"It is the Teacher's Fault!" Confesses Debra Craig, Author of "Why is the Teacher's Butt So Big?" - But The Good News is, the American Red Cross Will Benefit

Author/teacher Debra Craig will donate profits from the less-than-perfect preview printing "Why is the Teacher's Butt So Big?", a book which hopes to educate parents about public schools and be instrumental in eliminating or modifying No Child Left Behind.

Moreno Valley, CA (PRWEB) September 4, 2005 -- In a rush to get her book, "Why is the Teacher's Butt So Big? Plus 111 Other Mysteries of Public Education" out in time for the back-to-school crowd, author Debra Craig convinced her publisher, Anthony Prizzia, of A.T. Publishing, that she had carefully read the final proof enough times and was confident there were no more errors in it. She didn't want it to go to a proofreader in fear it would delay the release date. Despite his better judgment, the interior pages were sent directly to the printers.

After a shipment of books arrived at their home, it was Debra's husband Gary, a Los Angeles City firefighter/paramedic who caught the first two errors. "It was the first time my wife even let me read the book. I felt bad when right there on the second page of the introduction, I noticed the word "a" had been left out. Then a few pages later, I read a sentence that had too many "I"s in it," reported her husband.

The former fifth-grade-teacher-turned- high-school-teacher was aghast and in shock when her husband told her of the errors he found. "How could a public school teacher print a book with errors in it? What would they say about a teacher whose manuscript has typos in it, even if they are small?" Debra worried. And the worse news, despite what she claims about teachers in education, when it came to this printing error, "Yes, it was the teacher's fault!" Now this eight-year-teaching veteran, but first time author had to tell her publisher the bad news.

"He took it very well, probably because it was just a preview printing of the book." Many of the books were sent to reviewers and media people with an "advance, uncorrected proof" label affixed. "We still had many copies left and were thinking of just discarding them," confided this education advocate/author. But after speaking with her publisher, they decided to make these slightly-flawed editions available through Debra's website for just $10.00, or 40% off of retail, and will donate a portion of the proceeds to the American Red Cross for assisting the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

"As I watch the tragedy that has unfolded on the Gulf Coast, I wished I could do more besides give my personal donation. Even though this offer is just a small gesture of help, I know that even the smallest donations can help the American Red Cross with their monumental task of providing humanitarian help to so many people in need."

This special offer is only available at http://www.debracraig.com. Shipping and handling will be added to the final price. Offer is good until supplies last or September 17, 2005.

"Why Is the Teacher's Butt So Big? Plus 111 Other Mysteries of Public Education" (ISBN #0-9750434-1-4) is an insightful, often critical, but always entertaining look at public schools, schools that have probably changed since the parents attended them. Even though teachers are supposed to be smart, there are many things about the way things are done at public schools that Debra just doesn't understand. She explores her 111 "mysteries," and sometimes even "absurdities," in her book and wonders if these things, and not just the teachers, explain why public schools aren't more successful.

People interested in knowing more about the book, including what her 111 mysteries are, will find them at her web site at http://www.debracraig.com and view the table of contents of the book.

The title actually refers to a true comment a kindergartner made to another kindergarten on Debra's first day of teaching eight years ago. "Little did I realize then that from my first day of teaching until my last day in the classroom, as a classroom teacher, "Everyone's a critic!" There will always be administrators, or parents, or politicians, kindergartners, or even myself, you will ask Why aren't my lessons better? Why isn't my class quieter? Why aren't my test scores higher? Why don't I have a smaller behind? Sometimes as a public school teacher, I feel as if I'm in a "no-win" career. I also wanted my title to be somewhat absurd, just like some of the thinking that takes place in education."

Because of the errors found in this printing, the initial publication date is being delayed. "I'm still hoping the new books will still be available by the end of September," commented Debra. She advises people who are interested in buying the book to check Amazon.com for availability.

Debra hopes her sassy-titled book will become the touchstone of the new revolution in American education.

Debra Craig has been a teacher for the Moreno Valley Unified School District for eight years. Moreno Valley is a community of 165,000 people located 60 miles east of Los Angeles. For more information on her book, contact Debra at (951) 247-6980 or at Debracraig@hotmail.com.

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