Title: When Teachers Talk
Author: Rosalyn S. Schnall
Publisher: Goldenring Publishing, LLC
ISBN: 978-0-578-00563-8
Reviewed by: Karen Cioffi for BookPleasures.com
Anyone who works in, or has worked in the Public School System will love When Teachers Talk. While I am not a teacher myself, I have a number of family members and friends who are. This book tells it like it is. It reflects the whispers and thoughts of thousands of teachers across the country.
Schnall, a retired teacher with 35 years experience with the Chicago Public School System, realizes our education system is lacking in many areas, including effective and just management of teachers and children. Schnall rose to the occasion and decided to create a survey of teachers within the Chicago system. She focused on principal abuse of teachers.
When Teachers Talk is a compilation of 500 interviews that Schnall conducted with Chicago public school teachers. It covers overt abuse of teachers; the quality of education’s decline; lack of administrative support for teachers; politics and the school system; how the children suffer; teacher attrition; what good teachers feel about the profession; and it touches on those principals who actually do their jobs with humanity, fairness, and proficiency.
Interestingly, but not surprisingly, the teachers involved in the survey all wanted and needed to make sure their responses would be anonymous. This was for fear of reprisal from their principals.
When Teachers Talk reveals that it is apparent there is a crisis in the school systems across America. The majority of teachers involved worked under stressful and at times unbearable conditions due to their principals’ abuse. There were some who actually left schools because of the principals’ actions. Some ended up sick from the stress. And, there were those who knew teachers who just up and left the profession as a direct result of principal abuse.
Along with the abuse teachers suffer at the hand of principals is the lack of support from administration and the teachers’ union. Many of the teachers voiced concern that their principals do not support them when it comes to issues with the children or their parents. Knowing a number of teachers, this is a very common complaint. Some teachers work in dangerous areas, and each year it seems the problem and uncontrollable children increase. It’s essential that teachers know the administration is there to support them.
Schnall includes a random survey and interview of ten additional teachers from the largest school systems across the country. This small sample reflects the larger Chicago study. She also includes a section that provides the teachers an opportunity to suggest solutions to this widespread problem.
When Teachers Talk is an enlightening and sobering read. It makes clear our education system is in dire need of repair. I recommend this book; I think it’s vital that everyone is aware of what’s going on and insists on change.
About the author: Rosalyn Schnall holds a Bachelor of Education Degree, and holds additional Certification in Early Childhood Education. She completed thirty hours of Graduate work at Loyola University of Chicago, Graduate School of Education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, which included a course in “Survey Research Methodology.”
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