When Teachers Talk: Principal Abuse of Teachers / The Untold Story [Paperback]

Rosalyn Susanne Schnall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0578005638 | ISBN-13: 978-0578005638

Principal abuse of power and principal abuse of teachers, which has been clearly documented by teachers in this book, may very well be the most significant underlying cause contributing to the decline of public education in America today. Abusive and incompetent public school administrators who treat teachers with anything less than the dignity and respect they deserve do so at the direct expense of teachers, their student populations, and the communities in which they reside. Throughout the interviews in this book, teachers give detailed accounts of how principals do not provide them with the administrative support needed to effectively teach and maintain discipline in their classrooms. They explain how they have been prevented from functioning optimally and how their best efforts to help their students have been frustrated. The inevitable results are dysfunctional, permissive, non-disciplinary school environments which produce a steady stream of students who leave school and enter mainstream society totally unequipped to take on the responsibilities of functioning adults.

 

For decades, the widespread condition of principal abuse of power has been hidden from public view. Throughout the book, teachers describe in detail, numerous examples of principal abuses they have personally witnessed and experienced, and how and why the situation remains unrecognized by the general public. Many teachers legitimately fear suffering repercussions for publicly speaking out about the problem. Consequently, parents have been almost completely unaware of its existence and the degree to which it affects their children's education. It is important to again emphasize, that the studies in this book are by no means a condemnation of all principals, and the positive contributions of good administrators have been fully recognized. The teachers who were interviewed for the educational studies in this text freely expressed their feelings regarding both “good” and “bad” principals for whom they had worked. However, the overall negative results of the studies unequivocally indicate that a crisis of major proportions may be present in many public school districts across America.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Rosalyn Schnall points a laser beam into the minds of teachers. I applaud her dedication to this project and urge everyone to read this like our children’s future depends on it—It does."  —Karen Horwitz, M.Ed, author, White Chalk Crime

"As a retired superintendent, I believe that the author has made a monumental contribution to the field of education. This book should be required reading for every school board member and superintendent, because they have the ultimate power to stop such abuse of teachers."  —Armand A. Fusco, Ed.D., author, Betrayal of Children and the Public Trust, and former school superintendent

“Finally, a book that speaks from the heart and real voice of education. The oppressive teaching conditions described by Chicago teachers resonate with the experiences of many New York City teachers, both tenured and untenured. This timely work is necessary reading for all educators, parents, elected officials, and higher education professionals in teacher preparation programs.”  —Priya Parmar, Ph.D., department of adolescence education-literacy, Brooklyn College-City University of New York, School of Education

“An extraordinary achievement. A great service to parents and the community. At last, the public can learn about the chaos in these schools.”  —Mitchell H. Messer, M.A., L.P.C., author, Managing Anger and Anger Intelligence, and former consultant to Chicago Board of Education

“Parents can never tell what a principal is really like from going to a Local School Council or PTA meeting. They are always on their ‘best behavior.’ This book exposes the real story. A must read for every parent!”  —Sherry A. Kessel, M. ED., former Chicago teacher

About the Author

Rosalyn Schnall is a retired teacher with thirty-five years experience in the Chicago Public School System. She holds a Bachelor of Education Degree from the University of Miami, FL. in Elementary Education, and holds additional Certification in Early Childhood Education. She completed thirty hours of Graduate work at Loyola University of Chicago, Graduate School of Education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, which included a course in “Survey Research Methodology.” During her years as a teacher, in addition to her regular education classes, she worked as a Home-Hospital teacher for the Chicago Board of Education for ten years, servicing sick, disabled, and terminally ill students, unable to attend school during the day. She also taught numerous extra programs during the week, which included both before and after-school Reading and Math Enrichment classes for the primary grades, as well as Saturday Academy classes. Her personal efforts were instrumental in opening an Extended Day Pre-Kindergarten Program at her overcrowded school. This program would accommodate preschool aged children who were excluded due to lack of space, the opportunity to receive an early childhood education by attending school at an alternate time. She taught this program for five years until it was closed. Her graduate work in “Survey Research Methodology” provided her with the survey and interviewing skills required to conduct the educational study which became the basis for this book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Goldenring Publishing, LLC (November 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0578005638
• ISBN-13: 978-0578005638
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #825,816 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars When Teachers Talk--You'll not be able to put it down!, November 4, 2009

By 

Sherry A. Kessel (Carrollton, Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: When Teachers Talk: Principal Abuse of Teachers / The Untold Story (Paperback)

I just couldn't put it down--reason being, I was one of 500 Chicago Public School teachers and numerous other teachers across the country interviewed in the book. But, more importantly is that YOU won't be able to put it down either. You'll be mesmerized, as was I, by the mind-boggling stories told by the other teachers who were interviewed. They describe in detail the abuse of both students and teachers--abuse going on daily-- right under the noses of the kids' parents who, by the way, are often being played like fiddles by the school principals.

