Former Prescott resident writes book of changes in education  by Laurel Menne

     Don Harris of Hardy, Ark., and formerly of Prescott, has just published a book on education.

     Titled "They Won't Let Me Teach:What's Happening To Public Education? Why 'No Child Left Behind' Is Short-Changing Our Children", the book is an insider's look at the effect of federal and state intrusion into the public classroom, and what it is doing to the lives of both teachers and students. 

     Harris was born in St. Paul and grew up in Prescott. He also lived in California.

     The book begins with Harris' childhood in Prescott and the 17 years he spent as a student that led him to becoming a teacher. 

     Harris studied elementary education at UWRF and taught in Rosemount-Apple Valley before becoming an administrator in Hastings. He moved to California in 1985, where he was school administrator and spent 16 years teaching.  

     After leaving teaching in 2005, Harris surveyed teachers and what they had to say was both insightful and disturbing to him.

     Harris said, "This is a book about how education has changed in the 36 years since I've been involved in it. I was in California and it was called 'Reading First' ".

     Harris exposes the frustration with federal mandates in his book. Publish America, Harris' publisher, describes the book as providing a great deal of food for thought.

     They recommend it to anyone with children or grandchildren who is concerned about their public education. They also recommend it to anyone who is concerned about where America's educational policy is headed.