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Books Related to It's Your Time You're Wasting Frank Chalk - ISBN: 0955285402
Top of the class - Rated
Thank God, a teacher who finally had the guts to speak up about the truly dreadful state of comprehensive education in this country. Anyone who's considering teaching as a career should read this; I wish I had before I became a teacher...
An Entertaining Read - Rated
I found this a most entertaining if disturbing read on a teachers experiences of trying to teach some of the most ungrateful people in the world; the modern British teenager. I have worked in the Education system in a number of roles (including classroom teacher) that a good deal of what Frank Chalk has written rings true with me and other teachers I have worked with.
The writing style is accessible, light-hearted and easy to read. The depictions of the pupils, the other teachers and the leadership team may seem to be fictional but unfortunately, they are all too real. The depiction of the parents will ring true with many teachers who have dealing with these types of people frustrating (I must admit that I hope that I never have to use Frank Chalks methods of dealing with an irate parent with self harm) and it could be argued that many of societies ills can be placed at their doors. Read the book and you will see what I mean.
I would recommend this book to everyone who cares about the education of future Briton's, but also to those who think that teaching is an easy job because of the length of the holidays. Not only does it show that a teachers lot is not an easy one (not helped by lazy parents), but also that people who have not worked in education should not be allowed to make any decisions regarding its future.
Should remove some heads from the sand! - Rated
This book did not surprize me, it did not faze me, it did not offend me. Sadly i am aware of the lack of disapline and structure and even hope available for some children these days. We all know there are varying degrees of 'bad' schools and this may be just one example but it is a perfect example of how 'human rights' are being taken for granted and abused, where bad behaviour goes unpunished and good behaviour or good intentions are somehow lost of suffocated. Where teachers reconsider what they are actually able to bring to students - or if they are wasting their time. Where parents wont hear anything other than their child is only misunderstood and didn't mean it when they punched their teaching in the face, they've got ADHD you see. And the sad irony of the child who wants to learn but spends most of their efforts supporting their drunk mother or drug dependant mother's boyfriend.
We have got to do something, reading this and accepting it does happen is a start.
It's your time you're wasting - Rated
As a supply teacher I had high expectations of this book but sadly I have been very disappointed. The books is mostly tiresome commentry and description of the problems encountered by a fairly typical innercity school in anywhere town in Britain. The descriptions are accurate and mildly funny although I don't think the book is a source of entertainment for those working within the education system.
The book provides no analysis of the underlying causes of all these problems and does not offer possible solutions. It is just a rant and one thing that teachers do best is rant and complain. I share many of his laments and I have exerienced much of the same behaviour described which is why I don't need to read about it in a book. Give me some profound insights, whitty observations and plenty of irony and I'd have enjoyed the book much more. As it is I'm going to have to leave it hanging around a staffroom for others to peruse and make their own judgements.
Best Book I Have Read This Year! - Rated
I taught for two years in a school like this before fleeing to the private sector. This book pulls no punches and isn't afraid to tell the real story of the modern inner city comp. I laughed so much at the various stories and the book is full of funny comments and sharp observations. He also suggests a few solutions which won't be popular with liberal readers but which make very good sense.
In short you will roar with laughter and possibly cry with anguish at what is going on in our sink schools.
