As the years passed, and schools continued to decline, two of the newsletter organizers made one more effort to tell their story. A Disgrace to the Profession is the result.
360 pages, Paperback
First published July 1,2002
While the romance plot attached does indeed seem to be a distraction from the main story, and the main story itself can be rather heavy-handed at times, this book has truly made me value what I have in my work.
We are fortunate not to have the kind of backstabbing that took place in the semi-fictional Des Moines, all in the deluded hope of achieving "fairness" when those in charge don't truly understand the meaning of the word.
As parents increasingly lose control and resort to threats of litigation and media coverage, the jobs of educators become more and more difficult. The book lays bare all of these issues.
However, I'm not entirely certain if its intention is to dissuade or inspire people to enter the teaching profession, as the problem has by no means been resolved. It remains very much a work in progress.
Nonetheless, it has provided me with a new perspective on the challenges faced in the educational field and has made me more grateful for the relatively stable and drama-free environment I have at work.