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libby_gt's review against another edition
3.0
I found this very conflicting to read. It's very insightful in parts (especially for a trainee teacher) and features some inspiring stories. Much of it is also "set" in Oxford so has helped in terms of approaching the area of my current placement school with more clarity.
The tone, however, is a little patronising, and all of the students referred to in the book are presented through the lens of the author's white, middle-class assumptions and biases. I also found it troubling that students' real names have been used given how personal and traumatic some of the accounts that are included are. A great idea for a book but not executed as sensitively as it could have been.
The tone, however, is a little patronising, and all of the students referred to in the book are presented through the lens of the author's white, middle-class assumptions and biases. I also found it troubling that students' real names have been used given how personal and traumatic some of the accounts that are included are. A great idea for a book but not executed as sensitively as it could have been.
andintothetrees's review against another edition
3.0
It's very difficult to rate this book. For writing style and making me want to keep reading, it gets 5 stars no doubt. There are also some interesting observations on the education system (at least the English one, though she does spend some time teaching in Scotland at the start of her career). But I found many of the author's personal opinions grating or even offensive (and it doesn't help my opinion of her that she has reacted with such hostility to other critical reviews on here - goodreads wouldn't let me link but have a look at the comments on 1 star reviews). I found the author very prone to "othering" people, whether on account of their race, class, size or ability (and of course there are mentions of how she herself and/or her children are middle class, thin and intelligent). The author seems overly concerned with the physical appearance of the children she teaches and is especially judgemental towards those who aren't thin. Her attitude towards pupils with SEN (especially ASD which is of personal importance to me, I kind of dreaded how she was going to approach it)... well, let's just say she doesn't seem familiar with the saying "if you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism" and she writes, about two autistic students, “probably [spending] more than an hour a week [with them] would irritate me too, but when only for an hour, I like them very much” She did put her money where her mouth is when choosing her own children's secondary school at least, which was good to see.
ciarareads96's review against another edition
2.0
I was very excited to read this as a trainee teacher, but it just screamed white saviorism and if you know me, you know there is nothing worse. As a teacher you can't be self-important, and that's how this book felt, so it's a no from me.
polly_baker's review against another edition
5.0
This is Britain. This is our youth. This is teaching. And none of it is as advertised.
It celebrates diversity, champions comprehensive schooling and exposes the raw challenges of being young. Heart-wrenching and life-affirming in equal measure.
Everyone should read this book.
It celebrates diversity, champions comprehensive schooling and exposes the raw challenges of being young. Heart-wrenching and life-affirming in equal measure.
Everyone should read this book.
octavosaurus's review against another edition
1.0
Congratulations Kate Clanchy, this is a book so riddled with stereotypes and racial generalisations that I couldn’t even get past the first chapter. Every single student not from the author’s middle class white background is treated as other, mocked mercilessly and used as cannon fodder to prove some kind of point. Ironically, the Kindle edition has a glowing review by Pullman on the front - the other book I gave one star to this year, only at least I could finish that.