This book is an anthology of one "OMG" (Oh, my God!) true story after the next. I found myself gasping in horror at what I was reading or sighing in empathy with disbelief at a teacher's plight in dealing with the stress caused directly by their administrator. The teachers' tales spotlight incident after incident of shocking, incredible, and egregious abuses of power that are perpetrated daily by school principals on their students and staffs. And, because the teachers were interviewed under the protective blanket of anonymity, they were free to pour out their hearts without fear of retribution on the job.

We all know that "Johnny can't read", but Schnall's book explains precisely why. Quite plainly, the crux of the book is that the problem lies right in the principals' offices. Thank goodness Schnall has had the courage actually write this book and to speak out on behalf of the kids --they are the ultimate victims when politics come before their welfare.

Schnall not only gives the teachers the freedom to talk of their worst experiences, but also additionally of their best experiences with principals. And, she has taken it a step further by asking teachers for their suggestions as to what can be done to improve their intolerable and deplorable work situation. Solutions are offered. Yes, the teachers offer substantive solutions. What a breath of fresh air.

I could not more highly recommend this book to anyone with a child in school. It explains what's really going on behind the scenes when you're not able to be there. Like I said, you won't be able to put it down and will want to share it with your friends. I find myself showing it to everyone I meet. And, they are mindblown and outright stunned when they realize what's really going on behind classroom doors.

WHEN TEACHERS TALK is sure to be a best seller. It is an amazing tribute to our dedicated teachers with all they are forced to endure--as well as a must read for all concerned parents. So, don't get your child's teacher an apple--get him or her this book! Or better yet-- do your kids a favor and give it to the members of your school board.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars When Teachers Talk is a Great Support for Abused Teachers, March 22, 2010

By 

Joe H. Murphy Jr. "Joe Murphy Jr" (Florence, AL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: When Teachers Talk: Principal Abuse of Teachers / The Untold Story (Paperback)

This book contains stories of teachers that have been abused mentally, verbally, emotionally, and one could even say physically due to how stress from the other abuse has affected one's health. I know from personal experience which is why I changed careers from teaching to counseling. However, these stories give me comfort and support knowing that I was not alone. Too many administrators and school boards really only care about the big salary they get and the funding they can get for their school system at the expense of the teachers and the children. Education reform is our next big task to tackle!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chicago teachers speak for those in other cities, March 23, 2010

By 

roseanne minikel (LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, US) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: When Teachers Talk: Principal Abuse of Teachers / The Untold Story (Paperback)

Ms. Schnall does public education a great service by exposing one of its greatest weaknesses-the lack of any sort of team effort made on behalf of students. Public education in the United States is a top-down management service. Students and teachers are made to serve parents, administrators and boards of education rather than having boards, administrators, parents and teachers serve students. Many administrators have run from their classrooms because of their own inadequacies, or boredom, or desire to wring the most money possible from the system before retirement. Very few enter administration with the goal of working with teachers to better educate students.

I speak from the vantage point of 36 years as a classroom teacher. Seldom during my tenure did I meet or work for administrators who knew how to lead an educational team. In fact, looking back on my career, I had the privelege of working with three true administrators. Others may have been good managers of money; some may have been great at statistics and making impressive public presentations at board meetings; others could develop a calendar; a few were really good disciplinarians, and many were so inept that they were kept silent in their offices pushing paper at high salaries. But with the exception of the aforementioned three, none knew how to better their teachers' skills or develop strong curricula. In regard to teacher preparedness and development, public education is a 'sink or swim', haphazard conglomerate of isolated classrooms, little communication and and an attitude of "make me and my child/school/district look good or I'll get you."

The teachers quoted in Ms. Schnall's work speak for all of us who have met with frustration and even discrimination in our attempts to do the best for our students.