Rating: 
Summary: Use with caution
Review: This book patterns itself off of the techniques used at the school in Maine. What they neglect to tell you is that this school is for kids with substance abuse issues. Some of the techniques work with normal kids, but when there is no need for therapy, more harm can be caused than good. Use with caution. The best way to raise your child is to use common sense.
Rating:
Summary: Take it with a grain of salt.
Review: This book was written with the best of intentions, however take it with a grain of salt... what sounds too good to be true often is. I graduated from Hyde school and have seen most of my classmates go on to college and not make it through. Hyde's ideas help some families and hurt others, as they are implemented by teachers who are not qualified to act as psychologists. Anecdotal evidence (much is offered in this book) can be extremely convincing, but it can also be misleading. One can always find a story to illustrate a point, if one looks hard enough. What about all of the times that the "Hyde way" of doing things hasn't worked? Other reviews are written by parents of children who attend Hyde. My guess is those children are still in school there, or recent graudates, or they'd be singing another tune. One other review commented on Hyde students' high acceptance rates to college... of course they'll be high. Every student is REQUIRED to apply to colleges until they receive an acceptance. Collegiate acceptances do not equate collegiate success. This book is a good starting point when considering how to make changes within your family...
Rating: 
Summary: Useful but . . .
Review: This book, written by the daughter-in-law of the founder of the Hyde Schools, espouses a character-first philosophy of education. This philosophy has much to recommend it, although as other reviewers have pointed out, "The Biggest Job . . ." repeats many of the same old cliches as other books. But it does have its place.Nonetheless, this book should be used with caution IF you are using it to evaluate the Hyde schools. Because it is given out during family interviews, it functions as a recruiting tool. Of the current eight reviews, three of the most glowing are written by parents of Hyde students. Several earlier negative reviews by former Hyde parents have been removed. What those earlier reviews said, in essence, is that the emperor had no clothes and that Hyde's methods did not always mirror their philosphy. The bottom line is that if you're looking for help raising your childred, then this is as good a book as any. BUT if you're thinking of sending your child to Hyde, it's only part of the picture. Talk to other parents--including those who have had negative epxeriences with the school
Rating: 
Summary: The Biggest Job We?ll Ever Have by Laura and Malcolm Gauld
Review: This is a fantastic book that focuses on the importance of character development in our children, and it provides an outline of how to achieve it. The book is well written and easy to understand. Suggestions for "homework" at the end of many chapters are highly effective and provide a mechanism to start using the tools that are introduced in the book. Not only has Hyde provided our son the tools to work toward his unique potential; as parents of a Hyde student, the lives of my wife and myself, our relationship, and our relationship with our other children, have been enriched by our efforts to follow these guidelines. In a society where cheating, dishonesty, and self-destructive behavior are all too common, this book is a must read for all educators, all teachers, all parents, and even couples without children! Having read the book, I am now buying copies for all of my friends.
Rating:
Summary: The Biggest Job We¿ll Ever Have by Laura and Malcolm Gauld
Review: This is a fantastic book that focuses on the importance of character development in our children, and it provides an outline of how to achieve it. The book is well written and easy to understand. Suggestions for "homework" at the end of many chapters are highly effective and provide a mechanism to start using the tools that are introduced in the book. Not only has Hyde provided our son the tools to work toward his unique potential; as parents of a Hyde student, the lives of my wife and myself, our relationship, and our relationship with our other children, have been enriched by our efforts to follow these guidelines. In a society where cheating, dishonesty, and self-destructive behavior are all too common, this book is a must read for all educators, all teachers, all parents, and even couples without children! Having read the book, I am now buying copies for all of my friends.
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