To Teach to Love

by Jesse Stuart, J.R. Lemaster (Illustrator)

Stuart's autobiographical account of much of his educational career. This great Kentucky novelist, short story writer, poet, and teacher writes about his boyhood, his elementary school and high school experiences, and his days at Lincoln Memorial University. He tells of teaching in a one room rural schoolhouse, his experiences as a county school superintendent, and his stay as a teacher at American University in Cairo, Egypt. He explains what classroom methods worked best, and why, and speculates on what has gone wrong with American schools.

315 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1987

About the author

Jesse Hilton Stuart was an American writer known for writing short stories, poetry, and novels about Southern Appalachia. Born and raised in Greenup County, Kentucky, Stuart relied heavily on the rural locale of Northeastern Kentucky for his writings. Stuart was named the Poet Laureate of Kentucky in 1954. He died at Jo-Lin nursing home in Ironton, Ohio, which is near his boyhood home.

Reviews

[Poiema · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesse Stuart was born to hardworking but illiterate parents in the backwoods of Kentucky in 1906, and attended a one-room country schoolhouse. He had a thirst for knowledge that couldn't be quenched. He met his goal to attend a highschool in a nearby community, but that only whet his appetite for college. The amount of resolve and hard work that attended his decision to go to college required nearly super-human effort. It was almost heartbreaking to hear how hard he had to work, but he was willing to do anything in order to go to school. Today it is hard for us to even imagine having only one change of clothing, or having to sit in class hungry. This type of hardship seemed to attend his every step, and yet it didn't quench the stories and the poetry that flowed from his heart to his pen. He was prolific and more prolific as the hardships increased.


Jesse had such gratitude for each of his teachers. He wrote of them fondly, dissecting their strengths, their foibles, their methods, and what they contributed to his education. There was never a dull moment in all of this, because Jesse had the ability to make them come alive. I could feel his love for them, and the inspiration that he derived from each one.


"My purpose in going to college was not to expand my earning power. I had teachers who taught me that knowledge was the greatest thing I could possess, that a college education would awaken the kingdom within me--- help me expand my heart, mind, and soul." pg 307


Later, when he became a teacher, then a principal, then a superintendent--- he continued to face hardships and political battles with schoolboards, and liquor stores who were selling to underage minors, and sundry rivals. It was fortunate Jesse possessed brawn as well as brains, because he was on occasion called upon to use it. A genteel world it was not!


Jesse achieved an amazing amount of success as a writer, a poet, as well as in the field of education. At his prime, he was called to teach students from twenty-one countries and five continents. He has an amazing story, and an amazing love for what he was called to do. The idea of "calling" has perhaps gone the wayside, but this is the quote I love best from Jesse Stuart:


"Teachers who don't have the calling aren't worth your good tax dollar--- and I use the word "calling" in the old-fashioned pulpit sense. A good teacher has either to love his kids or his subject. A great teacher loves both and marries the two." pg 304

[Drew Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was a pretty easy read that taught a lot about how to teach. I would recommend this book to any of my colleagues wanting to become a teacher

[Bailey Austin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5… perfect read for the first week of teachers college!

“to live in this new world our youth need education- the best we can give them- not only in science and technology, but in poetry and beauty and perhaps most of all in character” (8)

“ I have come to know the secondary pupils very well. And to know them is to love them, regardless of their virtues or faults” (300)

[April Pickard · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read on the pursuit of education.

[Heather Ummel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating. I think my favorite of Jesse Stuart’s books, having been working my way through them.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great autobiography!!