The Emergency Teacher [Paperback]

Christina Asquith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 2005

When 25-year-old Christina Asquith becomes an untrained "emergency-certified" teacher in Philadelphia's toughest school, she learns the true meaning of "making a difference", in this hard-hitting, coming-of-age true story.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Lulu.com (October 31, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1411649184
• ISBN-13: 978-1411649187
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,724,398 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely the BEST book I've read about education!, December 5, 2005

By 

Kristen Gilbreth "journalist" (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Emergency Teacher (Paperback)

You will not regret this purchase.

Journalist Christina Asquith gives the reader a gripping behind-the-scenes tour of an underprivileged school and the students trapped inside its decrepit structure.

Asquith's credentials make her a credible source on education. Her bio states she has written education stories for major national newspapers including The New York Times, and she has a master's degree in Educational Philosophy. These experiences factored into the quality of her writing, making "The Emergency Teacher" a solid investigative piece, an entralling story and a perfect training manual for teachers.

The nonfiction storyline highlights her one year as an emergency-certified teacher. Bits of history are integrated with dialogue that reads like a diary. Her writing welcomes you into her living room, offers you a fresh cup of coffee, and makes you feel involved in the plot. As a reader, I felt as if she was speaking to me as her equal, leaving behind the pretensions some authors carry into their writing. The engaging tone will be especially useful for teachers who feel lost and alone; Asquith's prose is the emotional equivalent of chatting with your best friend after a hard day: you immediately feel understood and empowered as you share advice, laughs and tears.

Like any good teacher, she entertained me, held my attention and made me care about the content. Like any good reporter, she candidly exposes the corruption, apathy and useless bureaucracy that infest far too many school districts. Along the way, I became emotionally invested in the book's main characters - the 6th graders. I didn't want to give up hope that they would somehow become "successful" due to her influence. In the end, I not only questioned my definition of "success," but also realized facilitating change in a child's life is neither quick nor easy.

Asquith took a brief recess from journalism to teach in one of the toughest neighborhoods in America. Young and idealistic, her mission was to transform her students' lives. She discovers that idealism is empty without realism, which was one of the primary themes I took away from "The Emergency Teacher."

If you have ever wanted to make a difference, this is the book that shows you how. I learned this "difference" might not always be what we intend or envision, but a child's life can be dramatically improved if we accept the challenge. Those involved in public school education - taxpayers, parents, journalists, teachers and policymakers -should read this book as the first proactive step in saving a struggling system. If the class crisis in America is fueled in part by the deficiencies in our children's classrooms, it is our responsibility to focus on what's going wrong. Social problems such as poverty and racism can be traced back, at least partially, to lack of education; this book shows you why and starts the conversation about solutions.

After the final chapter, you'll see the big picture, while also finding yourself attached to the little people lost in a system that has promised not to abandon them.

If you become angry or depressed by what you read, it is only because you have been shown the truth. If you take that information and act upon it, this book will have served its purpose: inner-city youth finally will receive the education they deserve.

P.S. Be sure to check out the reader's guide at the back of the book. It's useful for personal reflection, book club discussions or teacher training.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for new teachers, December 27, 2005

By 

K. Charlie "K. Charlie" (LaPlace, LA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Emergency Teacher (Paperback)

Ms. Asquith's book gives a true-to-life glimpse into the teaching profession. This is not your usual "balloons and butterflies" book on teaching. This book takes you through each of Ms. Asquith's experiences in the public school system ranging from culture shock all the way to grading. All teachers, young and old, must read this book! Ms. Asquith's book will prepare you for the most absurd circumstances that all teachers will eventually face throughout their career. The entire time I was reading this book I kept thinking, "wow, that happened to me too!" Ms. Asquith's book touches all your emotions: joy, laughter, and sadness for many of the public school systems in our country. This book is an inspiring tool for educators. After reading it, you can't help being excited about being a teacher!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, January 20, 2006

By 

Susan F. Cloutman - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Emergency Teacher (Paperback)

I finished Christina's book and feel like I just finished the school year myself! It was an amazingly well written, heart felt story and I'd love to see it made into a movie.