Teacher Man Book Review

Not Everyone Can Be a Teacher Man

By Hailee W.

            As the sequel of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Angela's Ashes and 'Tis, Frank McCourt's memoir Teacher Man had a lot to live up to. It did not disappoint. Teacher Man, a story told through witty anecdotes, regales readers with McCourt's experiences teaching in New York City.

            As a inexperienced and insecure first time teacher in 1958, Frank McCourt was not the ideal candidate for any teaching position (he scored a 69 on the teachers examination, and the passing score was a 65). Despite this, he began teaching at McKee Vocational and Technical High School, a school full of rough housers and troublemakers. Faced with the task of teaching students that didn't want to be taught, McCourt told them stories of his past life in Ireland. He taught with unorthodox assignments and in time, McCourt gained respect from his students (but not always from his supervisors).

Even after being fired and hired numerous times, McCourt continued teaching. He taught new students at different schools, and as time went on, McCourt learned just as much from his students than they learned from him.

Frank McCourt is a writer that knows where humor is appropriate - everywhere. His transitioning from story to story is amazing, and almost never seems forced. It is McCourt's story telling talent that make the memoir memorable (my favorite: the student that refused to come to class because the Giant's game was on). The book contents itself, however, became repetitive after part two. His student's complaints became a dime a dozen, and while McCourt's internal monologue was slightly entertaining, it wasn't exciting.

            I have never heard of Frank McCourt, but after reading his memoir, Teacher Man, I am compelled to learn more about him and his work. While my experience on memoirs is limited, I would suggest you read anything by McCourt.

Teacher Man, by Frank McCourt, Scribner, Nov. 2005, 258 pages