47 pages • 1 hour read
Carla ShalabyTroublemakers: Lessons in Freedom from Young Children at School
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2017A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Troublemakers: Lessons in Freedom from Young Children in School by Carla Shalaby, Shalaby argues for a radical reimagining of education that centers on freedom and dignity, using the experiences of four young "troublemakers" in elementary schools to highlight how children's disruptive behaviors signal institutional harms. Shalaby advocates for understanding these behaviors as purposeful disruptions and calls for educational spaces that prioritize play, creativity, belonging, empathy, freedom, and human dignity.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Carla Shalaby's Troublemakers has received mixed reviews. Many commend its insightful exploration of classroom dynamics and advocacy for understanding disruptive students empathetically. However, some criticize its repetitive narrative and perceived idealism. Overall, the book is praised for challenging conventional disciplinary approaches, though not all find its solutions practical.
Who Should Read Troublemakers?
Readers who appreciate Troublemakers by Carla Shalaby are often educators, parents, and social activists interested in progressive education and child psychology. Fans of Jonathan Kozol's Savage Inequalities and Alfie Kohn's Punished by Rewards will find this book insightful and compelling.