Wait…Teachers Have Lives???

This was an intriguing read from cover to cover. There’s a lot of books written about education and teachers, but few are actually by a teacher who is currently teaching.  One of the problems, and items which the author addresses, is that current teachers have no extra time in which to spend writing.  Good teachers are all in.  They commit to their students and their field 100%.  Even during summers, good teachers are prepping, planning, and recuperating for the next year.

The author was listed as Anonymous because, as all teachers know, we are part of few professions where just talking about what we do on a daily basis can get us into hot water with our a plethora of people: principles, superintendents, parents, students, colleagues, you name it.  So to avoid this, he went anonymous and changed the name of his school.  Regardless of the anonymity, his analysis and description of what it means to be a teacher was relatable and affirming. 

Education has become something of a hot button topic lately and sadly, the only people we don’t hear from are the people in the field itself.  Anonymous addresses this by saying that teachers, as a group, are dedicated to their students and tend to want to avoid the battles that rage around them regarding educational policy.  They just want people to leave them alone so they can teach their students.

As a teacher myself I’m glad one of my own is sharing with the world the highs and lows of being an educator. The brutal honesty was refreshing. There’s no hiding the complex relationships and situations teachers have to navigate from day to day.  If you are a teacher or know a teacher well, I’d recommend you give this book a read.  It’s the smorgasbord of food for thought.