Book Review: When Teachers Talk

"When Teachers Talk gives a voice to often-unheard public school teachers, who share true stories of biased, politically motivated and even openly vindictive principals. Based on survey results and personal interviews with 500 Chicago public school teachers between 2000 and 2005, Schnall’s new book features hundreds of teacher testimonials that expose the hidden crisis of principal misconduct in America’s schools and how it is affecting our children.

Schnall is a retired elementary school teacher with 35 years experience, serving at seven different schools and under nine principals in the Chicago Public School System. Visit www.whenteacherstalk.com for more information.

The hidden crisis in American public schools
New book exposes inept, abusive principals through teacher testimonials

Theories abound on what’s causing the decline of the American public school system, whether it’s the focus on standardized testing, programs like No Child Left Behind or just lack of proper funding. These may all be contributing factors to the weakening of educational standards; but according to veteran educator, researcher and author Rosalyn Schnall, the root of the problem lies with ineffective and destructive school administrators.

Schnall is a retired elementary school teacher with 35 years experience, serving at seven different schools and under nine principals in the Chicago Public School System. Repeated experiences with unsupportive principals who had a negative impact on both teacher effectiveness and student achievement led her to question whether this was a widespread problem in the Chicago school system—or even around the country. Based on survey results and personal interviews with 500 Chicago public school teachers between 2000 and 2005, Schnall’s new book, When Teachers Talk (Goldenring Publishing, LLC, November 2009, 978-0-578-00563-8), features hundreds of teacher testimonials that expose the hidden crisis of principal misconduct in America’s schools, and how it’s affecting our children.

“Principal abuse of power and mistreatment of teachers may very well be the most significant underlying cause contributing to the decline of public education in America today,” says Schnall, a Chicago native. “From my study, teachers working under those they deemed as ‘good principals’ proved to enhance teachers’ effectiveness and had a positive effect on students. Those deemed as ‘bad principals’ negatively affected teachers’ mental, emotional and physical health, which has an adverse impact on the children they teach.”

When Teachers Talk gives a voice to often-unheard public school teachers, who share true stories of biased, politically motivated and even openly vindictive principals. Some teach in fear due to lack of safety and security in the classroom; for others, their health is directly affected by poor principals, causing them to transfer schools and even retire early in some cases; still others are instructed by principals to pass children to the next grade who aren’t functioning at the necessary level.

Schnall currently resides in Henderson, Nev., with her husband of 17 years. She is working on a series of multi-cultural children’s books that are designed to help students develop sensitivity, kindness and positive character traits. Visit www.whenteacherstalk.com for more information. Distributed to the book trade by Small Press United/IPG."

-Courtesy of Phenix & Phenix Literary PR

I was very interested when I was presented with the opportunity to review the book When Teachers Talk. My mom was a teacher when I was growing up and she worked at several schools I attended. Even becoming my 8th grade English teacher at a Catholic school with 36 people in the graduating class! I remember how it was often a struggle for my mom to balance the needs of parents and faculty members.

When Teachers Talk confronts a problem that few are even aware of- that abuse caused by principals has a direct connection to the fact that so many public schools are failing. And how your child suffers because of this.

I have the utmost respect for the author, Rosalyn S. Schnall for covering this topic and sharing her knowledge with all uninformed parents!

The Bottom Line: This book is a must read for all parents, not just those that have kids in public school. As a child of a teacher I witnessed so many issues that teachers face that parents wouldn't even begin to know of. Be supportive of your childrens teachers, their job is so much more complicated that we will ever understand!

Thanks to Phenix & Phenix Literary PR for providing product for this review!

* I received 1 copy of When Teachers Talk to facilitate my honest review. No other form of compensation was or will be given. All views are my own!