Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teacher Tales

Just Heartwarmers

I understand that some teachers may wish to read "Teacher Tales" so that they can feel better about what they do. Yes, there are some heartwarming stories in this collection.

Unfortunately, "Teacher Tales" also reflects some canned approaches, practices, values, or "strategies" (in education-speak) that are being promoted by some as best practices in education today. For example, one teacher fears having students in her class whom she cannot love. She asks how it is possible to teach a child she cannot love. Really? Is it really possible to love every student? Educators have a professional job to do: we are entrusted to teach all students to their greatest potential, regardless of our personal feelings for the students. I recognize that my previous statement is blasphemous to some educators because teachers are now responsible for creating positive relationships with our students. But, ask yourself whether you love everyone with whom you have worked, everyone in your neighborhood, or everyone in your church. If anyone really could, then I would question their notion of "love."

Most of the stories in this collection reflect the underlying notion that it is the teacher's responsibility to establish positive relationships with students, and flowing from that relationship, students will naturally learn. In the last decade or two, there has been a shift in the responsibility for learning from students to teachers. M. Clabeaux's "My First Year In Purgatory" provides a far more realistic and honest assessment of the state of education today.

In "Teacher Tales," I did appreciate those stories that describe how teachers learned from their students, gained inspiration from their students, or shifted their ways of thinking as a result of their student interactions. For a balanced depiction of education today, read Clabeaux's book as well. He notes how almost every teacher will tell you that they "loooooove" teaching, but when asked how they really feel, they will give you an honest, fair, and balanced account of both the highs and the lows. If all you are looking for are the highs, then just read "Teacher Tales" and know that all difficult elements in those stories have been excised from the book's pages.

One more thing: as I reflected upon all of the stories in this collection of teacher tales, I was struck by the virtual absence of stories about academic content. Some stories talk about how struggling students overcame odds and achieved academic success, but I cannot recall stories of how that happened. As teachers, we can hold students high and set expectations for their academic achievement: we can teach to a higher level than students may think possible of themselves. What I found missing were stories or tales of inspirational lessons!