George Towery

Touched by a Child: a Principal's Story George Towery

Touched By A Child, A Principal's Story, is a collection of stories and experiences about the author's 40 years as principal of two modest income, "Title 1" elementary schools in suburban Washington, DC. The book begins with why the author became a teacher followed by his first experience as principal at age 27 in a burned out, antiquated school building next to a prison and an Interstate highway. The heart of the book is based on his last thirty years as principal of a second school to which he was introduced as a "really difficult school." Through experience, the author grew to truly understand the value of education especially in communities with limited resources and to the future of our Nation. As the stories of children are told, the reader gains an understanding of what challenges schools "really" face in their quest for excellence and what challenges students face in their daily lives and the lives of their families. Teachers are praised throughout as those individuals who work every day with a passion and fervor to love, care for and educate even the most difficult children who, thanks to teachers, succeed in spite of circumstance. The book is funny, sad and inspirational as the reader learns about "The School with a Barnyard", "Po-Verty", "A Little United Nations" and "Alternative Education" (classes for those whose behavior is such that they could not function in a regular school situation). The book also relates the many duties of school administrators and teachers that do not fall under what we normally regard as education.