Inside Teaching: How Classroom Life Undermines Reform

by Mary M. Kennedy

Reform the schools, improve these battle cries of American education have been echoing for twenty years. So why does teaching change so little?

Arguing that too many would-be reformers know nothing about the conflicting demands of teaching, Mary Kennedy takes us into the controlled commotion of the classroom, revealing how painstakingly teachers plan their lessons, and how many different ways things go awry. Teachers try simultaneously to keep track of materials, time, students, and ideas. In their effort to hold all of these things together, they can inadvertently quash students' enthusiasm and miss valuable teachable moments.

Kennedy argues that pedagogical reform proposals that do not acknowledge all of the things teachers need to do are bound to fail. If reformers want students to learn, they must address all of the problems teachers face, not just those that interest them.

Genres: Education

288 pages, Paperback

First published May 30, 2005

Reviews

[CanadianReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent, engrossing, well-written book about the realities of life in the classroom. Kennedy considers the myriad factors that prevent full educational reform. She provides a number of hypotheses which are as relevant today as they were a decade ago (perhaps even more so). While reformers want rigour and intellectual engagement, teachers look for engagement of any kind. Their fear of loss of momentum, the constant interruptions--from phone calls to public address announcements, to the expected fidgety children--all impact teaching.

The book could have done with a more careful edit.

My own experience and books like this convince me that schools as we currently know them need to go. Huge amounts of money are spent, but children get to grade 3 and beyond incapable of decoding (reading) and devoid of the most basic numeracy. Furthermore, there are increasingly disturbed children, and teachers are often required to perform social work and provide mental health services. This has to end. It is too costly. Reforming a faulty institution is not going to do it.

[Ted Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for anyone who wants to enact or influence education policy. This is well-conceived and well carried out study that intimately examines the multi-faceted taks of teaching. It artfully analyses how the realities of teaching are both affected by and involved in the success/failure of education reform. Education reform is often cast in simple terms and this book does well to illustrate, that that is not in fact possible. If educaiton is to be improved all of its complexities must be acknowledged.
As a side note, the appendix on the study methods is terrific.

[Brenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars- The narratives about the teachers made this book easy to read, but certain points seem repetitive. There was also a sense of vagueness about reforms. I wish specific reforms were discussed rather than just reforms in general.

[Emily Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book about classroom life and the experiences of teachers. Probably more geared towards educators than lay people, but very accessible.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really thoughtful and interesting study that helps us to understand the ways teachers think and make decisions about their teaching.

[Elke]

i'm really curious to find out how classroom life undermines reform. that's sort of a bold statement to make...but i guess that's how she hooked me into reading the book.