Family Matters: How Schools Can Cope with the Crisis in Childrearing.

FAMILY MATTERS: How Schools Can Cope With the Crisis in Childrearing. Robert Evans. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2004. 291 pp. Hardback, $25.00. In Family Matters, Robert Evans states that a parenting crisis exists in America. He challenges societal norms by suggesting that schools return to parents the major responsibility of raising children. The book concludes with practical implications for schools. Evans's background is as a clinical and organizational psychologist, a preschool and high school teacher, and a consultant, so he understands the struggles that accompany school innovation.

Family Matters is an excellent resource for educators to understand how today's society, in general, and parenting, in particular, are different than for past generations. This well-referenced book cites many quality sources and meaningful research. Evans preaches that if schools only teach parenting techniques, parents fall into the myth of thinking that spending "quality time" alone with their children suffices. He preaches the child's need for quantity time and nurturance.

Evans's message challenges today's concept of schools as the primary answer to societal issues. He encourages teachers and administrators to stay focused on core values, without offering too-prescriptive frameworks of improvement. Family Matters is an inspirational resource, especially for those who desire to understand and work better with their students and parents. Reviewed by Stephen Allen, Head of School for Hillcrest Christian School, Thousand Oaks, CA