My Life in Milwaukee Public Schools: Kindergarten to Retirement

By Michael Wenzel

Book Overview

This is a book talking about the changes that have taken place in the Milwaukee Public Schools over a period of fifty years. It is seen from the eyes of a man who went from student to teacher, in the school system and worked year round at various other MPS jobs. As a student in the 1950's and 1960's, the high quality of the school system was evident. The changes started to be noticed in the 1970's, as the authors teaching career was beginning. By the year 2004, the time of retirement, Milwaukee has become a failing school system mired in mediocrity. The story of a young boy who had the opportunity to go to school in a fine school system becomes a teacher in the system and sees the changes that take place first hand. The system that had been outstanding was being attacked on all sides for its failures. This all takes place in one lifetime - one career. How bad has it become? After reading these five decades of stories and events - you decide!

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1420836099
• ISBN13: 9781420836097
• Release Date: March 2005
• Publisher: Authorhouse
• Length: 254 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Insightful and intriguing

Personally, I don't know of any book that would be as effective as this one in outlining what the author is trying to get across. Starting as a student in Kindergarten all the way through a multi-year teaching career in the same school system...how do you get a better viewpoint than that? It's a great read and I recommend it to anybody regardless of whether they're involved in education or not.

An Engrossing Story

I found this book to be a compelling and engrossing non-fiction work. I loved how the author was able to bring me into his life and expose a system I never had any experience with. Even as the school system declines there is an overwhelming respect for the students and administration. Michael Wenzel's approach and detailed analysis is thorough without getting lost in the minutia. His career and community service is an inspiration for us all.

This book tells it all

I just finished reading this book, there are many things that can be said. I am a current Milwaukee Public School teacher and this book reaches me on different levels. It is easy to get caught up in this mans life, the book is very hard to put down. There are many interesting stories, pictures that date back to the 1950's, and suggestions on how to improve the current state in inner city public schools. Anyone who is an educator would love to read this book. Anyone who likes to read a good story, or anyone who has children in school right now will be entertained and enlightened. Get this book today, you will not be sorry.