The Discipline of Hope: Learning from a Lifetime of Teaching

by Herbert R. Kohl

The Discipline of Hope chronicles veteran educator Herb Kohl's love affair with teaching since his first encounter forty years ago, chronicled in his now-classic 36 Children . Beginning with his years in New York public schools and continuing throughout his four decades of working with students from kindergarten through college across the country, Kohl has been an ardent advocate of the notion that every student can learn and every teacher must find creative ways to facilitate that learning. In The Discipline of Hope he distills the major lessons of an attentive lifetime in the classroom.

Genres: Education

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Educator best known for his advocacy of progressive alternative education and as the author of more than thirty books on education. He founded the 1960s Open School movement and is credited with coining the term "open classroom."

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh how I wish I were this pure of heart, generous, and passionate! I don't know how it's possible to give yourself so fully to your students year after year without depleting your own emotional reserves and losing sight of your personal goals. In the end, it turns out that being a better teacher is all about being a better person. It's that simple, that never-ending.

[Nicole Jamison]

Abandoned

[angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

read back when i was an ed major😜

[Jade Dickerson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clearly very wise and accomplished. However, there were too many anecdotes and overly detailed descriptions of projects and classwork.

[Nikku · Rating 5 out of 5]

Herbert Kohl is one of those educators who I idolize and only wish I could match his enthusiasm, drive and creativity in teaching children of all ages. This memoir chronicles his work from starting out as a young middle school teacher in Harlem, to starting an alternative high school in Berkeley to teaching kindergarten while setting up an alternative licensure program for teachers in the 1970's. His optimism about everyone's ability and desire to learn is an inspiration.

[elissa]

Looks like something that my husband and I would both like to read (since he's on goodreads, too, he should see this note).

[MrsQ]

One of the best books about teaching I have ever read. Very reassuring to know that there's someone out there who feels the way I do about kids and teaching.

[jessica wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This took me forever to read only because I had to pause and reflect and discuss after every other sentence or so. Thought provoking indeed.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring Teacher Book.