Breaking fire

"Breaking Fire" is a powerful and thought-provoking book written by Arne Duncan, the former US Secretary of Education, and Monica Lozano, the former chair of the White House Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. The book explores the challenges facing the American education system, particularly for low-income students and students of color, and offers a vision for how to create a more equitable and effective education system.

The book's title, "Breaking Fire," refers to the idea that the current education system is like a fire that is burning out of control, fueled by systemic inequalities and inefficiencies. The authors argue that in order to create a better future for all students, we need to "break the fire" and create a new, more effective system that prioritizes equity, opportunity, and student success.

Some of the key themes and ideas in the book include:

  1. The need for a more equitable education system: The authors argue that the current education system is fundamentally unfair, with students from low-income backgrounds and students of color facing significant barriers to success.
  2. The importance of early childhood education: The authors emphasize the critical importance of early childhood education in setting the stage for future success, and argue that we need to invest more in high-quality early childhood programs.
  3. The need for better teacher preparation and support: The authors argue that teachers are the key to student success, but that many teachers are not adequately prepared or supported to succeed.
  4. The importance of community engagement and partnerships: The authors emphasize the importance of building strong partnerships between schools, communities, and businesses to support student success.
  5. The need for a more data-driven approach to education: The authors argue that we need to use data more effectively to understand what works and what doesn't in education, and to make informed decisions about how to improve the system.

Overall, "Breaking Fire" is a thought-provoking and timely book that offers a compelling vision for how to create a more equitable and effective education system.