Review: The Teachers

The Teachers: A Year Inside America’s Most Vulnerable, Important Profession by Alexandra Robbins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Diane Ravitch called this book “deeply informed about the nobility, rewards, and struggles of the teaching profession” and I enthusiastically agree. I have known teaching from the inside as a 40-year veteran and as a mentor for journalism teachers. Since retiring in 2011, I have heard horror stories from those still in the field about the growing challenges faced by today’s teachers. This book documents that, and offers much more.

By following several individual teachers, informed by extensive first-hand observation and in-depth interviewing, this book tells the story of a single school year. The author is not only an excellent reporter, but she also served as a long-term substitute teacher. Although the book is not based on her own experiences, working as a teacher gives her real credibility and context.

The struggle of the teachers at the heart of this story is nothing short of heroic. Facing uncaring administrators, demanding and often uncooperative parents, over-crowded and under-resourced classrooms, they endure and prevail.

Teachers don’t need to read this book – they know what its like to serve – but all the rest of us do. This is real evidence that refutes the current false political narrative of failing schools and uncaring educators.



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