shows how we are them, both in school, in our relationships with others, and in the workplace. His book truly touches the human heart. A must read for all ages and occupations. It will show you what great teaching is and what life is.