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Teacher Misery: Helicopter Parents, Special Snowflakes and Other Bullshit
by
Paperback
Published
May 2016
by Truth Be Told Publishing
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Start your review of Teacher Misery: Helicopter Parents, Special Snowflakes and Other Bullshit

Not sure if the author really enjoys teaching as much as she states.I certainly cannot connect her upbeat summary at the end of the book with all the hateful stories she fills her pages with. I have had my share of crazy stuff happen in my teaching career, but these are the most outrageous outtakes. But I did find myself connecting to a few and I certainly concur that teachers have their share of hurdles. I count myself fortunate because there has been more rainbows than thunder.

No. This is horrible. I get that teaching can be an unbelievably trying profession. I can certainly imagine all the scenarios she writes about. BUT she writes about them in such a mean spirited, judge mental, negative way with questionable language a lot of the time. I just don't even want to listen to her because she is just ranting about how horrible everyone-students, parents, administrators, etc.. are. There is no humor, or light heartedness in recounting these experiences. It's not snarky-i
...more

Rate : 4.5 stars
TEACHERS! FUTURE TEACHERS ! GET THIS BOOK NOW! Yup, you see that right! This book is a necessity for every teacher, especially the future educators. First of all, let me thank to the author for sending me a copy of an ebook version of this book. To be honest, this is not really my kind of reading, I mean I rarely, like seriously rarely read a nonfiction book, but gosh, reading this book is a real eye opener. It is funny, real, full of amazing, weird , shocking and hilarious stori ...more
TEACHERS! FUTURE TEACHERS ! GET THIS BOOK NOW! Yup, you see that right! This book is a necessity for every teacher, especially the future educators. First of all, let me thank to the author for sending me a copy of an ebook version of this book. To be honest, this is not really my kind of reading, I mean I rarely, like seriously rarely read a nonfiction book, but gosh, reading this book is a real eye opener. It is funny, real, full of amazing, weird , shocking and hilarious stori ...more

Written in a way that non-teachers may actually get a glimpse of the absurdity that teachers must hurdle to accomplish their jobs.
This book is honest and relatable enough for teachers to find company in misery. It's the tip of the iceberg and I can only hope for a sequel.
...more
This book is honest and relatable enough for teachers to find company in misery. It's the tip of the iceberg and I can only hope for a sequel.
...more

The title describes this book perfectly: miserable.
I kept waiting. Waiting for the light-hearted moments, for the "this is why it's all worth it" stories.
There weren't any.
No, this is just a person who hates her job.
It's hard to say which is most disturbing: the stories she tells about her severely troubled, needy students, or the hateful attitude with which she relives the stories.
Ms. Morris has no empathy, despite working with children who need it badly.
She complains about special needs ...more
I kept waiting. Waiting for the light-hearted moments, for the "this is why it's all worth it" stories.
There weren't any.
No, this is just a person who hates her job.
It's hard to say which is most disturbing: the stories she tells about her severely troubled, needy students, or the hateful attitude with which she relives the stories.
Ms. Morris has no empathy, despite working with children who need it badly.
She complains about special needs ...more

This book was eye-opening, intriguing and insightful.
I don’t normally read books like Teacher Misery, in fact this is the first non-fiction book I have read because I wanted to. I am so glad I did. The title of the book sets the premise for what it is about, the author goes over a series of things she has experienced with students, parents and the administration, and all I have to say is, Wow. I knew that some things were bad, but I didn’t know so much happened to teachers. I lucked out by going ...more
I don’t normally read books like Teacher Misery, in fact this is the first non-fiction book I have read because I wanted to. I am so glad I did. The title of the book sets the premise for what it is about, the author goes over a series of things she has experienced with students, parents and the administration, and all I have to say is, Wow. I knew that some things were bad, but I didn’t know so much happened to teachers. I lucked out by going ...more

Morris recounts her experiences as a teacher over the course of several years.
At first, I found myself amazed that any teacher had to put up with the behaviors of students, parents, and educators, that the author described. Truly horrifying to have to go to work and deal with that!
Eventually though, I found myself becoming weary of the author's stories. I had to ask myself, why did she go into teaching in the first place? And if she found no joy in the teaching, why did she stay so long? It just ...more
At first, I found myself amazed that any teacher had to put up with the behaviors of students, parents, and educators, that the author described. Truly horrifying to have to go to work and deal with that!
Eventually though, I found myself becoming weary of the author's stories. I had to ask myself, why did she go into teaching in the first place? And if she found no joy in the teaching, why did she stay so long? It just ...more

The author positions herself as an infallible, high-and-mighty overlord of the classroom who is victim of the dunces who dare grace her classroom. I've been a teacher for almost twenty years, and recognize the frustrations that she illuminates. I also recognize the particular form of bitterness and try to stay away from the venom that fills these teachers' souls. To spew so much eye-rolling and hate and then have the temerity to then go on a rant about all the state testing because she is worrie
...more

