What They Don't Teach You

by Erin Osborne

What They Don’t Teach You is a book about the everyday teachers working today in America’s public elementary schools. Over 300 pages are filled with their words, experiences, and advice. Open the door to what is actually happening in classrooms across the country. From the teacher training system to the daily life of educators, from corporate-driven education reforms to hilarious student stories, 100′s of teachers reveal it all.

Genres: Nonfiction, Education, Teaching

300 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Noreen Kellner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Way too much Whining and/or Ranting.

Very hard to read a book that is so filled with personal anger and self pity. Then of course we have the political slant added into the mix. Quite frankly I got the impression that the author doesn't even like children. I also felt the swearing was unnecessary.

Many occupations require you to be circumspect when in the public eye. Many occupations require you to be on your feet for 6 or more hours a day. I also noticed when mention is made of salaries they did not include the perks that go with them. Class sizes have decreased over the years...many classes in the 70's were 30 or more. I respected and appreciated most of my teachers and they did a great job by themselves with large classes. With all the union required documentation nowadays most schools find it just too difficult and time consuming to fire a teacher that is not doing their job well if they are tenured so I disagree on that as well.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was filled with useful and necessary information, but the poor girl desperately needed an editor. Several misspellings and sentences with missing words, but the worst was "Marlow's Hierarchy of Needs." Not a good look for a book aimed at teachers.

[Jolie Lindley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read for teachers and non-teachers alike

Want to understand the political landscape of teaching in public schools today? This book explains it in layman's terms. My only quibble was with some minor generalizations with specific state policies that weren't quite accurate in all cases (for example, the statement that school districts or the state helps pay for teachers to get their master's degree when required; I know very few states where this is true). However, I wish every person not in the classroom would read this as a primer on the minefield that is teaching today.

[Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel badly giving this book only one star, because the work and research that the author put into it is evident. What it really needs is a good editor, not just to correct the myriad of spelling and grammatical errors, but to guide a major revision and restructuring. It reads like a stitched-together blog in some parts and an overly long rant in others. With some help, I think this could be rewritten to be more concise and mature. The author will need to make it less about her, and more about education. The anecdotes she includes are a strength. Maybe those should drive the arguments. I wish Ms. Osborne luck.

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a lot reading this book. I would recommend it to anyone considering teaching as a career. It is a broad overview of education as it happens today. It is a big business and many are unaware of who is actually in control of the process. The true beneficiaries of the current system do not appear to be the children, but the businesses initiating and then supplying each new popular trend in education.

[Joyce Reynolds-Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a long time to finish this book, just because so much of the subject was so dear and close and familiar. I experienced much of what Osborne writes about here, and even after a few years away it still aches.

[Margie Adkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Accurate information about the currant state of education reform, but poorly written and sometimes difficult to follow.

[Kristin Cook · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was okay. A bit hard to follow on the Kindle (and I tried it on three different ones), but some interesting nuggets of information and cute anecdotes.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Abandoned.

[Krissy War · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly I skimmed the last 25% or so of the book.