Biography, Autobiography, Memoir discussion

Has anyone read any inspiring biographies/memoirs about teachers?

A few that come to mind

Teacher Man
The Freedom Writers Diary
The Power of a Plant: A Teacher's Odyssey to Grow Healthy Minds and Schools
The Essential 55: An Award-Winning Educator's Rules for Discovering the Successful Student in Every Child
To Sir, With Love
The Miracle Worker

I've read a few:

Lovey: A Very Special Child
The End of Molasses Classes: Getting Our Kids Unstuck--101 Extraordinary Solutions for Parents and Teachers
A Circle of Children
An Empty Spoon
The Miracle Worker
The Girls In the Back of the Class: They're High School Girls With Secrets, Trouble, And Two Choices-Dropping Out...Or Trusting Her.

I read about Helen Keller when I was a child and always found it fascinating that someone that could not see or hear could find a way to communicate.

I read Teacher Man and love anything Frank McCourt. Unfortunately, there will be no more Frank McCourt books as he has departed this world.

I have not read To Sir, With Love but have seen the movie several times and love it.

Great idea for a topic for a group read!

Hmm must watch Dangerous Minds again, the movie with Michelle Pfeiffer in it. I didnt know it was a book. Must read that one too.

Dangerous Minds by LouAnne Johnson
And "My Posse Don't Do Homework"

I want to include librarians on this as well, but in general librarians don't write memoirs about themselves but the books they read. I think I only ever read one biography that was about a librarian.

Geoffrey Alley, Librarian: His Life and Work

I liked this memoir Tales of a Jailhouse Librarian: Challenging the Juvenile Justice System One Book at a Time
and Running the Books: The Adventures of an Accidental Prison Librarian

This biography was interesting because Carnegie funded Public Libraries in America.

Andrew Carnegie: A Biography
but he a had actually written memoirs about giving away all his money, might be worth a read.

The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie and the Gospel of Wealth

Selina wrote: "I want to include librarians on this as well, but in general librarians don't write memoirs about themselves but the books they read. I think I only ever read one biography that was about a librari..."

FYI Andrew Carnegie was a robber baron--a rather contradictory one, but one nevertheless :) I wonder if he gave that money away out of guilt, to cover what he did or if there was some other reason.

Selina wrote: "I want to include librarians on this as well, but in general librarians don't write memoirs about themselves but the books they read. I think I only ever read one biography that was about a librari..."

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vickie Myron

This book is written by a librarian and is as much about her as it is about the cat.

Koren wrote: "Selina wrote: "I want to include librarians on this as well, but in general librarians don't write memoirs about themselves but the books they read. I think I only ever read one biography that was ..."

oh yes Dewey. I haven't had any cats come to the library yet.
I've been reading Library Mouse I love this book. In it the mouse wrote a memoir called 'Squeak! A life'

Karin wrote: "Selina wrote: "I want to include librarians on this as well, but in general librarians don't write memoirs about themselves but the books they read. I think I only ever read one biography that was ..."

I think he had a crisis of conscience yea, although I dont think he could actually cover what he did he was well known for making so much money. You mean as a kind of atonement...would need to read his book to find out.

I wonder who around today would be similar...Bill Gates?

Funny I never got round to reading Bill Gates memoir about the information super highway. Reading it years later might be good. The Road Ahead . Nowadays teachers have tvs and computers in their classrooms. .

Selina wrote: "Funny I never got round to reading Bill Gates memoir about the information super highway. Reading it years later might be good. The Road Ahead . Nowadays teachers have tvs and comput..."

I still remember seeing film strips in the gym. Also once a year or something like that, a movie. But we also had our worksheets printed on mimeograph in elementary school--I loved the smell of that ink! Now it would probably give me a headache. And, yes, there were photocopiers since they came out the year my mother was born, but I didn't see one for a long time and they used that weird paper.

