Abstract:

Bill Ferriter, a North Carolina NBCT, reviews Frank McCourt’s book by sharing his own experiences with the complexity and misunderstood perceptions of teaching, then saying McCourt correctly portrays those as he writes about his experience as a classroom teacher.

Citation: McCourt, F. (2005). Teacher man. New York: Scribner.

Date of Publication: 2005

Link: http://www.teacherleaders.org/old_site/Resources/bkreviews4.html#10

Full Text:

By Frank McCourt
2005 (272 pp./hardback)
Scribner
ISBN: 978-0-7432-4377-
$26.00

Reviewed by Bill Ferriter
Salem Middle School
Wake County Public School System

It's interesting that I even read Teacher Man because about
five years ago, I made a promise to myself that I would never
read another book about a teacher. Never ever.

You see, books about teachers never seem to be accurate portrayals
of our work. While they are often inspirational, sharing stories
about the deep influence that educators have on students and
communities, they also tend to overlook the incredible complexities
of our profession.

Now don't get me wrong-teaching is inspirational. That is why
so many of us wake up each morning excited to get to school
and see our students. We make lifelong connections that are
significant and meaningful. We change lives and shape futures.

Teaching is also energizing. There is nothing like the feeling that
I get when I know that my instruction is reaching my students.
Watching children construct knowledge and make sense of the
world because of my actions is simply remarkable. Creating
those moments leaves me mentally charged and professionally
challenged.

And teaching is humbling. Sometimes when my students are silently
reading, I'll look out over my classroom and "get wet in the
eyes," (I won't admit to crying in front anyone) both in awe
of and thankful for the incredible responsibility that I've
been entrusted with.

But teaching is also frustrating. We struggle each day doing the
best that we can to meet goals that a friend once described
as "simultaneously important and impossible to reach," and
despite investing our whole selves into finding ways for every
child-regardless of personal circumstance-to succeed, there
are often students that we can't reach. Those failures weigh
heavily on our hearts and minds.

Believe it or not, teaching can be demeaning. I can't tell you the
number of times that I've been spoken down to by others-intentionally
or not-who don't consider me to be their intellectual or social
equal because of the career path I've chosen. "Hey Bill,"
they'll say, "You seem like a smart guy. Why don't you go
into administration? You're not lazy are you?" One of my all
time favorite comments: "Why would you choose to waste your
life away as a teacher when you could be so much more?"

And teaching is lonely. While others believe they know what our
profession is like based on their experiences in school, few
truly understand the daily challenges-both personal and professional-that
teachers wrestle with throughout their careers. It would be
easy to argue that no profession in America requires the mental
stamina and commitment of education, yet no one knows that
except for those of us who walk through the doors of a classroom
each morning.

Needless to say, I began Teacher Man as a skeptic, convinced
that I would find yet another one-dimensional "feel-good"
story that painted a warm, but inaccurate view of my work.
It wasn't long, however, until I realized that McCourt's work
was different. His ability to touch on every emotion-both
positive and negative-that I have felt during the course of
my career was remarkably validating. I finally felt as if
someone understood my work.

My copy bears evidence of the connections that I felt while reading.
Dog-eared pages and annotations are everywhere, as are intensely
personal reflections scrawled in margins. I nodded in agreement
when McCourt spoke of not having the time to read Shelley
and Shakespeare anymore because he was too busy grading the
work of up and coming authors like Susan and Billy. I laughed
out loud when-not sure how to react to the situation--he ate
a bologna sandwich after it flew across the front of his classroom
one day. I bristled as administrators who knew little about
life in the classroom reprimanded McCourt for work that should
have been celebrated. And I felt the chill of emotion when
he left the classroom for the last time, knowing that someday
the same moment will come in my life-and I'll have to walk
away from something that I love so much.

I'm honored to recommend Teacher Man, both as an engaging
story about an interesting man and an honest reflection on
what it means to teach. McCourt's words will resonate with
anyone who spends their lives teaching in America's classrooms-and
inform those who don't.

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