A review by samdalefox
The Last Teacher by Chris Dietzel

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.75

Utterly enraging. I'm completely on the side of the 'villain' in the book, the headteacher. The reaslisation the teacher comes to, that I'm sure is meant to be the inspiring revelation and is the apex of the plot, that she should preach 'the children can be anything they want' is utterly wrong. Wrong morally and practically. The author goes to pains to paint a dystopian backdrop

[the human race is going extinct]

, it is perfectly reasonable and desirable to encourage the remaining humans of the human race to do what they love, want, and need WHILST recognising the very real limitations and challenges ahead of them. This is the healthiest way to approach it. This is what our generation desparately wants right now as we are facing a very similar prospect with the impending climate crisis. I cannot express how tone deaf this short story is. Completely unecessary, uninspiring, and downright dangerous rhetoric to believe in.