But, yes, now it's the future! Colour TVs not only became cheaper, but there are no b&w TVs and it's all flat screen now. Small computers, and tablets smaller than we could have imagined...

Do any schools show film strips anymore? What a blast from the past!

Julie wrote: "Do any schools show film strips anymore? What a blast from the past!"

When I worked at the school two years ago all the teachers used youtube and showed them on a white board on the wall.

I really liked this memoir I've just read Born to Teach By Maureen Stahl

Mrs Stahl began teaching from the 1960s in Australia, primary school mostly and then catholic schools, emergency teaching (in nz, it's called relieving) kindy and adult education.

She recalls what they used to do before photocopiers...I vaguely remember the purple inky press things in primary school. She's got lots of stories to tell esp grades 2 and 3.

One school she had a new principal who ended up having a big drama when he ran off with one of the infant teachers. He was married, so instead of being sacked he quit and chose to be with the teacher?!

Nothing like that happened in the schools I went to lol. I think most of them had morals, although, looking back on it, I think a few of my teachers were actually lesbians that I didn't know they were at the time.

Some more to add just recently read

Childrens picture book bio of Andrew Carnegie The Man Who Loved Libraries: The Story of Andrew Carnegie

And a teacher called Donalyn Miller who really loves reading books , somewhat obssesively I think The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child
She also wrote a sequel Reading in the Wild
And Game Changer!: Book Access for All Kids

The third one is probably the most relevant and practical.

One written by a principal of a Black and Latino Boys high school in the Bronx called Eagle Academy Soar: How Boys Learn, Succeed, and Develop Character

Why is it that the Bronx is such a tough place to live? Is it the drug dealing capital of the entire US or something?

Selina wrote: "Why is it that the Bronx is such a tough place to live? Is it the drug dealing capital of the entire US or something?"

It was a particularly drug- and gang-infested area of New York City before Rudy Giuliani came in and cleaned things up.

My kids have never seen a film strip or anything mimeographed, and they are aged 19-24, so it is a blast from the past. I had my kids when I was over 30 :).

Karin wrote: "My kids have never seen a film strip or anything mimeographed, and they are aged 19-24, so it is a blast from the past. I had my kids when I was over 30 :)."

Makes me feel old!

Karin wrote: "My kids have never seen a film strip or anything mimeographed, and they are aged 19-24, so it is a blast from the past. I had my kids when I was over 30 :)."

It was probably the early 90's I used the word mimeographed and was told by the secretary in the office that they dont use that word anymore! LOL

Koren wrote: "Karin wrote: "My kids have never seen a film strip or anything mimeographed, and they are aged 19-24, so it is a blast from the past. I had my kids when I was over 30 :)."

It was probably the earl..."

Ah, how times change! They stopped using mimeograph machines sometime after photocopiers were able to use real paper rather than that horrible stuff they used to use that was similar to the orginal fax paper, but I have a vague memory of it smelling.

They did have photocopiers that used regular paper by the early 1980s for sure, because I remember using them, but I am not sure when those came out and when they became affordable for schools to use.

Karin wrote: "My kids have never seen a film strip or anything mimeographed, and they are aged 19-24, so it is a blast from the past. I had my kids when I was over 30 :)."

When I taught Sunday School, I used film strips but that had to be in the late 1980's.

Julie wrote: "Karin wrote: "My kids have never seen a film strip or anything mimeographed, and they are aged 19-24, so it is a blast from the past. I had my kids when I was over 30 :)."

When I taught Sunday Sch..."

So they were still around then. My youngest brother was still in school then, but not going to Sunday School. He graduated from high school in 1990. I wonder if he ever had anything mimeographed in elementary school. He went to the same one, but they could have updated their equipment by then.

This had lots of helpful info How to Survive Your First Year in Teaching

Yes Koren has it right. Helen Keller was one to remember from school. I am sure there was a film as well. Miracle worker

Karin wrote: "Koren wrote: "Karin wrote: "My kids have never seen a film strip or anything mimeographed, and they are aged 19-24, so it is a blast from the past. I had my kids when I was over 30 :)."

It was pro..."

I still clearly remember the smell of the pages that came out of a hand-cranked ditto machine. Nostalgia!

Fishface wrote: "Karin wrote: "Koren wrote: "Karin wrote: "My kids have never seen a film strip or anything mimeographed, and they are aged 19-24, so it is a blast from the past. I had my kids when I was over 30 :)..."

I'm so glad I'm not the only one. Of course nowadays that smell would probably give me a headache, but it didn't back then. Plus we were using them when I still loved school so it brings up happy memories.

Now reading Free Schools by David Gillespie
Its about the Australian school system but I'm finding its very interesting as similar things happen in the nz school system. I lived through a reform called Tomorrow's Schools and not sure that it really benefited anybody.

I finally got round to watching Dead Poets Society, interesting film I wonder if its based on a true story. I wasn't prepared for what happened in it but you think the title could have given me a clue lol.

Selina wrote: "I finally got round to watching Dead Poets Society, interesting film I wonder if its based on a true story."

John Keating's character was based on Sam Pickering, an English Professor at the University of Connecticut.

Interesting.
The boys in Dead Poets Society went to a 'prep' boarding school. A prep school means a school thats preparing you to go on to University right?

I'm curious about 'Finishing' schools. What are they like. Young women went to them.

This books was interesting although it didn't say too much about teachers themselves, just that many of them were mysterious to the students what they did when they weren't teaching...the boarding school teacher could be especially eccentric. Back then none of them were allowed to marry.

Terms & Conditions: Life in Girls’ Boarding-Schools, 1939–1979

Another australian book but kinda boring its called Educating Gen Wi-Fi about using technology in schools. I think judicious use of technology is good but not technology for the sake of it. You cant just park a child in front of a computer and expect them to learn anything by just playing round on it. There needs to be some kind of challenge or purpose to it.

Nowadays teachers are learning from their children lol

Teacher: One woman's struggle to keep the heart in teaching by Gabbie Stroud

I was expecting maybe a little more from this book than a memoir and moan about her job which became too stressful due to all the admin and paperwork and assessments that she quit...!

Gabbie was a kindy/primary school teacher in Australia. I'd read some books about Australian schools now being run like businesses with advent of standardised testing and NAPLAN for primary school aged children.

As a memoir of teaching I liked the stories until she became a bit depressed and lost the joy of teaching it didn't seem it was anything to do with the reforms but more that stuff was or wasn't going on in her home life. Her brother killed himself when she was 13, she married her high school sweetheart but then I was confused that she got divorced and a few chapters later she's pregnant again and living with her ex-husband. Huh? Her husband or ex, now not sure who he is is in construction and relies on her salary I guess. They have two girls. I was thinking why she doesn't just take a sabbatical and try something else or private teaching? Or tutoring? She goes part time, which seems more work, and she tries high school and catholic schools.

I'm also wondering why she isn't in a union or why she's opposed to standardisation without giving much solutions to it. She offhand made a point about installing cameras in classrooms so they won't have to keep reporting back on every learning activity they do. What about school inspectors? What happened to those? Or PD? There are endless staff meetings. But thats the thing, they come with the job (or rather calling) teachers ALWAYS complain about them but maybe thats because they haven't figured out a way to keep them short or fun! Also there's such a thing as no-contact time. And yes, marking comes with the job if you are teaching.

I think rather than memoir she ought to think a bit more and come up with solutions than just quit cos she's tired of it. Lobby for more school counsellors and support staff?

I found there's a sequel!

To Sir with Love 2.

Its 30 years later and our beloved teacher is retired, he goes back to Guyana and finds a girlfriend. Then somehow they end up in the US and he goes starts teaching inner city kids again...yet to watch it...

Selina wrote: "Interesting.
The boys in Dead Poets Society went to a 'prep' boarding school. A prep school means a school thats preparing you to go on to University right?"

Right! And "finishing" schools were prep schools for young ladies looking to marry someone as rich as Donald Trump so they could be perfect Society Ladies and hostesses. Charm school, basically.

Selina wrote: "I found there's a sequel!

To Sir with Love 2.

Its 30 years later and our beloved teacher is retired, he goes back to Guyana and finds a girlfriend. Then somehow they end up in the US and he goes ..."

Is Sydney Poitier in this one, too. Love him.

Koren wrote: "Selina wrote: "I found there's a sequel!

To Sir with Love 2.

Its 30 years later and our beloved teacher is retired, he goes back to Guyana and finds a girlfriend. Then somehow they end up in the ..."
My library has that in our system- I put a hold on it!

I watched to Sir With Love 2. He doesnt actually go back to Guyana actually he remembers his first love and goes to Chicago in America and somehow finds her there. Which is explained with some ingenious movie plot device.

Lulu and Sidney Poiter reprise their roles.

The inner city kids are no worse than the ones in London Im just wondering if its only urban schools where they need to check everyone for guns or if that happens all over in the US.

Selina wrote: "I watched to Sir With Love 2. He doesnt actually go back to Guyana actually he remembers his first love and goes to Chicago in America and somehow finds her there. Which is explained with some inge..."

I thought the first one was better but I did enjoy the second one which was basically a re-hash of the first one though he was back in America.

Charm School: The Modern Girl's Complete Handbook Of Etiquette by Kathy Buchanan

What is it about teachers and Australians. Well this one the author is Australian and proceeds to give lessons on all sorts of sticky situations that you can learn from if you are young and single (and perhaps, working in an office of a glossy magazine)

Like how to spot if someone is gay.
How to avoid paying for someones lobster dinner
How to support a friend if she wants to have an abortion ?!
What to do about user friends
Phone etiquette

A fun if semi relevant read, cos I myself never went to Charm School and didnt know all these things. Mostly common sense, but its surprising how you might go through life committing all these social faux pas without even realising it.

Teacher: One Woman's True Adventure on a Remote First Nations Reserve in Northern Canada

Well this one was kinda interesting but I didn't think much of this teacher...did she actually do any teaching? It was mostly about her complaining about living on hell-on-earth living conditions on a reserve. She took this as one of her first teaching jobs for the money. Cos she wanted to buy her own house you see, and it pays well...practically nothing but negativity about the native people and how bad they had it. She was assigned grade five. No attempt to understand the language, culture or customs of her charges. One bright spot is the children loved Bible stories, but her attitude toward other teachers and staff politics was draining. It was like 'I survived a third world community where people threw rocks at the teacher's houses'. Ok, living conditions are bad, there's alcohol and gambling, but are you really going to do anything about it?

Selina wrote: "I watched to Sir With Love 2. He doesnt actually go back to Guyana actually he remembers his first love and goes to Chicago in America and somehow finds her there. Which is explained with some inge..."

They don't NEED to constantly check all students for guns but it's true, they are far more likely to frisk inner-city kids for weapons even though so many more of the shootings are at suburban or rural schools. They continue to assess risk based on their assumptions about whether they think Susie and Jim are "good kids" or not. They find out they're wrong over and over -- Susie ODs in the girls' restroom and Jim pulls a gun on the gym teacher -- and nobody saw it coming because they were such "good kids." If you doubt me read When Good Kids Kill...

I think the risk ought to be based on ACCESS to guns and drugs for anyone not based on whether so and so is likely or not to use them. The temptation is open to anyone with free access.

Back to school time for the new year folks.
Im wondering if many teachers will go on strike again this year complaining about pay. I have come to expect it.