I think the biggest issue I had with this book was that I didn't like the writer. She comes across as arrogant and rude and all in all the writing left a bitter taste in my mouth. The whole book just seemed like a rant against everyone but the author.
I came into this book with high hopes. Being not long out of school myself, I thought it might bring back the memories of some of the insanity that occurred in my school. Either American schools are very different from English ones, or the author w ...more
I came into this book with high hopes. Being not long out of school myself, I thought it might bring back the memories of some of the insanity that occurred in my school. Either American schools are very different from English ones, or the author w ...more

I don’t understand all the reviews calling this book “funny”. It was mostly horrifying with a side of annoying. As a newish teacher I’ve experienced only a few of my own horror stories, and I bet not a single aspect of the accounts in this book is fabricated or exaggerated. That being said, sometimes I found the author’s reactions to her students to be really insensitive and sometimes rude. The instagram account is definitely funny, so I’m not sure what happened between that and the book.

Okay the name changes in the emails had me laughing, but the rest of it just made me so so sad.
These descriptions of students’ behaviors and their comments are indicative of a bigger problem, which is appalling & heartbreaking. The parents’ expectations of the teachers and disrespect for the profession as shown in this book is, unfortunately, not shocking. The administration’s willingness to kowtow to the parents and change grades is disgusting.
The quote before Part II I think sums up what thi ...more
These descriptions of students’ behaviors and their comments are indicative of a bigger problem, which is appalling & heartbreaking. The parents’ expectations of the teachers and disrespect for the profession as shown in this book is, unfortunately, not shocking. The administration’s willingness to kowtow to the parents and change grades is disgusting.
The quote before Part II I think sums up what thi ...more

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I would more accurately rate this as a 2.5 star book.
Well, now that we've gotten that out of the way, I have to say this resembles the memoir thousands of teachers across the nation intended to write one day when they finally retired and could mentally compile all of the bizarro stories they endured over a 35 year teaching career. This lady beat us all to the punch and isn't even retired. We have to take her word for it and assu ...more
Well, now that we've gotten that out of the way, I have to say this resembles the memoir thousands of teachers across the nation intended to write one day when they finally retired and could mentally compile all of the bizarro stories they endured over a 35 year teaching career. This lady beat us all to the punch and isn't even retired. We have to take her word for it and assu ...more

What the synopsis promises, the book delivers.
It's billed as humor but at it's heart, it's a tragedy. I did laugh out loud at some of the anecdotes.
The rest, as amusing as they are in their insanity, that it's not fiction is horrifying.
I do keep in mind that this is one school teacher's experience (and includes some of her colleagues' second hand) at one school. Yet we've heard the horror stories from all over.
It further emphasizes the terrible consequences of the No Child Left Behind act. I ...more
It's billed as humor but at it's heart, it's a tragedy. I did laugh out loud at some of the anecdotes.
The rest, as amusing as they are in their insanity, that it's not fiction is horrifying.
I do keep in mind that this is one school teacher's experience (and includes some of her colleagues' second hand) at one school. Yet we've heard the horror stories from all over.
It further emphasizes the terrible consequences of the No Child Left Behind act. I ...more

Ok, people who review this book saying that it's horrible, whiny, and written by an arrogant author who hates her job have it all wrong. Did you bother to read the whole book? Still other reviewers say that the stories are implausible or far-fetched. I am a teacher and I can tell you that I have been through MANY of these exact same experiences, and still other more ridiculous ones than the ones Ms. Morris mentioned.
For real teachers, and people who want to get a taste of what the American educ ...more
For real teachers, and people who want to get a taste of what the American educ ...more

I wanted to like this book, mostly because I want to support other teachers and also because I think the general public needs to read a little more about the current realities of public school, but I just didn't connect with the book. While I frequently nodded my head in agreement, I felt the writing was unorganized and somewhat repetitive (in several sections she references either the first day assignment or teaching Night...I know in 10 years she's taught boatloads of other things!). I also wi
...more

Her writing style wasn’t my favorite but I laughed over some of her stories. I do feel it was overly negative with just a touch of positive thrown in the final chapter but this may have been her honest experience. I also found some conflicting messages when she encouraged parents to opt out of testing in a later chapter bc they control what students should experience in the classroom (my interpretation) yet she shared many examples of parents trying to control the student experience in other way
...more

If you are looking for a book that is going to sugarcoat how amazing it is to be a teacher then you might as well throw this book out of the window because this is not the book for you. But this is the book that people need to read to understand the climate of schools in this era. Classroom teachers are severely underappreciated and neglected. This book written by a teacher under the pseudonym of Jane Morris is a testament to the everyday struggles of teachers in public schools.
Morris decided ...more
Morris decided ...more

This book is about teachers. What they go through and how they are so helpless in a world ruled by parents and school administration. I felt very sympathetic to their plight. I couldnt relate to some of the incidents described in the book due to cultural differences. But the book was outright shocking. In addition to feeling sorry for the teachers I was secretly glad I studied elsewhere. Because it would have been very very difficult to be friends with some of the kids mentioned.
The positive:
It ...more
The positive:
It ...more

