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Product Description
Review
Charismatic ... electrifying ... This remarkable woman has neatly identified the problem with education (Minette Marin The Times )
The constant frustration, the struggle to hold on to your ideals in the face of a broken system - this book is the story of contemporary state education. It's both heart-breaking and inspiring (Toby Young )
Describes in eloquent, despairing voice how schools suffer from high levels of disruption and underachievement (Telegraph )
The teacher who laid bare the chaos in the education system ... by delivering some brutal home truths ... articulate and inspirational (Daily Mail )
The constant frustration, the struggle to hold on to your ideals in the face of a broken system - this book is the story of contemporary state education. It's both heart-breaking and inspiring (Toby Young )
Describes in eloquent, despairing voice how schools suffer from high levels of disruption and underachievement (Telegraph )
The teacher who laid bare the chaos in the education system ... by delivering some brutal home truths ... articulate and inspirational (Daily Mail )
Product Description
A third of teachers leave within their first term on the job. This one wouldn't quit for all the world.
Meet Furious - sixteen, handsome and completely out of control. Nothing frightens him and no one can get through to him. Now meet Munchkin - a sweet kid with glasses who's an easy target and needs protecting. Then there's Seething and Deranged, two girls who are brimming with bad attitude; Fifty and Cent, who act like gangsters but are afraid of getting beaten up; and Stoic, a brilliant young mind struggling to survive. In the midst of them all, there is a bodyguard and bouncer, a counsellor and confidante, a young woman whose job it is to motivate and inspire them and somehow keep them out of trouble: their teacher. None will make it through the year unscathed. Some may not even make it at all...
Spanning a year of shocking truths and hard-won victories, of fights and phone-thefts, teenage pregnancies and the dreaded OFSTED report, this is the remarkable diary of an inner-city school teacher. Revealing the extraordinary chaos, mismanagement and wrong-thinking that plague our education system, it is a funny, surprising and sometimes heartbreaking journey from the frontlines of the classroom to the heart of modern Britain.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is by no means the first book on the experiences of teaching in tough schools. Most teachers presumably get on with their job and do what they can. 'Miss', in this case, however, appears to have used her time at the school as material for her blog, her speech to the Conservative party conference and her book. The negative publicity she generated might have helped her make a name for herself and make some money, but it didn't help the children or the school she left behind. I would object less to the usage or exploitation of her school classes if she had written something insightful or stimulating. The book is poorly written, however. Banal, self-righteous, ill-thought out. It has very little literary, sociological, psychological or even entertainment value.
Now, there are no shortage of book publicists, educationalists and politically-minded people who have an interest in telling readers this is somehow an important book. It isn't, but, as a teacher of mine used to say, ' if you don't believe me, find out for yourself.' Then, you might wonder whether this book was just a stepping stone for what seems a rather unpleasantly ambitious person.
Now, there are no shortage of book publicists, educationalists and politically-minded people who have an interest in telling readers this is somehow an important book. It isn't, but, as a teacher of mine used to say, ' if you don't believe me, find out for yourself.' Then, you might wonder whether this book was just a stepping stone for what seems a rather unpleasantly ambitious person.
50 of 65 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
What a great book! As someone who used to teach in the state school system in a very challenging school in South London that received a "good" from Ofsted I recognized all the characters - both kids and adults - and the situations. Snuffy's relationships with the various kids reminds me of what the best teachers do i.e. have the highest expectations combined with energy,enthusiasm, empathy and a bloody-minded determination to make a difference. Reading this made me remember but why I left teaching (I didn't have the energy any more for the fight) and why I loved it so much. Everyone should read this book!
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Not a very positive view on UK state schools. I found it a sometimes interesting read and I tried not to dwell too much on what her conclusion was - that state schools don't have the time, money,or resources to give much of an education or a positive and confident life to any pupil and that only private schools can provide this. Even the author concluded that she would never dare send her child (if she ever has one) to a state school. All very depressing and I feel this doesn't apply to all UK schools and they are not all as bad as her one. I found the writing was poor in places and often repetitive. An okay read if you are interested in reading a bit about inner city rough state schools if not, AVOID.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
MANY HOME TRUTHS-BUT!!
There were many aspects in this book that I whole-heartedly agree with,and admire Katherine Birbalsingh for being so forthright about them-the Ofsted inspections seemed... Read more
Published 2 months ago by bibliophile
A facinating book
An essential reading for anyone interested in inner city education. Written by an experienced teacher who is remembered for being dismissed for being a "whistle blower".
Published 4 months ago by Dr. Geoffrey L. Woodcock
Could do better.
I found the tone of this book jarred with me. I have no doubt that teachers these days especially in state schools have a difficult time and that most work very hard for little... Read more
Published 6 months ago by C.H: Spain
Amazing Story
This book is a must for any teacher or parent with school age children. This woman is an inspiration and one of those rare teachers who do everything they can to help 'problem'... Read more
Published 6 months ago by charliegirl
It needs to be said!
Katharine Birbalsingh exposes many of the problems that are rife in Britain's school education system: lack of discipline, falling standards in order to meet predetermined targets,... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Pelagius
An education in itself
This book is a diary of an academic year in an inner city comp. I liked the way the author gave individual nicknames to everyone, a single word that sums up their characters like... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mrs. S. Biddulph
Interesting, but flawed
As soon as I started reading this book, I had trouble putting it down. I am married to a teacher, so I immediately identified with the long hours, weekend and holiday working,... Read more
Published 9 months ago by N. Vincendeau
Definitely not made up
I remember when this came out, a lot of people said that Miss Birbalsingh was just making things up, that this book wasn't representative of average schools, etc. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Teach
Fantastic - Inspiring
The book gives a detailed insight into life as a teacher in inner city London, ups and downs. Recommended to anyone - trainee teacher, parent or people interested in... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Winty
To miss With Love
This book hit a lot of truths for me, I personally relate to most of what Katharine writes here. I feel her passion for reform of attitudes to educating young people who have so... Read more
Published 12 months ago by June
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