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A Disgrace to the Profession
This novel was triggered by a real evetthe writing of an underground newsletter by a group of frustrated MIdwestern schoolteachers 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 the 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.
- GenresEducation
360 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2002
2 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 16, 2018
Teaching Troubles and Dilemmas
A Disgrace to the Profession
Charles Newton and Gretchen Kauffman
Realistic Fiction
357 pages
A Disgrace to the Profession is a novel about a teacher in Des Moines, Iowa. Karen Merchant has been teaching for a long time at Bancroft, but does not want to go back. When Nicolaus Staal becomes a teacher at her school, however, it changes her entire perspective. The two of them create an underground newsletter to change the school system to help benefit their students, as well as their teaching.
Karen Merchant is an important character because she represents the teaching profession very well. She can teach without hesitation and she knows what she’s doing. I like Karen because she reminds me of my mom, who is also a teacher. My mom and Karen are smart people who aren’t afraid to stand up for themselves.
Nicholas Staal is a new teacher at Bancroft. He was the one who came up with the newsletter. Karen agrees with a lot of things he says; he is a good public speaker. I like Nick because he has good intentions but is misunderstood for little things he says and does. He is smart and can influence people and their opinions with ease.
Robert Aneyh is the principal at Bancroft. He is rude and instructs the teachers very poorly. When there is bad leadership, those being led become frustrated. He always changes the way teachers should instruct their students, but no one listens to him. The teachers teach how they always have. Aneyh wants to put an end to the newsletter that Karen and Nick are running.
A theme in A Disgrace to the Profession is to respect and appreciate everything that our teachers do. Teachers do more work than we can see. They don’t just work at school; they spend countless hours outside of school on their own time to finish working. Teachers should not be blamed for the student’s poor behavior causing them to fail. “‘This has nothing to do with us. The teaching corps is not incompetent; the system is. This system won’t let teachers teach!’” (131). Teachers should not be blamed for a student’s poor decisions making them fail.
It made me think about how teachers are treated today. Teachers do so much work to make sure that students are learning. Being a teacher is a very hard job and isn’t something that everyone can do; you need lots of endurance and patience. I wondered what it would be like to be Karen or Nick and how it would feel to lead the underground newsletter. They were the ones who cared so much about teaching that they were willing to do anything to help improve it. I wondered what motivated them to do so. “‘Board members, you should stand in our shoes. For two decades critics have had their gory years. American teachers have been castigated, maligned, ridiculed, pilloried--’” (131). This is what Nick felt. This is how teachers have been treated and because of the poor system, the teachers have not been able to teach. The authors chose to write this book because it is a serious issue and it needs to be addressed.
The events of this book kept me interested. Even though, at times, it became a little difficult to understand what was going on because of the vocabulary. It also felt like it jumped from scene to scene with little to no transition, which made things harder to follow. Older teenagers and adults, preferably teachers, would enjoy reading this book. They would have the most understanding of it and they would be able to relate to it more. Younger teenagers and children won’t be able to comprehend it as well. I would recommend this book to a friend because it conveys a very nice message and many people should read it.
A Disgrace to the Profession
Charles Newton and Gretchen Kauffman
Realistic Fiction
357 pages
A Disgrace to the Profession is a novel about a teacher in Des Moines, Iowa. Karen Merchant has been teaching for a long time at Bancroft, but does not want to go back. When Nicolaus Staal becomes a teacher at her school, however, it changes her entire perspective. The two of them create an underground newsletter to change the school system to help benefit their students, as well as their teaching.
Karen Merchant is an important character because she represents the teaching profession very well. She can teach without hesitation and she knows what she’s doing. I like Karen because she reminds me of my mom, who is also a teacher. My mom and Karen are smart people who aren’t afraid to stand up for themselves.
Nicholas Staal is a new teacher at Bancroft. He was the one who came up with the newsletter. Karen agrees with a lot of things he says; he is a good public speaker. I like Nick because he has good intentions but is misunderstood for little things he says and does. He is smart and can influence people and their opinions with ease.
Robert Aneyh is the principal at Bancroft. He is rude and instructs the teachers very poorly. When there is bad leadership, those being led become frustrated. He always changes the way teachers should instruct their students, but no one listens to him. The teachers teach how they always have. Aneyh wants to put an end to the newsletter that Karen and Nick are running.
