Why We Teach Now

by Sonia Nieto

Overview

Why We Teach Now dares to challenge current notions of what it means to be a “highly qualified teacher” á la No Child Left Behind, and demonstrates the depth of commitment and care teachers bring to their work with students, families, and communities. This sequel to Nieto’s popular book, Why We Teach, features powerful stories of classroom teachers from across the country as they give witness to their hopes and struggles to teach our nation’s children. Why We Teach Now offers us the voices of teachers like 42-year veteran Mary Ginley, who wonders, “Why would anyone with any brains and imagination ever want to be a teacher?” Who then answers her own question affirmatively, “It’s because somehow, even today, even with all the insanity, all the rules, all the poorly designed textbooks, all the directives to teach to the test, there are kids out there who need good teachers.”

At a time when politicians, policymakers, and philanthropists are quick to denigrate teachers’ work and arrogantly speak for the profession,Why We Teach Now offers teachers the room and respect to speak for themselves. Once again, Nietogives teachers and those who care about education the inspiration and energy to embrace their role as advocates—a role that is vital not only for the well-being of students but also for the future of the profession and our nation.

Praise for Why We Teach:

“These pieces reveal the passion and hope that keep people in the classroom. Inspiration and information, Why We Teach raises our understanding of the dedication that fuels people's commitment to this profession.”
—Rethinking Schools

“This collection of essays written by teachers from across the country demonstrates exactly why there is hope for our public schools. Their words reveal why--in spite of bureaucracy and low pay—they continue to teach. This book should be required reading for college students planning to enter the profession. Teachers already in the classroom, whether for five years or twenty-five, will be encouraged and inspired.”
—VOYA

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807773611
Publisher:	Teachers College Press
Publication date:	01/30/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Sonia Nieto is professor emerita of language, literacy, and culture at the College of Education, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She is the bestselling author of The Light in Their Eyes, 10th Anniversary Edition, Why We Teach, and What Keeps Teachers Going? She is the recipient of the 2019 LRA Distinguished Scholar Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2021 Mass Humanities Governor's Award.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Part I Introduction: From Why We Teach To Why We Teach Now 1

1 Public Schools and the Work of Teachers Sonia Nieto 9

Part II Looking Back 21

2 Kids Are Far More Than Test Scores or Why I Continued to Teach in Spite of It All Mary Ginley 23

3 Staying True to Why I Teach Nina Tepper 36

4 Looking Forward Backwards: Teaching Freedom and Democracy in the Classroom Berta Rosa Berriz Alice McCabe Jerry Pisani Amanda Smallwood Taryn Snyder Lesley Strang Jeffrey Timberlake Erica Welch 45

Part III Teaching to Define Identity

5 Somas Maestras: Our Journey to Self-Confidence, Our Passion to Inspire Others-Two Teachers Write About Identity, Advocacy, and Activism Jennifer Burgos-Carnes Vanessa Burgos-Kelly 65

6 Snowdrifts, Rattlesnakes, and the Children I Love: The Life of a Rural Teacher on the Prairie Missy M. Urbonak 75

7 Journey Down a Different Path Pamelyn A. Williams 87

Part IV Teaching to Sustain Hope 97

8 Teaching in the Now: A Mini-Essay and a Poem Christina Puntel 99

9 Creating Spaces That Breathe Hope Mary Jade Haney 103

10 Same as It Never Was: On My Return to Teaching Gregory Michie 112

11 Teaching Chemistry, Impacting Lives John Levasseur 122

Part V Teaching to Heal 129

12 Coming into Full Humanity Through Teaching, Sharing, and Connecting Matthew Hicks 131

13 Teaching to Save Our Lives Sharim Hanntoon Martinez 138

14 Teaching Jack, and Other Joys of Working with Special Children Eileen Blanco Dougherty 143

15 Teaching in the Invisible Spaces Chuck Greanoff 148

Part VI Teaching and Fighting Back 159

16 The Activist Teacher Heather Brooke Robertson 161

17 Teaching for Social Justice and Community Empowerment Jorge López 176

18 Doing Social Justice Work Through Math Mary Cowhey 183

19 Teaching on the Frontline Maria Rosario 194

20 We Can Win: Social Justice Advocacy Inside and Out of the Classroom Jesse Hagopian 202

Part VII Looking Forward 211

21 Becoming the Teacher I Am Today Amanda VandeHei 213

22 Indispensable Me (Wouldn't That Be Nice?) Criselda J. Guerra 233

23 Jumping Off Cliffs and Touching the Ground with Wings Michael Silverstone 233

24 Conclusion: Why on Earth Teach Now? Soma Nieto 243

References 255

About the Contributors 260

Index 269

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Sonia Nieto has done it again, this time providing us with a hopeful book featuring a collection of writings grounded in the lived experiences of outstanding teachers.”
—Luis Moll, University of Arizona

Editorial Reviews

"This book is a powerful contribution to the discussion about teachers, teacher retention, and educational policy. It gives voice to an often-silenced constituency—those who are charged with teaching the nation's children and adolescents. It describes the daily struggles not only of teaching, but of teaching under the current trends."

—Journal of Education

From the Publisher