I dont think teaching has ever been a job where you can expect to earn a decent living with enough to spare. Both the 'one woman' books I've read have been complaining about teaching conditions...but I reckon if thats the case for those teachers they ought to have been teaching at swanky private schools and not slumming it in govt public schools.

Some helpful books...


Getting the Buggers to Behave
and You Can't Teach Until Everyone Is Listening: Six Simple Steps to Preventing Disorder, Disruption, and General Mayhem

Silent Boy by Torey Hayden


Torey was a school teacher at first but she later turned to special education and became a psychologist, or what we would term a social worker, seeing troubled kids with special cases. This book focuses on Kevin, a 15 year old boy who never speaks. Torey is the one who breaks through his elective mutism to 'teach' him, but really she's not teaching him but more spending time with him as he's staying in a series of foster homes and institutions. After he decides to talk she uncovers his traumatic history and brings him back to normalcy, by the end of the book he's 18 and going to high school and living in a group home and thriving after years of staying silent.

I found this book interesting that Torey herself doesn't use any particular method to reach Kevin just patience and love. And maybe a few books to read out loud while she's with him, waiting for him to speak.

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk

This books is useful as its got an edition for teachers.

I read how behaviourism doesnt work with rewards and punishments and that the guidance approach is better. Authors cite this work a lot Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise and Other Bribes

The trouble is schools keep using the charts and rewards system as they claim they dont have time for the guidance approach. But you have to be absolutely consistent doing the rewards and punishments or sanctions, as it turns you into a benevolent dictator.

One Child: The True Story of a Tormented Six-Year-Old and the Brilliant Teacher Who Reached Out by Torey Hayden

As title says...another Torey Hayden memoir focusing on a girl called Sheila who Torey takes under her wing in a special ed class. Sheila's mother abandoned her on the highway...her pa is an alcoholic and her uncle tries to molest her. She comes to school reeking of urine, unwashed and in rags but has a brilliant IQ and can read to 5th grade level. No school wants her cos she is unpredictably violent, Toreys class is merely a holding pattern until a place is open at the state hospital...but Torey fights for her new student and tames her with love...

What can I say its a compelling story. Im saddened at the end as inevitably teachers come to the end of the year and thats their class over...but its touching to read about children who are tough and resilient and determined to survive no matter what.

I just wonder if nowadays Torey would adopt all those children she works with or get them placed in foster homes.

Carrying on the story is The Tiger's Child: What Ever Happened to Sheila?.
Torey meets up with Sheila again 9 years later. Now a troubled teen, Torey takes Sheila under her wing again. Sheila is not the same 6 year old cute child that Torey remembers..of course, she's a teenager and sometimes Torey's white middle class assumptions grate on me reading this. Sheila regards Torey as her mum when her biological mother abandoned her and she's still coming to terms with it in this book, she does a runner several times until she settles and becomes somewhat stable and independent.

This book made me think of how devastating alcoholism is on all families...yes Sheila's parents were too young at the time, but if the dad had not got drunk all the time they would have coped.

Torey's disturbed children memoirs have become standard reading for Special Education teachers, so a handbook distilling the principals she espouses through her stories has been published called Teaching Children Who Are Hard to Reach: Relationship-Driven Classroom Practice. Torey writes the foreword in this. I had no idea that her books had such a huge following but I guess it's no surprise. Teaching practice has changed a lot since her first book One Child was published. I think all Teacher Aides and Social Workers would benefit from reading them, now there are few separate special ed schools.

A Life at the Chalkface: A Memoir Of A London Headteacher by Mike Kent

A headteacher is the British name for what we call a Principal. I really enjoyed this memoir. It covers about 30 years and its interesting because its about primary school..and how education has changed and I'm wondering how far NZ will follow suit. I didn't know that for 5 years or so electronic whiteboards were a thing, but now they are obsolete and everyone's got tablets now (although never enough to go round) maybe in the future people might cotton on to the fact that a pencil and paper and books last longer?!

Lots of amusing anecdotes in here.