Confessions of a Rogue Teacher: A Novel [Paperback]

George Colon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 19, 2008

After a physical altercation with a troubled student, school officials remove jaded veteran English teacher Manny Quesada from his high school classroom. They assign him administrative duties in the "Rubber Room" of lore and legend in the superintendent's office where lost souls known as 'rogue teachers' await judgment.Rather than wait passively to be exonerated for what he considers justifiable defense, Manny undertakes a quest to clear himself. He uncovers startling evidence that educational officials are falsifying statistics - and that the scandal reaches the highest levels of city politics. As the new realities of urban education erode his ideals, Manny wallow in self-pity. He spirals downward on alcohol, drugs, and his favorite student, Maggie, a bright, green-eyed beauty interested—unlike the others—in learning, whose infatuation temps him in his weakened state. But then blackmail and a murder investigation cast serious doubt on his return to the classroom, and Manny must decide if his ministry to problem students can survive his personal turmoil. Reminiscent of such notable works as Blackboard Jungle, Up the Down Stair Case, and To Sir with Love, Confessions of a Rogue Teacher paints a sobering portrait of the American classroom and artfully captures the realities of public education today.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Born in Puerto Rico, George Colon survived the distractions of the South Bronx to get, besides a street education, degrees in English and education, returning to those roots to work in community social service programs and for the last thirty years, has taught English in New York City schools.

Product Details

• Paperback: 164 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (November 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595523420
• ISBN-13: 978-0595523429
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,468,434 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in 1949 in Santurce, Puerto Rico, George Colon migrated to New York with his family, settling in the South Bronx. Colon attended New York City public schools, graduating with honors from high school. He attended the State University at Oswego, receiving a B.A. in English and later an M.A. in English Education from CUNY Lehman. His Master's paper, Many Hours into an Hourglass explores Shakespeare's altering of historic time and events in his history plays.

He taught English, social studies and Spanish in Bronx schools for thirty years.

Since retiring, he's self-published a teacher novel, Confessions of a Rogue Teacher (iUniverse, 2008). A second novel, To Kill President(iUniverse,2011), exploring the1950 suicidal assassination attempt on President Truman by members of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, just came out this month. He's currently working on a memoir, A Bronx Teacher's Saga. Married, he has one daughter and just became a grandfather.