Teaching: A Love Story

by Elizabeth Anthony

Are you one of those rare people who has always known exactly what you wanted to do with your life? Are you a teacher or considering a career in education? Are you involved in a relationship that somehow isn’t right but that you just can’t manage to escape? Does your career provide solace from a difficult personal life? Do you struggle with the concept of fate and choice and what is ultimately best for you versus what well-meaning others believe is better? Do you enjoy reading about the struggles others face because you learn from their mistakes? If you answered “yes” to one or more of these questions, this book is for you. Elizabeth Anthony always knew she wanted to be a teacher, but her determination to be a wife and a mother as well as an outstanding teacher drew her into conflicts and a series of lessons inside and outside of her classroom, her haven. Ms. Anthony contends that she learned more from her students than they learned from her, and that learning provides the framework for this memoir of a thirty-year-plus career as a secondary English teacher and administrator. The author’s hope is that readers will benefit from the lessons she learned the hard way so that they might avoid some of the mistakes that threatened her sanity and even her life.

124 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2012

Reviews

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Highs and Lows

The title of this book is a little misleading. This was an unusual book to read. Part teacher's memoir and guide for new teachers, part harrowing memoir of a life marred by relational bad decisions. I'm not sure the mix works. Once the relationship issues were finally dealt with, in the final 20% of the book, the remainder was almost entirely teacher related, but not in an interesting way for non-teachers. I found myself skimming that section to the end.

I commend the author for her honesty. Not everyone is able to examine their adult lives and then reveal their findings for public inspection. Her dedication to teaching was admirable, and the lessons she learned about herself through her difficult relationships may help others see the same in their own. I would have rated this higher if the author had stuck to memoir, with a balance of personal and career experiences. I feel she never quite got that balance right, particularly at the end. For the most part, though, she did hold my interest.

[Christina Polychronis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect reading for an upcoming teacher , one who is teaching or me the retired teacher.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author had a turbulent private life but fortunately her teaching career gave her great satisfaction.
The reader suffers along with her trials with the men in her life and at the same time admires her tenacity for creating innovative teaching methods to use with her High School students.
Her philosophy is reflected in her statement: "Students respect clearly enforced fair rules and someone who treats them with dignity and returned respect".
I firmly agree and heartily wish there were more passionate teachers like the author.

[Alice Visser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elizabeth Anthony is by all accounts a fabulous teacher and I enjoyed her stories of interactions with students and her creative ideas for English lessons. Her personal life is interesting (I think her parents are more at fault for the way she saw herself, and therefore her poor decisions, than she admits). However, the writing is ordinary and even banal at points. An easy read.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest, revealing and inspiring.

[Brenda Opperman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed and related to the descriptions of the author's teaching career. Useful and informative, as a teacher I am always looking for reminders of the joy of educating students.

[Tangerine Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about her personal life moreso than her professional life.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good enough to read. Dedicated teacher.