This was a very challenging book to read. I disagree whole heartedly with the attitudes and teaching philosophy presented in the book. Many times I felt I should stop reading all together.
Although, yes teaching is an incredibly challenging profession, many of the examples given could have been turned into less explosive situations had the teacher displayed empathy and the training to deal with anxious, violent or aggressive states. In many instances I felt the teacher's reactions worsened the c ...more
Although, yes teaching is an incredibly challenging profession, many of the examples given could have been turned into less explosive situations had the teacher displayed empathy and the training to deal with anxious, violent or aggressive states. In many instances I felt the teacher's reactions worsened the c ...more

Some aspects were relateable, others were just downright petty and aggressive. There were some moments that were constructive, but overwhelmingly this book just made me upset. I teach for the students and because I love the content area I'm in. All the other stuff doesn't matter to me- sure there are those students that get under my skin, but when that happens- I think about the positive moments with those students. That's what they deserve.
...more

Aug 05, 2016
Randal White
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
psych-religion-self-help
Exhausting! Morris recounts her experiences as a teacher over the course of several years. At first, I found myself amazed that any teacher had to put up with the behaviors of students, parents, and educators, that the author described. Truly horrifying to have to go to work and deal with that! Eventually though, I found myself becoming weary of the author's stories. I had to ask myself, why did she go into teaching in the first place? And if she found no joy in the teaching, why did she stay so
...more

I found myself feeling equal parts grateful that I have not experienced things like some of the anecdotes and commiseration for the ones that sounded a lot like things I've seen or experienced. Seriously, this book reads a bit like a horror story.
Teaching is a tough profession, and it's not for the faint of heart. Just like Morris, I feel called back to a classroom year after year. The only complaint I have is that the end needed just a little more warm and fuzzy to balance all the crazy terribl ...more
Teaching is a tough profession, and it's not for the faint of heart. Just like Morris, I feel called back to a classroom year after year. The only complaint I have is that the end needed just a little more warm and fuzzy to balance all the crazy terribl ...more

Hilarious, snarky, and tragic view into the trenches of my everyday life.
I'm curious at the people who rated it low. Did they not read the part where you can only make fun of your experiences in order to survive? I'm also curious if they're teachers. As an English teacher, I sincerely appreciated it and suggested my library order a digital copy :) ...more
I'm curious at the people who rated it low. Did they not read the part where you can only make fun of your experiences in order to survive? I'm also curious if they're teachers. As an English teacher, I sincerely appreciated it and suggested my library order a digital copy :) ...more

Nov 04, 2020
Heather Leigh
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
personal-library-waiting-to-be-read
As a teacher, I felt a range of emotions while reading this collection of true stories and emails. Though I never taught high school where the bulk of these events took place, I have experienced similar and even identical situations in the primary schools where I have taught. I found the beginning of the book highly relatable! The teacher’s red pen incident from the book actually happened in my early primary classroom. So did the student eating an ink pen!
As the book progressed the high school c ...more
As the book progressed the high school c ...more

I think if I read this book 2 years ago I would have found it much funnier. I am at a bit of a jaded point in my teaching career so overall this book made me continue to be scared for the future of society (and my career, to be honest). Yet it is important for these stories to be told. Non teachers should read books like these to have some semblance of what teachers in the United States go through every day. I wish there was an elementary version of this book (as the author is a high school teac
...more

I NEVER have been able to finish a book that was nonfiction, but I was reading this whenever I had a spare moment. I have been teaching for seven years and the INSANITY spikes with every passing year. I am so grateful to this author because now I know I am not alone!!! I completely disagree with the reviews that say she writes in a mean spirited or judgmental manner. In the contrary, I laughed so much while reading this book because I CAN RELATE. I can relate to psychotic parents, disrespectful
...more

This book is what you make of it. Your attitude as you read will impact your opinion.
I related to many of the stories being told and at times wondered- is this person at my school? Other times I was horrified but not shocked by things that happened. Quite often I thought that some of these scenarios would be great case studies for department chairs and administrators or a Public School Law class.
The author tried to leave us on a positive note, but after reading I am feeling more down than up- a ...more
I related to many of the stories being told and at times wondered- is this person at my school? Other times I was horrified but not shocked by things that happened. Quite often I thought that some of these scenarios would be great case studies for department chairs and administrators or a Public School Law class.
The author tried to leave us on a positive note, but after reading I am feeling more down than up- a ...more

This book was pretty weird. A lot of situations were definitely ridiculous, and therefore entertaining because I think most teachers have experienced this kind of thing and it's so hard to explain to non-teachers what makes this job so weird. However, there was also a lot of ignorance and disrespect when discussing student identities and disabilities. Not very understanding IMHO.
Would love to read a book in this kind of setup from a fellow elementary school teacher though! Maybe I should just w ...more
Would love to read a book in this kind of setup from a fellow elementary school teacher though! Maybe I should just w ...more
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“It can be a lot of fun, and inspiring, and sometimes even downright rewarding. But the amount of bullshit far outweighs the good stuff.”
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“When this job feels overwhelming, remind yourself that one day you will die!”
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