This book is a survival guide as well as a valuable tool for making our schools more effective and appropriate places for students to learn and achieve. Exploring the often complex, multifaceted, and co-occurring problems in the education system, the book addresses specific problems, discusses the real reasons they developed and persist, describes the overly simplistic pseudo-solutions that are so prevalent, and then offers practical advice that can be implemented by those directly involved--teachers, administrators, and parents. The organizational structure of the book helps you obtain the information you need to take positive, effective action to solve the problems and then deal with larger issues. The "blue pages" in the back of the book provide you with a variety of resources that support and facilitate the creation of common-sense schools. In addition, there is a "solution guide" to help you and other educators work together on reintroducing common sense in your schools. The accompanying CD allows all these materials to be downloaded and reproduced so you can share the perspectives and advice and use them to encourage involvement and action. The guide contains an introduction and seven chapters: (1) The Condition of the Kids; (2) The Structure of Our Schools; (3) Coordinating the Curriculum; (4) Improving Instruction; (5) Responding to Special Needs; (6) Solving Stakeholder Issues; and (7) Reforming School Reform. The guide also contains references; resources; and an index.