Confessions of a Public School Teacher: A 35-Year Veteran's Assessment on How Public Education Can Make the Grade By: Michael Marra A veteran teacher of 35 years, Michael Marra believes deeply in education’s power to change lives. His enthusiasm for helping children realize their full potential lies at the core of his lessons. His efforts to make history and economics classes relevant to students’ lives, both inside and outside the classroom, permeate his lively teaching style. Marra’s philosophy on how best to improve our public schools does not sit well with teacher unions. He believes strongly that tenure, seniority and near-endless due process protect poor performing teachers and need swift, meaningful revision. On this, Marra is unwavering, and he presents refreshing suggestions for unlocking what he believes have become the greatest shackles on American schools. Readers will be well informed to make their own assessment on these critical issues. Part memoir, part argument and part how-to guide for aspiring educators, Confessions of a Public School Teacher is a must-read for anyone who believes true learning and development to be worthwhile pursuits. Marra’s quest to leave the classroom a bit better than he found it is both his greatest support of those we cherish dearly—our children—and an invitation for the reader to join the conversation.

Anthony Augustus Angelo's earliest childhood memories revolve around his Italian American family who did everything the Catholic Church and his grandfather dictated, and continues through his unlikely metamorphosis into a public school English teacher. He speaks frankly about his own pitiful education, and the education of his students in the forty years he wielded the chalk. For Triple A, Ant'ny, or, as the kids called him, Tony, the broken English that filled his adolescent years came as an inspiration from his mother and condemnation from his totalitarian and often drunk grandfather. Loosely based on the life of author Tony Rotondo, Scratch Where It Itches: Confessions of a Public School Teacher, shares his memories of life in the 1940s and 1950s in a small industrial town in southeastern Pennsylvania. Mr. Angelo reminisces about his education in Catholic and public schools where his cheeks?facial and gluteal?bear the brunt of mean?spirited nuns during the good ol'days filled with poverty, pasta, and penance. Today, Mr. Angelo, a husband and father of three, is as hapless in the home as he is outstanding in the classroom. But his real itch is the state of education, both public and parochial. He thinks it stinks, and he wants you to know why.

"Burned Out," is the memoir of my public school teaching career and the challenges I faced teaching in public schools in Illinois and Nevada. The memoir chronicles my road to becoming a teacher and my experiences as a high school soccer coach, substitute teacher, licensed public school teacher, and business college instructor.

Explores the pressures on today's teachers and examines how the public school system--driven by statistics and finances--undermines its educators, while offering suggestions on how lasting school reform can be achieved.

An explosive new look at the pressures on today's teachers and a call-to-action for real education reform When John Owens left a lucrative publishing job to teach English at a public school in New York City's South Bronx, he thought he could do some good. Instead, he found an educational maelstrom that robs students of real learning to improve the school's statistics at any cost, even demonizing its own support system: the teachers. Using first-hand accounts from teachers across the U.S., Confessions of a Bad Teacher is an eye-opening look at the dire state.

A student standing on a wall threatening to moon the school, while simultaneously flipping the bird to approaching police officers. A boy who quotes verbatim "R" rated films while running around the room half-naked. Back-and-forth banter where kids insult each other (on purpose) for the sake of memorizing good "comebacks". A loner whose mom locked him out of the house to teach him a lesson, and his attempt to jump off a roof to teach her one. On that first, innocent, and fateful day, as he stepped into the mire of public education, these were not the stories that Derek Stooks imagined he would eventually tell. What he discovered was that it was the student's words, actions, tears and yes, their craziness that would ultimately impact his life in profound ways. Take a front row seat on this hilarious journey through the beginnings of a career in Special Education, where the stories are too unbelievable to be anything but true. Then join him as he makes the transition into teaching General Education, learning the "ups and downs" of dealing with a system in which the cards are inevitably stacked against you.

In this hilarious and highly practical book, author and professional speaker Scott Berkun reveals the techniques behind what great communicators do, and shows how anyone can learn to use them well. For managers and teachers -- and anyone else who talks and expects someone to listen -- Confessions of a Public Speaker provides an insider's perspective on how to effectively present ideas to anyone. It's a unique, entertaining, and instructional romp through the embarrassments and triumphs Scott has experienced over 15 years of speaking to crowds of all sizes. With lively lessons and surprising confessions, you'll get new insights into the art of persuasion -- as well as teaching, learning, and performance -- directly from a master of the trade. Highlights include: Berkun's hard-won and simple philosophy, culled from years of lectures, teaching courses, and hours of appearances on NPR, MSNBC, and CNBC Practical advice, including how to work a tough room, the science of not boring people, how to survive the attack of the butterflies, and what to do when things go wrong The inside scoop on who earns $30,000 for a one-hour lecture and why The worst -- and funniest -- disaster stories you've ever heard (plus countermoves you can use) Filled with humorous and illuminating stories of thrilling performances and real-life disasters, Confessions of a Public Speaker is inspirational, devastatingly honest, and a blast to read.