Review: apparently I missed the "absurd"
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 07 22, 2012
Or I couldn't find it in the story.  Because I'm still not quite sure if this book is an indictment of the school (or school systems), teachers, parents, students, politicians or meant to indict all of them for their lack of impetus and wherewithal to make a change.The story follows two teachers in a low-income, low performing school - and the daily challenges met as they attempt ( and that felt half-hearted) to teach their students.  They are jaded and seem to just be going through the motions - while they are both excited to find a spark of achievement in one or two - they are so busy teaching for the end of year tests for measuring progress that so much is lost.If this is a warning to everyone to show the decline of education in this country - it is a spectacular winner.  As a commentary on teachers - I have to say they don't look all that wonderful, more ineffective and uninspired. This is, of course, far outweighed by the lack of caring, support or comprehension of the damage done by the administration functioning in this post "no child left  behind" world. Sadly - all the children that we encounter are not only left  behind - but are fighting to be seen.