| Contents |
Prologue -- August : Introduction : "It makes my soul happy" : what teachers endure and why they stay -- September : "STOP TOUCHING MY CAR" : parent aggression and the culture of teacher blaming -- October : "I would have done it for any child" : teachers are heroes, but they shouldn't have to be -- November : "To teach your kids, I have to leave mine" : COVID-19, the disrespect for teachers' work, and the disregard for their lives -- December : "Safe harbor" : the most underestimated teacher in the building ; "Fluff subject" : subject misconceptions and the marginalization of specialist teachers -- January : The "dirty little secret" in schools -- February : "Classroom contagion" : the myth of teacher burnout -- March : Teacher confessions : behind-the-scenes dish -- April : "Just part of the job" : how violence and short-staffing create a hazardous profession -- May : "Do no harm but take no crap" : bribery, workarounds, happy hours, and other pro tips for educators -- June -- Epilogue : Teachers deserve better : how you can help ; "Why I love teaching". |
| Abstract |
"A riveting, must-read, year-in-the-life account of three teachers, combined with reporting that reveals what's really going on behind school doors, by New York Times bestselling author and education expert Alexandra Robbins Alexandra Robbins goes behind the scenes to tell the true, sometimes shocking, always inspirational stories of three teachers as they navigate a year in the classroom. She follows Penny, a southern middle school math teacher who grappled with a toxic staff clique at the big school in a small town; Miguel, a special ed teacher in the western United States who fought for his students both as an educator and as an activist; and Rebecca, an East Coast elementary school teacher who struggled to schedule and define a life outside of school. Robbins also interviewed hundreds of other teachers nationwide who share their secrets, dramas, and joys. Interspersed among the teachers' stories-a seeming scandal, a fourth-grade whodunit, and teacher confessions-are hard-hitting essays featuring cutting-edge reporting on the biggest issues facing teachers today, such as school violence; outrageous parent behavior; inadequate support, staffing, and resources coupled with unrealistic mounting demands; the "myth" of teacher burnout; the COVID-19 pandemic; and ways all of us can help the professionals who are central both to the lives of our children and the heart of our communities"-- Provided by publisher. |
