Teacher at Point Blank: Confronting Sexuality, Violence, and Secrets in a Suburban School

by Jo Scott-Coe

Why would a high school teacher who loves teaching leave school—after half a career in the classroom? Teacher at Point Blank answers this question at a time when concerns about school performance, safety, and teacher attrition are at an all-time and often anxious high. Meditating on subtle and overt forms of violence in secondary public education from an up-close and "pink collar" point of view, Jo Scott-Coe defies clichés and cultural fantasies about teachers. She examines her own workplace as a microcosm of the national compulsory K–12 system, where teachers—now nearly 80 percent women—find themselves idealized and disparaged, expected to embody the dedication of parents, the coldness of data managers, and the obedience of Stepford spouses. In this groundbreaking memoir in essays, Scott-Coe recounts her own journey to recover a sane and independent voice. Teacher at Point Blank fuses her perspectives as teacher and former student, adult and child, educator and writer.

Haunted and compelled forward by memories of a classmate who commits suicide on campus, a former teacher-colleague who dies all alone, Hollywood fantasies of the "ideal teacher," and chronic reports of school violence and increasing gender crime, Scott-Coe reveals how her hopes, past and present, struggle for breath at the point blank of denial, confinement, addiction, isolation, hostility, subliminal eroticism—and, at times, a healthy dose of fear.

Jo Scott-Coe's writing on intersections of education, gender, and violence has appeared in many publications, including the Los Angeles Times, Swink, Memoir (and), Babel Fruit, Ruminate, and Green Mountains Review.

Genres: Nonfiction, Education

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 26, 2010

Reviews

[Steve]

A collection of previously published essays that together paint a disturbing portrait of suburban education in southern California. Teachers face all kinds of pressures and unrealistic expectations, especially women teachers. Scott-Coe writes beautifully, in a mix of genres and with a blend of humor and seriousness that often skewers her targets. I'd be curious to know how teachers in suburban Indiana schools respond to this account.

[Frances Borella]

I read the book cover to cover without stopping. The writing style was magnificent. As an educator, I am concerned about all the issues Scott-Coe addresses and I identified with the feelings she described. I thoroughly appreciated her thoughtful book on this serious subject.

[Matt]

I really enjoyed this book. It gave me some insight into what being a teacher is like (good AND bad) from someone who is not still teaching. I feel that if you ask a current teacher what teaching is like (especially at a public middle or high school), they will tell you that it is stressful and have other complaints, but I just do not believe you could get the honesty from a current teacher that you get in this book.

[Scott Butki]

great fascinating boook
have an interview underway meanwhile here's an interview by a friend
http://adriana-marmo.newsvine.com/_ne...

[Linda]

Did not finish book. Critical of teachers who stay within the profession. Did not care for the style of writing.

[Lindsey]

There are times when the truth about teaching hurts. I absolutely loved that someone who understands was willing to share those truths in print.