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literaryk's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing, amazing read. It's informative, statistically and historically, while making a strong argument for abolitionist, intersectional teaching. It's heavy and powerful and makes you eager to read. I highlighted something on almost every page to keep and learn from. I may have to buy more copies because I want to share this with so many co workers!
bookherd's review against another edition
4.0
This is a critique of the current American educational system and a call to do better, especially for children of color. It condemns a mindset that parents, teachers, and children should be satisfied if a child merely survives primary and secondary education, and demands that children should get what they need to thrive from teachers and school. The book describes some of the ways that could happen--by teachers (as well as other community members) contributing to creating a "home place" for their students, for example, teaching students in whatever ways possible that they matter. There are chapters that explain the concept of educational survival and what it looks like, the ways racism shows up in education right now, the necessary ingredients of abolitionist teaching, along with examples of abolitionist teachers from the past, and the usefulness of critical race theory for creating a language to speak about the kinds of racism that has been mostly unacknowledged by whites in charge.
Bettina Love, the author, mixes this critique and primer on racism in education with examples of her own experience as a Black girl growing up in Rochester, NY, and her experiences as a teacher and a teacher educator. These anecdotes flesh out what she is writing about in a way that is helpful to someone who hasn't had her experiences, and in this way it is a very personal book. But she is careful to point out that it isn't enough to read a book or attend an anti-racism training for professional development. She says teachers need to get to know and love their individual students personally, in order to be invested in them, to want them to "win."
This book contains lots of references to events in the news, authors, and educational and critical race theories, all cited with endnotes. It's an inspiring book. There were some places where I thought Beacon Press could have done a better job editing, but I recommend this to anyone who works in education.
Bettina Love, the author, mixes this critique and primer on racism in education with examples of her own experience as a Black girl growing up in Rochester, NY, and her experiences as a teacher and a teacher educator. These anecdotes flesh out what she is writing about in a way that is helpful to someone who hasn't had her experiences, and in this way it is a very personal book. But she is careful to point out that it isn't enough to read a book or attend an anti-racism training for professional development. She says teachers need to get to know and love their individual students personally, in order to be invested in them, to want them to "win."
This book contains lots of references to events in the news, authors, and educational and critical race theories, all cited with endnotes. It's an inspiring book. There were some places where I thought Beacon Press could have done a better job editing, but I recommend this to anyone who works in education.
leighbeevee's review against another edition
5.0
This should 100% be required reading for every educator and person who has children, period. Excellent and critical.
meags816's review against another edition
5.0
Read it. Read it again. Take notes. Talk to someone who’s read it. Read it with a book group. Do the work.
charleyroxy's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
loentropy's review against another edition
5.0
I was first introduced to the work of Dr. Bettina Love when I attended a lecture on abolitionist teaching in the summer of 2020. It took me 3 more years to actually read her book, but I am so glad I did.
I naively read this hoping for step by step instructions on what actions to take in my classroom to be an abolitionist, but of course it is not that simple. This book clearly emphasized to me that much of the preliminary work to becoming an abolitionist teacher is theory and mindset. The actions will follow after my awareness is changed. It helped me see how white supremacy is rooted in our current education systems, dominant culture and in my own mind.
An important book for all radical teachers that don't want to further contribute to the 'educational survival complex'.
I naively read this hoping for step by step instructions on what actions to take in my classroom to be an abolitionist, but of course it is not that simple. This book clearly emphasized to me that much of the preliminary work to becoming an abolitionist teacher is theory and mindset. The actions will follow after my awareness is changed. It helped me see how white supremacy is rooted in our current education systems, dominant culture and in my own mind.
An important book for all radical teachers that don't want to further contribute to the 'educational survival complex'.
leahrdswan's review against another edition
4.25
Read this for class but its a good book to start with abolitionist teaching
courtandspark's review against another edition
5.0
Love's vision applies antiracism to our lives (as educators) in and out of schools. Her demand on educators to not reimagine schools and teaching, but to "[tear down] and [replace] (our pedagogy with one) rooted in participatory democracy and intersectional justice" is a call to action that I hope we all work to answer (p. 123). I feel like I will be thinking about this book and returning to it for a long time.
lorayne's review against another edition
5.0
EVERY teacher and anyone else who works with our youth needs to read this book YESTERDAY!! If you care at all about their lives and futures, you will do your part to help them succeed by doing your work first.