Book Review- The Teacher Wars: A History of America’s Most Embattled Profession

Book Review- The Teacher Wars: A History of America’s Most Embattled Profession

By Dana Goldstein

C.2014 Anchor Books (Available in hardbound and paperback)

Coming from a family of educators, you would think that author would not be so critical of the “family business.” But a candid view of the history of American Public education brings out all of the warts and deformities.  For the most part, America’s public school teachers do not come from this country’s best universities, nor do they come to the classroom with the highest GPA’s.

The plight of the American public school teacher has become the fodder for politicians. It is understandable to want to get rid of poor teachers, a process that is time consuming and expensive, but voices from both the left and right have trashed tenure laws, challenged collective bargaining and have tied teacher performance evaluations to student performance on questionable standardized tests. Several teachers in Atlanta have gone to prison for changing students answers. But the notion of reviling the teaching profession is not new, as the public’s demands on the profession have outstripped many of the capabilities of teachers. Americans- especially those living in poverty- have great hopes for their children and view their children’s teachers as the lifeboat out of the sinking ship of poverty. It is supposed to be THE solution for social inequality in this country. Only it isn’t and for many reasons.

There is another side of the coin that needs to be discussed. How do we attract the best college graduates into teaching profession, if entrants know that they will be continually under the gun from parents, administrators and politicians from the very first day they enter the classroom? They will also know that their salaries will not be commensurate with the private sector and that if they decide to stay in the classroom, they will never be promoted. This is one area where there a public disconnect.

Goldstein’s look at education starts with the nineteenth century and progresses forward reviewing issue of unionization, immigration issues, and the like.

Apparently, Goldstein’s’ analysis struck a nerve as the book rose to the New York Times bestseller list. This is a recommended reading for current teachers, future teachers, school board members and the general public.

Those teachers who work in Jew Jersey will have an opportunity to hear Ms. Goldstein speak at the NJEA Convention in Atlantic City in November.

C.2015 J. Margolis