Choose one:
To Teach: The Journey of a Teacher (Teachers College Press)
A Kind and Just Parent:The Children of Juvenile Court (Beacon)
Teaching Toward Freedom: Moral Commitment and Ethical Action in the Classroom (Beacon)
City Kids/ City Schools (The New Press)
Then make up your own mind, and send me a comment.
Bill Ayers 
Dear Mr. Crap, Which book did you read, and what exactly are you criticizing and questioning? Best wishes, Bill
Bill,
Today, while finishing readings from “The Long Haul” and “On the Side of the Child: Summerhill Revisited”, I found myself thinking about conflict, violence, justice, and power. I was thinking just how intricately woven those words are, into my own life. I am sure you get asked this all the time…is there anyway of corresponding with you besides through this blog?
A curious grad student,
Liz
Dear Mr. Crap: Thank you for reminding us to think critically. As a philosophy professor who teaches critical thinking courses, I appreciate any reminders that I, too, remain a student who continues to work on my own ability to think for myself. I also believe it’s important to respectfully encourage others to do the same. In fact, my experience is that persons like yourself, who value critical thinking skills, appreciate it when I note that a phrase like “pure crap” is a fallacious use of hyperbole, vaguely worded language that relies on strong connotations without making a clear point. And persons like yourself do not want to rely on fallacious personal attacks such as calling others “sheep.” You want to provide relevant points why their claims are unwarranted or fallacious. With this in mind, I look forward to your future contributions.
Mr. Ayers,
I have not read any of your books, but I plan to. I’m too young to know much about you, although I have done my fair share of googling you tonight. My first impression is…wow. I can immediately see that you are someone who has and will continue to change this world for the better, even if some people are too naieve to see it. I am saddened by the current events going on in the United States, although it seems to be far from ‘United.’ I am proud to say that I am not an American puppet…I mean, citizen. I can not believe the hate that pours out of a country that solely believes they do so much good for the world. I have been following the election and the current economic situation and it’s amazing to me that very few Americans seem to understand that they are personally responsible for the current state of their country. President Bush ran the entire country right into the ground while they all looked on. The entire country lives beyond its means. Living the ‘buy now, pay later’ mentality. They are greedy and self-righteous. And if the entire country implodes on them, they have only themselves to blame. At least you stood up, and that is the sole reason you are so disliked. From what I can gather. It’s anti-american to think for yourself, aparently. I just find it so interesting that when you suggest books to read, there are very few negative comments, compared to some of your other blogs. Perhaps those folks don’t wish to gain a different perspective, or they simply can’t read. I mean, what’s the point in educating yourself? You might actually learn something, god forbid. Wait, is that anti-american too? No wonder the education system sucks. Good luck to you, Mr. Ayers. Keep up the great work! I’ll comment again once I’ve read your books. This is just my inital take on the whole situation.
Dear Bill,
I am heartened by all the support for you that I see here. You have generously provided a forum for anyone who wishes to say anything. Except for the notably insubstantial and inane contribution of Mr. Crap, the people who actually read your work find out just how thoughtful and decent and brilliant you are. In my 53 years on this planet I have never met two people who were more courageous, self-sacrificing, and moral than are you and Bernardine. What an honor and a privilege for me to know you both for 17 years. When others condemn you I have to wonder just what they have sacrificed in their lives for their beliefs and for the well-being of others. If only more people really knew . . . We live in a culture where the rush to judgment and blame is a favorite pastime, and where few can be bothered with genuine research and the difficulty of open-mindedness and real listening. As educators, however, we must keep pressing against that. Thanks to you and Bernardine for all you do, and for the model of courage, care, and listening that you provide.
Much love,
Susan
Mr. Crap,
I would like to follow your advice and question the authority of your statement.
How exactly are the books crap? Have you really read any of them? How are folks not demonstrating critical thinking skills? How are people following Ayers like sheep?
Considering how unsubstantiated your entire comment was I sense that you really are purecrap. That is, you’re full of it.
I did not know who you are so I decided to seek out the original articles that have been the so called basis upon which McCain/Palin have made their accusations. (The New York Times, 2001 article and your reply to the editor three days later.) What a difference it makes to read the original articles and make up my own mind. I am happy to say that I have found a kindred spirit whose life has exemplified compassion, a passion for thinking, and a struggle of how to best make a difference in this world. I have not read the above books but will certainly go out and get them now. I am glad I can speak intelligently about who you are now and will share that with others.
Thanks for all your vision and work. I love the way you engaged Mr. Crap.
hi there Bill. I’ve been doing what i can to stick up for you as a brother, of late, because the ignorance around who you are and what your life is about is near-maddening (though honestly I am not at all surprised by the political/media feeding ftrenzy.). you don’t link to either Fugitive Days or Zero Tolerance on your list of books in the Chatter menu, but both books have been deeply influential for me, for different reasons, and I;ve been recommending them to people when they jsut want to get goign about “terrorists” this or “washedup” that or “the Weathrmen [sic]” and utterly ignoring the complex ways that a thoughtful person can live and reflect on his life. (I work, and support my now-teen daughter as a single parent, as a substitute teacher in mostly inner-city schools in the East SF Bay Area, and have nothing but admiration for the ways you continue to advocate for a humanitarian approach to ven the most problematic of children and teens. personally, I’m rather burning out on the larger school culture that surrounds me and all of us. si I have only admiration for those who have persevered anin walking it somewhere besides the whacked-out direction that seems to be NCLB and its bizarre relations and progeny.I am retraining for another carer for the second half of my life; I often joke that I haven’t grown up yet because this is NOT what I thought I’d be dealing with on a daily basis when I grew up!)Bill, I have to say that I appreciate you even more this week, as you remain quiet with your name being made into “the next Willie Horton.” I keep pet turtles and tortoises, and right now I think perhaps they are your spirit animals: don;t take offense, I just see you as a wise old tortoise who learned, perhaps from years underground, to pull into the shell quietly when the sandstorms or other hazards are high, and to move resolutely forward when the danger has passed. I do rather wish Hillary Clinton would apologize for handing this nonsense about you oer to the GOP, but I’m not that naive either. I’m the granddaughter of a former undocumented alien resident of the US and have had plenty of friends and lovers who have been fugitive for one reason or another at some point.glad I found your site and I will visit frewuently as time permits. i;’m doing what i can o inform the ognorant, a more than full-time job!
Dear Professor Ayers,
I am compelled to write to you even knowing that I do not have the words to express my deep admiration for you.
Many of us have our own stories about the fight we fought in the 60’s & 70’s and how we have tried through the years to continue to bring about change. It is often hard to fly like an eagle alone, instead of with the flock of pigeons. But every now and than when we see real courage, real patriotic spirit, real meaning in life, we are re-newed. You are for so many of us an inspiration to keep trying, to keep connecting, to continue to “summon strengths we never knew we had”.
I still believe that silence is the enemy of truth and the friend of ignorance. When ever you wish to speak out to those who most need to hear from you, the Joe Plumbers and Nancy nurses, the local civic and business leaders, I hope that you will consider a local cable public access program. We are hungry to learn.
Thank you for all you do.
Bonnie Hong, Producer
“TALK with Ben & Gerry”
Cable Public Access Channel 12, 14, 24 Eastern Connecticut
drceo@aol.com
860-885-8532 (C)
Professor Ayers,
I am a 57 year old grandmother with a seven year old who is extremely bright. Because we are poor I am unable to send him to a private school. I would like to organize a group of parents to home school as a consortium/group. I would like to know if you have any ideas or can point me in the right direction.
Brenda