book data
211 ratings, 3.81 average rating, 24 reviews
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published
October 1st 1990
by Jove
binding
Paperback, 192 pages
isbn
0515105198
(isbn13: 9780515105193)
description
The author's experiences as a teacher in the slums of London.
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 272)
Read in May, 2008
recommended to Vinita by:
Krishnan
Its a very simply written book and a well written one. I expected it to be a melodramatic, overly expressive book, but it wasn't. The simple descriptions gave a wonderful picture of the environment in which the children were brought up, their school and also a good idea of how east London looked. There are a lot of movies on the same theme and I believe we begin to in a way sub-consciously expect the same kind of drama in older books. And that's what I was afraid of when I picked it up. This boo...more
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Read in November, 2007
I really enjoyed this book. It was very interesting to learn more about education in the late 1940s, and much of it surprised me. Some of the teachers' behaviour and comments - wow. And I didn't realise it was so much like primary school in some schools - no real subject specialisms, being taught in a class by the same teacher for most of the time. The book is heartwarming and it's also good to see how much attitudes to race have changed in this country. I do wonder though why he seems to have l...more
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Read in September, 2007
Maybe because I’m a teacher working in an area with students who are highly at risk or some other reason, I was a bit disappointed by this book. I really felt like the author was just tooting his own horn…but I guess he kind of had to if he wanted to tell a story of success. I’m sure at the time this was such an amazing story because this kind of thing hadn’t happened often…maybe considering the context it was a big deal. But it didn’t really do much for me.
I don’t know, it ...more
I don’t know, it ...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
—
Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
teachers,
My copy says, "Infinetly better than The Blackboard Jungle"
We'll just see about that and also how it compares to Stand & Deliver and Dangerous Minds.
Stay tuned.
Well, now I am finished and I really enjoyed it. I found the tone very engaging and enjoyable. It dealt with some heavy topics of poverty and class and race, but not in a way that left me feeling hugely guilty. Only a little guilty!
Next I will have to rent the film.
We'll just see about that and also how it compares to Stand & Deliver and Dangerous Minds.
Stay tuned.
Well, now I am finished and I really enjoyed it. I found the tone very engaging and enjoyable. It dealt with some heavy topics of poverty and class and race, but not in a way that left me feeling hugely guilty. Only a little guilty!
Next I will have to rent the film.
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Read in January, 1999
My English literature teacher choose it as a material for my midterm exam. It is a classic example of "black and white" indifferences, pros and cons on how people perceives African American in the early age. Some classmates are not to fond of it, but in my opinion, the way He(sir) dedicated himself toward education, love and life is the one thing that we should admire and be proud of.
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Read in May, 2008
What I learned:
America is still a very new country because the same Racism they had in 1950s England, they have in 21st century America
Fighting doesnt help
but neither does being a pansy
Children need guidance,
but adults might not be the best to give it to them.
America is still a very new country because the same Racism they had in 1950s England, they have in 21st century America
Fighting doesnt help
but neither does being a pansy
Children need guidance,
but adults might not be the best to give it to them.
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Read in April, 2008
I just finished re-reading this book for work. I loved the book in high school, and I was happy to rediscover it. I recommend it to anyone who is a teacher or who had a teacher that changed his/her life. A great inspiration.
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Read in May, 2007
Well, this is the first and the best story book that I've ever read. Expressing the teacher's love, the relationship between the teachers & students & also the life of being the black people. That story is awesome!!!
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I read this book in my English class Sr. year in high school, and it is one of the few books that stayed with me. I liked this book, minus the swear words, and learned from the message the book was sending.
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Read in January, 1999
This is the book I read during my school life as a chapter in my English text book...
I loved this story very much, it touched my heart, after that I'v also seen the movie made from this novel....
I loved this story very much, it touched my heart, after that I'v also seen the movie made from this novel....
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Such an amazing story of rising up out of your situation to better yourself and others! Not just a great read for teachers (although I'm partial), but for anyone needing a powerful lift-me-up.
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Read in January, 1977
Read this long ago in high school and remember loving it. I loved the way this teacher got the street wise tough kids to soften up and like learning.
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Great book about the struggles of a first year Black teacher in England after WWII. Reminds me of why I teach...sometimes...
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i don't know anything about the movie, but this novel is moving, an education on this time in history as well.
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One of the few books I have read many times (in high school mainly). I was sadly disappointed with the film
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To sir with love shows how one manes influence and behaiviour changed childrens lives
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probably the fisrt book i read on how to face and survuve obstcles... love this one
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Watch the movie instead. If you've seen the movie, don't bother reading the book.
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this book is very good...a film was made from it and it was excellent !
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fiction (on 9 people's shelves)
classics (on 5 people's shelves)
currently-reading (on 3 people's shelves)
education (on 2 people's shelves)
biography (on 2 people's shelves)
modernism--lost-generation (on 1 person's shelf)
movies (on 1 person's shelf)
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autobiography (on 1 person's shelf)
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