Waldo Frank was known for his serious works and so CHALK FACE came as a surprise to his readers in 1924. It's a dreadful story -- in the sense that it inspires dread -- of an unreliable narrator who loves his exclamation points and is so smug that he uses letters instead of numbers for his chapter names. John Pelan tells you the story of Waldo Frank in his introduction so you are prepared for the atmospheric tale that ensues.

On the teaching of English as a foreign language.

Tales from the Chalkface is an enjoyable and anecdotal look at teaching that also provides a serious insight into teaching practices. This book is a small slice of teaching past written by Vernon Cutler, whose teaching career spanned 20 years. Vernon worked in primary schools from the late 1960s to the 1980s, and his book is an anecdotal look at teaching told from the inside. Tales from the Chalkface records the highs and lows of his time spent in education – from the highs of initial training and promotion, to the lows of workplace bullying and feeling overwhelmed when teaching his first class. Vernon’s writing rejoices in day-to-day encounters with the delightful, unsophisticated humour of children, as well as the humbling trust and unpredictable emotional and physical needs young children bring. He also finds himself wondering how a secondary trained teacher finds himself in charge of the reception class! Vernon learns first hand the truth of Shaw’s oft quoted assertion that ‘he who can does, he who cannot teaches,’ as he finds himself teaching swimming while unable to swim, and being in charge of the school football team, while not knowing the difference between off side and off the pitch!Throughout Tales from the Chalkface, Vernon enjoys the spontaneous humour of the children he teaches, and relishes in the trust parents and pupils alike place in him.

ÿEve Osborneÿbegan teaching in a primary school as a young woman and enjoyed a colourful career, working with fellow teachers who ranged from the inspirational to the incompetent and teaching children of all abilities and backgrounds. In this book she looks back on her time at the ?chalkface?, reflecting on changes to the education system, beneficial and otherwise, and how her attitude to life, learning and teaching were moulded by personal experiences away from the classroom. "I grew up in the 1960s, the era of sex and drugs and rock and roll. When I began teaching in the 70s, I did not leave all that behind?"