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UFSD 71: A School Novel
Not since Bel Kaufman’s 1964 novel Up the Down Staircase has a funnier book been written about teachers and teaching.
In 1971 Richard Nixon is in the White House preparing to run for a second term and Watergate is on the near horizon. Though winding down toward "peace with honor," the war in Vietnam is still in the headlines and protestors are in the streets. On Long Island, in Union Free School District 71, it is the beginning of the 1971-72 school year. At Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Memorial High School teachers, administrators and students begin counting down the days until June. First-year English teacher Jesse Tietjen has joined the faculty of R&G and discovers on day one that teaching isn’t what he expected it would be. Neither are the teachers he encounters at the endless meetings that fill his day.
UFSD 71 will do for education in America what Joseph Heller’s Catch 22 did for the dysfunctional military. This dark comic novel with its assortment of bizarre characters is shocking, thought provoking… and laugh out loud funny!
In 1971 Richard Nixon is in the White House preparing to run for a second term and Watergate is on the near horizon. Though winding down toward "peace with honor," the war in Vietnam is still in the headlines and protestors are in the streets. On Long Island, in Union Free School District 71, it is the beginning of the 1971-72 school year. At Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Memorial High School teachers, administrators and students begin counting down the days until June. First-year English teacher Jesse Tietjen has joined the faculty of R&G and discovers on day one that teaching isn’t what he expected it would be. Neither are the teachers he encounters at the endless meetings that fill his day.
UFSD 71 will do for education in America what Joseph Heller’s Catch 22 did for the dysfunctional military. This dark comic novel with its assortment of bizarre characters is shocking, thought provoking… and laugh out loud funny!
628 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 31, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 18, 2019
Enjoyed this book. The book has many humorous parts to it. Good light reading and very entertaining.
November 30, 2020
Joseph Scalia has written an amazing book that truly takes you 'down the rabbit hole' of public school education in the 1970s.
Set in the somewhat fictional town of Farmington, NY, within Nassau County, we are introduced to the convoluted history of Farmington (once Hicklerville) - which leads us right into the convoluted creation of Rosencrantz & Guildenstern High School. Who better to lead such a wacky school than Principal Seymour Baltz, who may best be described as part Godfather and part Captain Queeg. Principal Baltz is supported by a somewhat trusty staff that may have been extras from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest!
Amid all the turmoil, lunacy and devilish plots to manage staff that dare to question Baltz's authority, we find Jesse Tietjen, a first year teacher who is ready to improve young minds and instill a love of learning - if he can navigate the archaic rules, after school meetings and literally psychotic staff at R&G..! What follows is truly a book that can go toe-to-toe with Catch 22. Anyone who has spent any time in a public school will recognize *all* of these characters - and you'll wonder how Scalia could have crafted such an all-star (albeit certifiable) cast!
Several subplots are brewing throughout this book that seem to twist, turn and intersect. We have a vice-principal slowly becoming unhinged, staff romances, warring unions within the same school and, central to it all: a mysterious graffiti writer who is simply everywhere. Scalia also keeps you anchored to the time period with several 'In the News' features. These snippets bring in real historical events that were happening at the time of the book and add to the reality of this unreal story.
If you ever wondered who really runs a school - or where the custodians go after the AM bell rings - or what goes on in those admin meetings, read this book! You will not be disappointed!
Set in the somewhat fictional town of Farmington, NY, within Nassau County, we are introduced to the convoluted history of Farmington (once Hicklerville) - which leads us right into the convoluted creation of Rosencrantz & Guildenstern High School. Who better to lead such a wacky school than Principal Seymour Baltz, who may best be described as part Godfather and part Captain Queeg. Principal Baltz is supported by a somewhat trusty staff that may have been extras from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest!
Amid all the turmoil, lunacy and devilish plots to manage staff that dare to question Baltz's authority, we find Jesse Tietjen, a first year teacher who is ready to improve young minds and instill a love of learning - if he can navigate the archaic rules, after school meetings and literally psychotic staff at R&G..! What follows is truly a book that can go toe-to-toe with Catch 22. Anyone who has spent any time in a public school will recognize *all* of these characters - and you'll wonder how Scalia could have crafted such an all-star (albeit certifiable) cast!
Several subplots are brewing throughout this book that seem to twist, turn and intersect. We have a vice-principal slowly becoming unhinged, staff romances, warring unions within the same school and, central to it all: a mysterious graffiti writer who is simply everywhere. Scalia also keeps you anchored to the time period with several 'In the News' features. These snippets bring in real historical events that were happening at the time of the book and add to the reality of this unreal story.
If you ever wondered who really runs a school - or where the custodians go after the AM bell rings - or what goes on in those admin meetings, read this book! You will not be disappointed!
November 16, 2021
Having attended this perhaps not so fictional school, in this not so fictional town on Long Island, during this particular school year, I’m dying. Names are changed, sort of. Some characters are based on real people, others not so much but OMG, I can pick them out. Of course most of these stories are ridiculously made up, others could be loosely based on reality. I’m not sure. I’m fairly certain though that there is no teacher buried in the memorial park next to the school, but nothing would surprise me. I wish the author would have added the teacher who used to hide in trees to catch the kids cutting, although maybe that is Willy, I don’t know, lol.
One of the funniest things I read was the advice to a new teacher on how to deal with administrators coming into the classrooms to observe the teachers. Have the students stand up and sing and unite against the intruder. Everyone raises their hand, total participation. Genius.
Some of the nonsense that goes on behind the scenes is crazy. Politics even in school. Who wants you to hire their kid who is totally unqualified, who is blackmailing who. This was a very funny book with but also showed some of the creativity that teachers use to teach kids and they don’t even know it.
Thank you “Mr. Scalia” one of the favorite teachers that no one forgets. ❤️
One of the funniest things I read was the advice to a new teacher on how to deal with administrators coming into the classrooms to observe the teachers. Have the students stand up and sing and unite against the intruder. Everyone raises their hand, total participation. Genius.
Some of the nonsense that goes on behind the scenes is crazy. Politics even in school. Who wants you to hire their kid who is totally unqualified, who is blackmailing who. This was a very funny book with but also showed some of the creativity that teachers use to teach kids and they don’t even know it.
Thank you “Mr. Scalia” one of the favorite teachers that no one forgets. ❤️
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews