The Leader in Me - Steven Covey

Steven Covey has written numerous books on self-help with the most famous of which is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. He could have the name of his latest book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Schools, but probably thought it would be too repetitive and instead called the leader in me: how schools and parents around the world are Inspiring greatness.

The book begins with several pages of testimonies from several teachers, community leaders, school principals, administrators and all others praising Steven Covey and his effective methods of success. In a nutshell, Covey believes that when you put your children in mind stimulating environments, which will lead them to do great things.

Covey praises this elementary school in North Carolina called AB Combs Elementary throughout the book. He sees this school as a role model for all schools in America, as is well known for its great teachers who teach leadership skills to children when they are still in kindergarten. They are taught to be responsible, respectful and tolerant children and prepares them for size, making these virtues are part of their lives.

Chapter 3 titled: Creating a Blueprint, is probably the most important in the book. It speaks of approach called "ubiquitous strategy" which is designed to motivate students to reach their true potential. Schools must go beyond teaching academic skills to instilling in children leadership skills and life skills that prepare them for the challenges that inevitably face.

Children these days are pampered and spend too much time watching television. If you are not challenged in school, will not be able to stand on their own two feet when it comes time for them to be independent. Covey says that we can prepare children to be adults, allowing them to participate in activities for adults and do the things that we expect people who grew up to do.

He points out in later chapters of the book that taught students need to become independent. He said parents should focus on making their children "interdependent" so that they may be able to work independently and on a team.

Able to speak in public is something that Covey thinks it should be taught in elementary schools because it helps students become more confident and helps them develop social skills necessary in today's society -. At the end of the book, he cites the story of Helen Keller and how it was blind and deaf and had animal like behaviors, but still finished a successful student with the help of his mentor, Anne Sullivan. Mr. Covey wants more Anne Sullivan who go out of their way to get children to learn and not just view teaching as a way to collect a paycheck.

The criticism I have with this book is that it does not even mention individual teachers who have been successful in bringing out the greatness in students. One of them is Rafe Esquith who has turned disadvantaged and at-risk youth in downtown Los Angeles in some of the students have reached the highest in the nation.

He could take some tips from him and incorporated in his book. He also could have mentioned Ron Clark, a teacher who inspired students in Harlem and raised their test scores and self-esteem to incredibly high levels. Both teachers have written bestselling books on their teaching methods and would have been nice to see them in the book .......