Teacher
One Woman's Struggle To Keep The Heart In Teaching
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4.6 • 158 Ratings
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
Gabbie's story needs to be shouted from the rooftops. She very eloquently shows us why and how education needs to change...Teacher made me laugh and cry. I loved it!' - Kathy Margolis, former teacher and activist.
Watching children learn is a beautiful and extraordinary experience. Their bodies transform, reflecting inner changes. Teeth fall out. Knees scab. Freckles multiply. Throughout the year they grow in endless ways and I can almost see their self-esteem rising, their confidence soaring, their small bodies now empowered. Given wings.
They fall in love with learning.
It is a kind of magic, a kind of loving, a kind of art.
It is teaching.
Just teaching.
Just what I do.
What I did.
Past tense.
In 2014, Gabrielle Stroud was a very dedicated teacher with over a decade of experience. Months later, she resigned in frustration and despair when she realised that the Naplan-test education model was stopping her from doing the very thing she was best at: teaching individual children according to their needs and talents. Her ground-breaking essay 'Teaching Australia' in the Feb 2016 Griffith Review outlined her experiences and provoked a huge response from former and current teachers around the world. That essay lifted the lid on a scandal that is yet to properly break - that our education system is unfair to our children and destroying their teachers.
In a powerful memoir inspired by her original essay, Gabrielle tells the full story: how she came to teaching, what makes a great teacher, what our kids need from their teachers, and what it was that finally broke her. A brilliant and heart-breaking memoir that cuts to the heart of a vital matter of national importance.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
There’s no denying that NAPLAN testing is a hot-button issue. But beyond the attention-grabbing headlines, what does it mean to be a great teacher and provide children with enriching educations? With equal parts humour and frustration, Gabbie Stroud’s unflinching and honest memoir cuts straight to the heart of the matter. Teacher recounts Stroud’s highs and lows in the classroom, examining the toll that a test-driven education model takes on students and teachers. This timely read will make you laugh out loud and also break your heart.
Customer Reviews
Grateful
Thank you for writing exactly what so many are feeling. 5 years and I’m totally exhausted, sucked dry of the passion that burned within me at the beginning of my teaching career. I was a late bloomer and didn’t start in the classroom until well into my 40’s. I had worked in and around school in various roles for 15 years prior. I clearly remember a teacher I worked with in 2013 telling me I was crazy wanting to be a teacher. She explained that teaching had changed dramatically and the workload had trebled with the introduction of NAPLAN, the National Curriculum and Professional Teaching standards. I laughed it off, how hard can it be when I will be doing what I love most, inspiring and encouraging our future leaders? How naive. Now I find myself working 10 hour days, stuffing lunch in my face at 3pm (first time I would have eaten since breakfast), put in at the very least 4 hours on the weekend and at reporting time I average 13 hour days and work the entire weekend!! And my passion, well, I’m too tired to feel it let alone anything else. Sadly our education system is at breaking point. Teachers cannot maintain their workload let alone the 6 hours a day managing 25+ individuals who have baggage of their own, emotions, lack of self regulation and social skills!! I can’t fit all that HAS to be fitted in a day which leaves my lessons boring, sterile and rushed!! No deep learning or understanding is achieved. In short, our schools are factories where we manipulate minds, extinguish emotions, discourage creativity and produce robots that are our future leaders!! Gabby you are a brave and beautiful goddess and I admire your courage to speak out!! Thank You!!
Teacher Life
When I started reading this book, I felt as if I was looking into a mirror and watching my life play out. I can relate so much to this book, as I feel I have reached the end of my teaching career and it has only been 6 years. You will not want to put this book down, as Gabbie has really painted a clear picture of what the life of a teacher is like. An amazing lady and an amazing read 👌🏽
Enthralling read!
This book pulls you in and is hard to put down. My heart hurts after reading this book.