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Lessons in Falling
Teachers are the only people willing to stay in school indefinitely. Tyler Perry in these unflinching poems presents a no-holds-barred glimpse at the working life of a contemporary teacher, based on his experiences as an instructor at a Calgary junior high school. Employing several poetic modes including prose-poem, anecdote, ghazal, incantation and more, Perry masterfully allows the reader to share his insider’s insights into the physical settings of hallway and classroom, the high energy swirl of his students, and especially the pain, fear and triumphs generated by the educational process itself.
Perry’s poems transmit a visceral reaction to the teaching world–we share the anguish, guilt and small pleasures of teachers and students as, in the pressure cooker of the mandatory curriculum, each lashes out at the other, and each displays surprising tenderness and appreciation. Searing portraits of kids in trouble, and teachers making hurtful errors as they practice their profession are here, as well as convincing glimpses of the rewards available to everyone involved when, for a moment, a classroom becomes a true place of learning. Above all, Perry’s deft command of metaphor freshens our vision of a world many of us would never want to revisit: here is the teacher as fast-food cook, photocopier as temperamental bully, school gossip as indelible stain, routine as a flood that can drown the school outcast.
These poems are as startling and accomplished as if someone could describe flowers so exactly we can literally smell their delicate aroma. Via Perry’s art, we are the teacher standing before the class, or hunched over a desk marking assignments, or watching the end-of-day press of students hurtle past the rows of lockers toward outside, toward the rest of their lives. Perry’s achievement is singular, effective, moving, and much needed if we believe education is the key to our nation’s, our community’s future.
TOM WAYMAN
Perry’s poems transmit a visceral reaction to the teaching world–we share the anguish, guilt and small pleasures of teachers and students as, in the pressure cooker of the mandatory curriculum, each lashes out at the other, and each displays surprising tenderness and appreciation. Searing portraits of kids in trouble, and teachers making hurtful errors as they practice their profession are here, as well as convincing glimpses of the rewards available to everyone involved when, for a moment, a classroom becomes a true place of learning. Above all, Perry’s deft command of metaphor freshens our vision of a world many of us would never want to revisit: here is the teacher as fast-food cook, photocopier as temperamental bully, school gossip as indelible stain, routine as a flood that can drown the school outcast.
These poems are as startling and accomplished as if someone could describe flowers so exactly we can literally smell their delicate aroma. Via Perry’s art, we are the teacher standing before the class, or hunched over a desk marking assignments, or watching the end-of-day press of students hurtle past the rows of lockers toward outside, toward the rest of their lives. Perry’s achievement is singular, effective, moving, and much needed if we believe education is the key to our nation’s, our community’s future.
TOM WAYMAN
- GenresPoetry
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 27, 2011
By turns resigned and inspiring, hopeful and helpless, Perry painted for me a very real and very honest picture of school life. I'll never forget the kick in the gut of "Back To School Assignment," made all the more chilling by the detachment of its delivery, or the many odes to the ScanTron, underlining just how much our school systems have come to rely on it for test taking and test marking.
Perry's poems brought back memories of my own time in Junior High, the good and the bad, and showed me how the teachers struggle along with the students they teach. He showed me doubts and fears and failings that I can identify with, the rare joys that make it worthwhile. Through is work, I felt I could understand what it's like to teach these kids. I thank God that there are people like him who return day in and day out to teach, and that I don't have to.
Perry's poems brought back memories of my own time in Junior High, the good and the bad, and showed me how the teachers struggle along with the students they teach. He showed me doubts and fears and failings that I can identify with, the rare joys that make it worthwhile. Through is work, I felt I could understand what it's like to teach these kids. I thank God that there are people like him who return day in and day out to teach, and that I don't have to.
March 27, 2012
A co-worker loaned this to me and I thought it would be a sweet book of poetry showcasing observations of jr. high kids. The observations are there, but reflect the harsh realities of a teacher who must witness the struggle a child faces with fitting in, life at home, passing grades, etc. paralyzed in his ability to offer the student much more than what the lesson plan dictates.
This collection is written by a local poet which had it hit much closer to home (pun possibly intended) for me as I instantly imagined what my seemingly stoic teachers were really thinking and feeling as they watched myself and my peers struggle with "lessons in falling."
Highly recommend.
This collection is written by a local poet which had it hit much closer to home (pun possibly intended) for me as I instantly imagined what my seemingly stoic teachers were really thinking and feeling as they watched myself and my peers struggle with "lessons in falling."
Highly recommend.
February 23, 2012
These poems are so true to life that it hurts sometimes. Perry describes the middle-school years flawlessly, and his teacher's perspective adds more levels to his poems as well. The diversity of pieces is superb: he goes from a haunting, heart-wrenching poem to an ironic or humorous poem within pages. And it works. I couldn't stop reading until I finished; that is a difficult feat to accomplish in a book of poetry. It helped that these seemingly different stories are all interconnected in some way or another. This was a really amazing collection. Definitely worth a read. Or many reads...
March 20, 2011
Especially enjoyed "I Don't Teach Subjects; I Teach Students" and "Yes".
November 19, 2012
Fantastic! I really enjoyed it, each time I have read it.
July 21, 2016
The first book of poetry I've not only finished, but greatly enjoyed. It's inspired me to read more poetry.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews