Latest Postings

SPEAKER SERIES HIGHLIGHTS FLORIDA HISTORY ( Adrienne Moore )
Treasure Coast's new radio show: 'Talkin Tourism' ( Misti Guertin, Regan Communications Group )
Martin Habitat invites all for King Day of Service ( Ebonie Reid )
Martin Habitat receives $25,000 from Publix ( Ebonie Reid )
JOIN CAPTAIN IN WORLD WAR II CLASSICS 1/27-3/18 ( Susan Opasik )

share a story | more postings »

YourHub.com \\ Stuart \\ Stories \\ Creative Writing \\ Extended Works

THE MISSING HEART

e-mail to a friend | print this | link to this

NEXT › ‹ PREVIOUS

Contributed by: Teri Pinney on 11/21/2008

I had an interesting story to tell, so I wrote a book.

"The Missing Heart: Chronicles of an Educator" is a fiction based on fact. It's about my experience as a high school assistant principal in a public school system. I write about how I overcame my own sense of doubt and fear. It's a story about finally capturing something, relishing it, and then letting it go.

Many things take place behind closed school doors---more than the general public can imagine. At the high school level, where there is so much at stake, I present an insight of the synergy that goes into effect to take the beginnings of the school year to its graduation ceremonies. I've written about human nature.

Some of you, probably teachers, will read this and find it funny. You'll recognize incidents that take place right in your own school. Others, mostly parents, will be stunned at the revelation of what goes on behind the scenes with regards to managerial and operational decisions---decisions that affect their child's education.

In some small way, my story might bring hope to those who are experiencing the very same challenges...maybe not. In either case, it needs to be told. If you're a parent or a concerned citizen, this book will give you a better understanding of why administrators and teachers say what they say and do what they do.

If you're an employee, working under similar conditions, my story might give you courage to stand up and work towards changes...or it might help you walk away.

If you're an Asian American or Pacific Islander, you know that not much has been written about the special challenges minorities like us go through, as we try to climb that professional ladder of promotions.

Finally, if you come from poverty and dejection, you'll see how in some cases you can use it to your advantage...just as I have.

The current federal legislation of No Child Left Behind has definitely made changes in the wayschools are run.Believe me; the old school house of twenty years ago no longer exists. Teachers are held personally accountable now more than ever to assure students are learning. Through regular, standardized assessments, we're also able to determine a student's learning needs and develop instructional strategies to address those needs.

Unfortunately, we have also come to use standardized testing and its results in a punitive manner. Today we categorize everybody---pitting students against students, schools against schools, and districts against districts---as the plight for a higher school grade becomes more important than the commitment to our students. Until we pull ourselves away from the numbers game, we will fail to truly meet the needs of our youth today.Rather than teaching to the student, we are teaching to the test-taker---and I don't think that's what we want.

Sexuality, violence, deception, and politics in high schools. I write about this. For obvious reasons, I've had to create fictitious names of people, schools, school district, and even cities. I've even taken artistic liberties, particularly in the dialogues and a couple of events. Rest assured, however, that the events are as truthful as I can remember ( I couldn't possibly dream up all of this stuff).

Yes, it's a controversial book, one that has been described as funny, yet disturbing. One that I'm also delighted to report has already been dubbed as" hard to put down".

It is my intention to capture the interest of all facets of readers---teachers, administrators, parents, legislators...anybody with a stake in education. There are also candid references of perturbing student and parent behavior. I share what some teachers have had to go through with violent behavior in their classrooms. I give accounts of well-meaning school administrators who are driven to reach for the stars, regardless of drawbacks. And, of course, there's the politics---school politics, that is.

Preview the book on its website www.themissingheart.com . It can be purchased there or on EBay. Makes a great gift for a teacher this holiday season! Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Borders after December 18.

The Missing Heart is a look at how No Child Left Behind legislation has changed the way we educate our children today. For the better? Well, yes and no. Read my book and come away with your own conclusions.

[Report this as objectionable content.]

SUBMIT COMMENT

Rate the above story