Kathie the new teacher

by Lucile G. Rosenheim

A romance that tells of Kathie Kerber's first year of teaching has a vocational, social-minded background. Kathie's hotheaded impulsiveness leads her promptly into trouble with other teachers, the P T.A , influential members of the suburban community, and even her own 7th graders, but her ability to take advice and see her own shortcomings eases the worst situations, and her friendship with level-headed Jim Clark helps her plans for civic improvement. Her rehabilitation of her problem pupils, the success of her year's program in social studies, her interest in a community park, and, eventually, her place in the town are shown with a minimum of exaggeration and a disarming sincerity. But it could be wished that the style were equal to the subject and the material. - Kirkus Review

195 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1970

Reviews

[Rebecca]

I first read this when I was in middle school, with barely any thoughts of teaching in my head. Now re-reading it as an adult, I am struck by how astoundingly similar Kathie's experiences in 1949 are to my own in the 2000s when I taught high school. Kathie's idealism and willingness to do what she feels is right for her students, which puts her in the cross-hairs of the small town's PTA and school board (as well as the principal), mirror what I went through, with the main difference being that in 1949 an uplifting and moral book written by a Jewish author couldn't really get into the antisemitism that runs like a small undercurrent throughout the book. (And was a major issue when I was teaching.) It is implied, however, if you know how to look for it - Kathie's parents are Czechoslovakian immigrants, they run a deli, and a moment late in the book mentions rabbis specifically. While none of this is definitive proof that Kathie is a Jewish protagonist, it feels very likely, especially since Christmas is given barely a mention, which is unusual for a book of this period and ilk.

The story is frustrating if you've ever taught in a public school, particularly as an outsider to the community. But despite its age, this holds up almost alarmingly well.