“Clap If You Can Hear Me” by Kelly Mitchell

Clap If You Can Hear Me

Kelly Mitchell
Independently Published (2021)
ISBN: 979-8716281981
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (11/2021)

Given the current state of our education system, I am grateful to have grown up during the Generation X years where I received an education that not only taught me life skills but also how to utilize critical thinking skills to make my own informed decisions. The majority of my life has been spent involved in some form of education. Multiple generations of educators comprise part of my family. I also have completed two graduate programs and spent the majority of my career working in higher education. I am saddened to see how things have drastically changed.

In “Clap If You Can Hear Me,” author Kelly Mitchell discusses current issues in our education system. She backs up all of her assertions with an extensive list of citations that also includes links for easier access. She offers realistic solutions that would put more emphasis in areas where she feels we need to be more concerned, such as student achievement and empowerment.

While much of this treatise is written to help guide parents in their role with their child’s education, I also feel that there is a great deal of information that will benefit educators. Parents also play a huge role in developing life skills, but they also need to ensure that their children are being taught properly so that they can continue to grow and learn to be able to function and think independently. Schools can educate students to help them be more productive, confident people. Parents can reinforce this at home. Her discussion of the importance of virtues and accountability for one’s actions is very informative. Mitchell also offers an interesting discussion on school discipline and how it has been failing our students.

Among the wide array of topics, parents and educators might find a few with which they disagree, but at least they will be better informed as to why Mitchell takes her stance regarding them. This includes a discussion on religions and world history courses. She offers some eye-opening information about the lack of continuity in how these courses are being taught across the United States. She also mentions how people in other countries are being educated about American history and current events. This section was really enlightening to me.

Overall, I found Mitchell’s arguments to be compelling and I am hopeful that individuals who are involved with the education of children and young adults, will read “Clap If You Can Hear Me,” and put much of the information offered into good use within their school systems.