Apple On An Empty Desk: Nine Reasons Why One Teacher Left the Building [Paperback]

Rachael M. Smith Traywick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 13, 2009

Offering nine reasons why one teacher walked out on her career, this book has been written in an effort to explain what's wrong with the American education system: it is a struggling system beleaguered by unclear purposes, unbearable conditions, unprofessional evaluations, unavailable values, undervalued standards, unqualified employees, underdeveloped expectations, unraveled communities and unchanging minds.

This writing will challenge mentalities, perspectives, ethics and attitudes regarding the American public education system. In short, it will show day-to-day dealings between colleagues, and it will reveal the inconsistent attitudes held by administrators. It will point fingers at some notions which need to be altered, and it will offer simple ideas that could make a difference toward positive change. This book isn't designed to repair the public education system. It, instead, is designed to give a real look at what real teachers deal with on a regular basis. It is a surprising study of what happens to the educator who succeeds. And it is an alarming look at how colleagues deal with someone else's success and popularity. This book awakens the reader to the realities and struggles of those few who truly are dedicated to the teaching profession. And then it asks real questions for you to ask yourself as a reader, as a taxpayer, as a parent and as a member of our educated society.

Product Details

• Paperback: 140 pages
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing (November 13, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 142517891X
• ISBN-13: 978-1425178918
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,003,393 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, eye-opening book, December 11, 2009

By 

Erin E. Amsberry "EEA26" (Waverly, IA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Apple On An Empty Desk: Nine Reasons Why One Teacher Left the Building (Paperback)

I believe that Ms. Smith-Traywick's book is a must read for all public school teachers and administrators. She very eloquently details her experiences teaching in a public school setting, calling attention to the negativity that she dealt with among her peers as well as her experiences with administrators who failed to hold teachers accountable. Bravo to Ms. Smith-Traywick for facing this growing problem head on and calling attention to it.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars You are kidding, right?, May 10, 2011

By 

Matthew Paul - See all my reviews

This review is from: Apple On An Empty Desk: Nine Reasons Why One Teacher Left the Building (Paperback)

Having taught in a public high scool classroom for thirty years, I must say that although she makes several valid points, Traywick-Smith's work never addresses the real problems with our public education system - especially at the high school level where she focuses her attention: lazy, unprepared and unmotivated students and the dysfunctional families that made them that way. Nor does she deal with the nonsensical, faddish reforms and the spineless administrators who attempt to implement them. But where her book loses all credibility is at the point where she defends the ridiculous "No Child Left Behind Act."

Throughout the book, the author very clearly delineates how she ostracized herself from each faculty she worked with but then throws herself a pity party and explains how she was victimized as a "have-not." What she has not is a clue! This woman claims to have spent up to sixteen hours a day working in her classroom, including weekends and overnighters, and then expects her readers to take her seriously.

All in all, this book is a sad lament to one teacher's failed career, not an objective, experiential critique of public education. If that is what you seek, order Debra Craig's "Welcome to my Classroom, Nightmare."