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Schoolteacher: A Sociological Study
Upon its initial publication, many reviewers dubbed Dan C. Lortie's Schoolteacher the best social portrait of the profession since Willard Waller's classic The Sociology of Teaching . This new printing of Lortie's classic—including a new preface bringing the author's observations up to date—is an essential view into the world and culture of a vitally important profession.
308 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 4, 2007
This is a sociological study done in the 60's using hundreds of interviews with public school teachers. If you're not a teacher, you may find it very enlightening; if you are one, it'll just make you mad (considering how little has changed since then, and how marginalized we continue to be).
December 22, 2025
So teachers are semi-professionals. I can't say that I am surprised. It doesn't have to stay this way however, Dan Lorie offers some keen insights into what has made the teaching profession such a drag, in many ways, along with some ideas on how to raise the level of prestige.
February 18, 2020
A seminal look at the job of teaching from the 1970's. It is based on in depth interviews with teaching. Some of it is very insightful, providing useful theories around the job, attitude and institution of teaching. In other parts I find his reasoning unconvincing, or find that he takes some unwarranted logical leaps.
November 20, 2023
Half a century has passed but the book is not OUTDATED at all.
One of the best books I've read in 2023.
The best book I've ever read about education and especially the career of a teacher.
Very inspiring and insightful.
5 stars.
One of the best books I've read in 2023.
The best book I've ever read about education and especially the career of a teacher.
Very inspiring and insightful.
5 stars.
May 11, 2016
If a person wants to understand teachers and the teaching profession, she/he must read this classic book. From this book, not only can readers gain knowledge about the history of and the problems with the teaching profession, but we can initiate strategies to answer the problems. Graduate students or even undergraduate students in teacher education programs must read this book if they claim unpretending commitment to schooling. In this review, I want to discuss three merits of this classic.
First, writing. Before I read this book, I had read a lot of papers and some books centering on issues of education. Generally speaking, the majority of works that I finished are disaster in terms of composition. The poor quality might be partially due to the authors' careless attitude toward their work and partially the lack of talent. The book by Lortie can serve as a manual of writing although the he had no any intention to this at all. I regarded Lee Shuman was a great writer. However, after finishing Lortie's, I believe the latter is undoubtedly much better. It is an enjoyment to read a book with vivid, smooth, and succinct writing. You can imagine what a book it is if an academic work is emitting humorous and funny sparks.
Second, the content. The book, first published in 1975, is not outdated at all. Actually, what Lortie described about teachers, the teaching profession, and school management is exactly the education reality of today. I never know another book that provides so accurate description and enlightening discussion of the aforementioned topics. I guess Lortie's success is based on his serious tracking of the development of the teaching profession, his deep investigation into the data that he collected, and his ability of gleaning meanings from data.
Third, methodology. This book can serve as an excellent textbook of methodology for research. The ideas of the methods of collecting data, analyzing data, and making discussions permeate this book. This is an amazing example of conducting research.
First, writing. Before I read this book, I had read a lot of papers and some books centering on issues of education. Generally speaking, the majority of works that I finished are disaster in terms of composition. The poor quality might be partially due to the authors' careless attitude toward their work and partially the lack of talent. The book by Lortie can serve as a manual of writing although the he had no any intention to this at all. I regarded Lee Shuman was a great writer. However, after finishing Lortie's, I believe the latter is undoubtedly much better. It is an enjoyment to read a book with vivid, smooth, and succinct writing. You can imagine what a book it is if an academic work is emitting humorous and funny sparks.
Second, the content. The book, first published in 1975, is not outdated at all. Actually, what Lortie described about teachers, the teaching profession, and school management is exactly the education reality of today. I never know another book that provides so accurate description and enlightening discussion of the aforementioned topics. I guess Lortie's success is based on his serious tracking of the development of the teaching profession, his deep investigation into the data that he collected, and his ability of gleaning meanings from data.
Third, methodology. This book can serve as an excellent textbook of methodology for research. The ideas of the methods of collecting data, analyzing data, and making discussions permeate this book. This is an amazing example of conducting research.
January 5, 2008
A classic that, sadly, could have been written last year (it is that close to today's reality in education).
August 16, 2017
Read for a class I took in graduate school. Interesting read.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews