Talk Back

[shaw]

"This novel was triggered by a real event - the writing of an underground newsletter by a group of Midwestern school teachers who wanted to protest the mindlessly bureaucratic school system that constantly interfered with their work. The newsletter generated a huge, positive response from readers, along with the administrative wrath they both hoped and feared it would.

As they years passed and schools continued to decline, two of the newsletter organizers made one more effort to tell their story. A Disgrace to the Profession is the result."

Once upon a time, in order to be a better teacher, I volunteered to teach Calculus at the local high school - to substitute for the AP teachers. I wanted to do a whole day. The teachers I knew at that school laughed at me and told me half a day would be plenty for my first time out. They were right.

At the time I was outraged that these committed, bright, excellent teachers were spotted in the halls doing "hall-duty", a job a monkey could do well. I thought it was completely disrespecting them. And how were STUDENTS supposed to respect them as professionals, when they saw them crammed into tiny deskchairs, looking for hall passes? I was told, "Oh, Doug. We don't care about hall duty. It is the LEAST of our problems."

What I saw two years ago when I did some presentations at schools in Illinois (including a Chicago public school) is a subject for a long essay in another venue. Suffice to say that hall duty was the LEAST of their problems. My god.

This book is a novel, with setting, plot, characters and conflict, but it is also an excuse to work in a list of ways that high-school teachers are prevented from teaching. The novel was interesting to me and I couldn't put it down.

I only wish that it were better written. The authors tell an interesting story, but the actual writing is a bit amateurish. A character is described, for example, in a scene where she looks in a mirror. I've never seen THAT before. But I'm not really getting at it - it isn't a particular cliche or character-as-archetype that detracted... it was just the actual choices of words on paper were not at a level that I'm used to. I think the book was privately printed.

But it wasn't BADLY written - just amateurish. Certainly better written than my (unpublished and never will be) novel - it isn't like I can do better. And even though it got preachy and transparent, the subject matter was interesting enough that I was willing to forgive it. I would recommend this book to anybody who is interested in teaching and teachers.

[jeffp]

How relevant is the content of this book to you as a college professor, Doug?

What if you were teaching at a junior college?

Adult ed?

Just curious. It might be relevant for me to read this at some point.

--jeffp

[shaw]

[jeffp]

OK. I am not teaching yet - and I may never do so - but I have added this book to my wishlist on paperbackswap.com. Perhaps someone will find it and make it available.

Thanks Doug.