Why Do We Gotta Do This Stuff, Mr. Nehring?: Notes from a Teacher's Day in School

by James Nehring

This book offers to parents and teachers life in the secondary classrooms with punch and spark. It combines fine descriptions while giving the essence of teanage life. Author James Nehring tells what your kids never will as he discusses what he thinks about it all. Most importantly, he exposes the pitfalls and opportunities facing teachers. First Ballantine Books Edition.

Genres: Teaching

190 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written in the 1980's when the technology complaint was Walkmans. It is dated, but the main points still ring true. Public education was set up with the industrial revolution in mind and real learning doesn't fit neatly in 45-50 minute chunks. It was comforting to read the teachers' complaints and know that they haven't changed since Aristotle. The answer to the implied question in the title is that students do need to understand why they are being asked to do things in the classroom because they are more likely to buy into it. Nehring only gives one example of how he explains things, but he is very adept at it. He explains citing sources and plaigiarism by using the example of someone in the class having a great idea that everyone loves and someone else in the class taking credit for it. It hits home for the student because they know it could happen to them. The book is a fun read, but dated, and doesn't really offer any ideas for solutions.

[lauren dado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny rant about "personal catastrophes" that miraculously stop occurring after eighth grade...