Maria J. Velasco
Staff Writer

“Reviving the Soul of Teaching: Balancing Metrics and Magic,” a book written by Education Professor Peggy Redman and her cousin and fellow ULV alumnus Terrence E. Deal was recently chosen by the National Staff Development Council’s Book club.

The book also will appear on the cover of NSDC’s publication.
“It’s really an honor because (NSDC) is important,” Redman said. “
The book is going to be used for teachers in the field.”

NSDC is one of the largest non-profit associations dedicated to teacher training and development.

NSDC has various publications that are distributed throughout the nation to teachers.

Redman and Deal graduated from ULV in the early 1960s.

They wrote “Reviving the Soul of Teaching,” to inspire teachers, and try to persuade policy makers to change the way that schools are run, Redman said.

One of the reasons for this book at this time, Redman said, is the No Child Left Behind Act. “The No Child Left Behind Act is one in a series of reforms for decades to try to make schools more rational,” Deal said. “Driving out spirit and vitality (from) a place that should be spirited.”

Redman and Deal are concerned that with so much emphasis on test scores per NCLB, the importance of teachers is diminished.

“When we are focused so much on the tedium of test scores, teachers lose the creativity to create new teaching methods,” Redman said.

Teachers are just tools to achieving higher test scores for the policy makers, she said.

“Even with the emphasis on test scores there is still the human factor. I know that teachers make a difference.”

The authors of “Reviving the Soul of Teaching” believe that what makes a good teacher is not the ability to obtain high test scores, but the ability to make a difference in a child’s life.

The book is filled with examples of good teachers Redman and Deal have encountered throughout their lives, both as students and educators.

“We all have one teacher in our background that made a big difference,” Deal said.

One of those many examples is a now deceased professor of history from the University, Walter Myers. Myers impacted Redman and Deal deeply and they wanted to make honor of him, as well as other great teachers in this book.

“We really tried to get a wide variety of teachers,” Redman said.
Redman and Deal wanted to complete the book together, but this was made difficult by the fact that they don’t live in the same area. Redman ended up making numerous trips to San Luis Obispo throughout the year that it took them to write the book.

“This book is a labor of love,” Redman said.

Redman, who is also director of ULV’s teacher education program, has inspired many students and educators in the classroom and through her previous books.

“Peggy Deal Redman is a living treasure,” said John Bartelt, associate professor of education-technology. “To give you some idea of her influence: I once overheard a group of her students talking about making “WWPD” (“What Would Peggy Do?”) bracelets to wear during their student teaching, to remind them of the importance of teaching by example.”

“Reviving the Soul of Teaching” is expected to be published in early June.

“We hope that this book is read by everybody,” Redman said. “By anybody who has an interest in education.”

“I hope we restore some magic and vitality to schools and they begin to recognize the incredible importance of teachers,” Deal said. “Not because of what they teach but because of who they are.”

Maria J. Velasco can be reached at mvelasco@ulv.edu.