In the Deep Heart's Core

by Michael Johnston, Robert Coles (Foreword)

In the fall of 1997, Michael Johnston went to the rural Mississippi Delta — the "deep heart's core" of the South — as a member of the Teach for America program, to become an English teacher in one of the poorest districts in the nation. At Greenville High School, he confronted a racially divided world in which his African-American students had to struggle daily against a legacy of crippling poverty and the scourges of drug addiction and gang violence that ravaged their community. In the Deep Heart's Core tells the story of how Johnston reached out to inspire his teenage students with all the means at his disposal — from the language of the great poets to the strategies of chess to the vigor of athletics. Vibrantly alive with the rich atmosphere of the Mississippi Delta — the haunting beauty of its hollows and the aching tragedy of its history — In the Deep Heart's Core is a compassionate, eloquent, and profoundly moving book. It is an inspiring and unforgettable story of one young man's experience in the Teach for America program, and of how a new generation of teachers is reaching out to give hope to the students society has forgotten.

Genres: Nonfiction, Education, Teaching, Biography

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 9, 2002

Reviews

[Laura Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Michael Johnston's account of teaching English II at Greenville High from 1997 - 1999. I last read this right before moving to the Delta to teach and at that time it seemed to harp on the negative. Now it just seems very real and honest.

[erl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was predictable before I picked it up. We know what characters Johnston will meet in is stint at Teach for America in small-town Mississippi: The gifted jock who cannot pass his classes; the many girls who drop out due to pregnancy, the student killed in a random shooting; the brilliant boy held back by his own family. We also know that Johnston will start at Greenville High School with no clue what he is doing and eventually step up to the plate. Still, every triumph gave me hope, and every defeat broke my heart. I had to read this book with a box of tissues handy. I am still ambivalent about the TFA program. It seems to offer a lot more to the the young college grads who participate in it than it does their students, who are left behind once their tenure is served. Johnston has evidently gone on to pursue a career in education reform, but who is left to champion the high schoolers of Greenville, MS? A good book prompts thoughtful questions, and this one left me with many. EDIT: I just googled him, and it seems that after teaching for a while, Johnston went to law school and is currently serving in the Colorado state legislature and running for governor of that state.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting read about Johnston's experience in the heart of the Mississippi delta. As a native Mississippian, I was interested in an outsider's take on education in Mississippi, where the dropout rate is about 35-40%. The difficult lives of the delta children reminded me of growing up there in the 50's & 60's, prior to desegregation of the schools. These children are just waiting & hoping for a way out of the poverty & despair they face every day. Teach for America brings young, liberal-minded teachers in to help these needy kids & pays them extra money to work in depressed areas. Hopefully, these kids will see a way out of the poverty.

[Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

How have I not found this book sooner? This was one of the best books about both the joys and heartbreaks of teaching I've read. This chronicles his first two years of teaching. Johnston taught in the Delta with TFA about fifteen years ago, although he went on to become a principal and, now, a state senator in Colorado.

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an education major, and my professor suggested I read this book. I thanked her after the next class. It is a fantastic book, and anyone who believes teachers are lazy, part-time workers needs to read this book.

[Lorange · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone interested in doing Teach for America, I was drawn to this book and I appreciate the candid picture of teaching this book offers.

At first, I felt that many of the stories of students Johnston discusses were stereotypical given the context in which he was teaching, and I wish more nuance was given to the specific experiences and lives of students. I wish he had dove more into discussions of schooling and identity, and had not focused mostly on experiences with male students. I wished to see a more diverse representation of perspectives. I recall only a few anecdotes about the female students, and most were about their experiences grappling with teen pregnancy. I don’t believe it true that the only hardship that these girls faced was related to pregnancy or their boyfriends.

I also wished he had talked more about the relationships with fellow teachers as that dramatically changes the experience of what it’s like to be a teacher in a service-based program, but alas that was a decision he chose to make which he speaks about in the endnote.

[Linda Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives a real perspective on education and the barriers that come with poverty. Well done!

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hesitant to read this book about teaching in the middle of the school year, but it didn't wax as philosophical as I had expected, so I managed to get through it without too much of a headache. It's always interesting to read about other teachers' experiences, especially when they're honest about the struggles of students and school systems. There were aspects of Michael Johnston's first year of teaching that I can absolutely relate to (even now - in my seventh year), and I appreciated the obvious passion he had for working with kids who had difficulties that were not always related to academics. I did find, however, at the end of the book, when he began writing about his second year of teaching, his sudden profound and enthusiastic acceptance by students was completely unrealistic. I found it so unbelievable, in fact, that it made me doubt the veracity of the rest of the book. "Whereas the first year had been replete with ridicule, harassment, and jokes every time I ventured into the hallway, in my second year I couldn't make it out my doorway without walking into a hug, a handshake, a question about track practice or August Wilson, or a student just smiling and pointing me out to a friend, 'That's my teacher right there!'" (p.200) Sorry, Mr. Johnston, I just don't believe in over-the-summer about-faces. I believe in working hard to get students and staff to like and respect you, but as for 17-year-olds singing your praises within earshot, that's right next to purple dandelions and unicorn parades on the believability scale.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

A combination of the Jungle and Heart of Darkness, Michael Johnston does not pull punches or flinch in articulating what he witnessed in his time in the Delta. It is easy to see the unsaid reminder that education is not equal for all parties in this country. A quiet call to address the short comings in the system. However, the message is blunted by unneeded words and his journey from frustrated to successful is not fully explored. Sad and a little esoteric, but certainly worth your time.

[Lis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book... At times it felt a little self-congratulatory for the author, but overall, I felt like it was an accurate commentary on the sad state of public education in poor communities - whether in Mississippi, Michigan, or Montana. Super-quick read, as it took me just a couple hours one summer morning.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the detail in how the author wrote this book. The first have was tough, emotionally. The second half was rewarding. Provides a real-life perspective on what teachers go though, especially in the some of the tougher schools.

[Odessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a fan of Teach for America folks but am enjoying hearing the mini stories of different students in 90's Greenville, MS. I was drawn to this book due to my interest in different experiences in the South as well as the author's role in co-founding New Leaders for New Schools.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read, but a very real look into the public school system in a forgotten part of America.

[Jen H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides an honest look into the challenges facing teachers in at-risk classrooms.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who is going to teach or work in an urban setting NEEDS to read this book.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good and touching book.

[Linda Garrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be beautiful, evocative and elegant. Mike Johnston IS a mensch and it shows in his prose. There are no stereotypes; instead he reflects a good deal on white privilege. Refreshing, humbling and inspiring.