A theme in A Disgrace to the Profession is to respect and appreciate everything that our teachers do. Teachers do more work than we can see. They don’t just work at school; they spend countless hours outside of school on their own time to finish working. Teachers should not be blamed for the student’s poor behavior causing them to fail. “‘This has nothing to do with us. The teaching corps is not incompetent; the system is. This system won’t let teachers teach!’” (131). Teachers should not be blamed for a student’s poor decisions making them fail.
It made me think about how teachers are treated today. Teachers do so much work to make sure that students are learning. Being a teacher is a very hard job and isn’t something that everyone can do; you need lots of endurance and patience. I wondered what it would be like to be Karen or Nick and how it would feel to lead the underground newsletter. They were the ones who cared so much about teaching that they were willing to do anything to help improve it. I wondered what motivated them to do so. “‘Board members, you should stand in our shoes. For two decades critics have had their gory years. American teachers have been castigated, maligned, ridiculed, pilloried--’” (131). This is what Nick felt. This is how teachers have been treated and because of the poor system, the teachers have not been able to teach. The authors chose to write this book because it is a serious issue and it needs to be addressed.
The events of this book kept me interested. Even though, at times, it became a little difficult to understand what was going on because of the vocabulary. It also felt like it jumped from scene to scene with little to no transition, which made things harder to follow. Older teenagers and adults, preferably teachers, would enjoy reading this book. They would have the most understanding of it and they would be able to relate to it more. Younger teenagers and children won’t be able to comprehend it as well. I would recommend this book to a friend because it conveys a very nice message and many people should read it.
July 9, 2008
While the romance plot attached distracts from the main story and the main story itself is heavy handed at best, the book really made me appreciate what I have at work. We don't have the backstabbing that occurred in semi-fictional Des Moines all in the deluded hopes of making everything "fair" when those in charge don't really know the true meaning of the word. As parents get more and more out of control with threats of litigation and media coverage, educators jobs get tougher and tougher. The book exposes all of that; although I'm not sure if it's intent is to deter from or inspire people to the teaching profession because it's not like the problem has been solved. It's still very much in progress.
February 25, 2019
An excellent book that every educator and administrator in all school districts should read. The things that happened in this book is happening in schools across the nation.
April 21, 2025
Great book depicting how politics can infect even the most genuine individuals. Written by a teacher for teachers, the author may come on a little strong but the message is clear and warranted.
November 12, 2014
This book was an easy read and delightful. The characters were straight forward and relatable to members of your own friend circle. I didn’t jump to the back of the book to see how many pages that I have left as with some slower moving books.
Although this book is a work of fiction, I can see where there are pieces based in fact. The writers did a good job briefly showing the teachers view of the stress that is on the American public school system. I feel extremely fortunate that I was educated in a private school setting and will enroll my future children in them as well. There seem to be too many school systems missing the boat, which is simply to provide an educational opportunity to the children in each classroom that challenges them to think critically.
I do feel like the underlining romance story in this book was stretched in the beginning and then rushed at the end, it left you wanting to know more about Nick’s mental hurdles. But I guess there is only so much you can do in 300 – 400 pages. OAN I was not pleased with the design of the book, the page weight was extremely heavy and made the book a burden for relaxed reading. I think a few more trees and my wrist could have been saved with a lower paper weight.
Although this book is a work of fiction, I can see where there are pieces based in fact. The writers did a good job briefly showing the teachers view of the stress that is on the American public school system. I feel extremely fortunate that I was educated in a private school setting and will enroll my future children in them as well. There seem to be too many school systems missing the boat, which is simply to provide an educational opportunity to the children in each classroom that challenges them to think critically.
I do feel like the underlining romance story in this book was stretched in the beginning and then rushed at the end, it left you wanting to know more about Nick’s mental hurdles. But I guess there is only so much you can do in 300 – 400 pages. OAN I was not pleased with the design of the book, the page weight was extremely heavy and made the book a burden for relaxed reading. I think a few more trees and my wrist could have been saved with a lower paper weight.
January 20, 2008
This was accurate, but why did I feel talked-down-to?
March 6, 2008
This is a book about teachers and administrators. It was very good and could happen in real life
May 21, 2008
Could have been a good book, but demonized teachers union.
August 8, 2012
I tensed up while reading this book, and I'm not even going back to the classroom this fall.
September 1, 2011
Very interesting, all teachers should read this one!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews