50 Rules Kids Won't Learn in School

Real World Antidotes to Feel-Good Education

Charles J. Sykes (View Bio)
Hardcover: St. Martin's Press, 2007.

Charles Sykes, now a popular host of a Milwaukee talk radio show, has been a reporter, college lecturer, and Hoover Institution Research Fellow. He is the author of five books, including Dumbing Down Our Kids: Why American Children Feel Good about Themselves, But Can't Read, Write, or Add and the best-selling A Nation of Victims: The Decline of the American Character. In 50 Rules Kids Won't Learn In School, he has distilled the common sense that every adolescent needs but few have. Here are some examples:

Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. When you screw up, he's not going to ask you how you feel about it.

Rule 8: Before you were born your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way paying your bills, cleaning your room, and listening to you tell them how idealistic you are. And by the way, before you save the rain forest from the blood-sucking parasites of your parents' generation, try delousing the closet in your bedroom.

Rule 14: Enjoy this while you can. Sure parents are a pain, school's a bother, and life is depressing. Someday you'll realize how wonderful it was to be a kid. Maybe you should start now.

See Charles Sykes' 50 Rules website to learn more about his book, read this blog, find out about his upcoming appearances, or contact him.