Draper, Sharon M. (2001)
Not Quite Burned Out But Crispy Around the Edges: Inspiration,
Laughter, and Encouragement for Teachers.
Westport, CT: Heinemann.
Sharon Draper is a seasoned educator and in her book Not Quite Burned Out, she shares her thirty years of teaching experience with the reader. She shares her knowledge, her fellow teachers' experiences, and her heart as well. She stresses issues that most teachers face and shares methods of teaching some of her colleagues have used. By detailing a variety of experiences, she directs this book at all teachers.
These are stories of triumph, tragedy, and tribulation. The tragic stories are not designed to deter teachers but do portray the reality of some classrooms and the community beyond school. Draper feels that if we see the tragic, we can enjoy the triumphs even more. She starts and ends the book with inspirational stories told to help the new teacher understand what they have embarked on, that they have a journey with hardships and victories. She reminds seasoned teachers why they started and why they should stay in the field of education.
The author conveys that teachers are not alone in helping students. Parents are important contributors to the child's development. Her experience sheds light on what teachers can do to get parents involved and how to open the school doors to interested parents. She urges teachers to take initiative and show parents how to embrace an active role in their child's education.
Draper emphasizes that each teacher needs to know his/her students. Students bring the outside world into the classroom and those feelings and emotions will affect the student's behavior and learning ability. Teaching methods should be student centered. The book cites cases of how some teachers adapt their teaching philosophy to incorporate students' background and environment: "She decided that the only solution was to teach them by using their rules not hers, their knowledge base instead of her own" (p. 12).
One such case involves a ninth-grade English teacher who, after struggling against the influence of television, decided to give, " homework assignments that required her students to watch television intelligently" (p. 17). The ninth-grade class eventually took responsibility to, "write, produce and direct their own television show" (p. 17). This and other examples illustrate how teachers can solve the real problems encountered when trying to meet state regulated standards and raise the abilities of their students.
Along with the true stories, Draper adds a couple of fictional stories for courage and inspiration. Each story has its own message to the reader. The first story asks that we keep our eye on the big picture and the second enlightens us about obstacles that we may encounter. She has a wonderful way of spinning a tale to emphasize her point, but she also makes the reading enjoyable without sounding preachy.
To conclude, Draper weaves inspiration and tragedy together with ideas and methods to bring new and old teachers a book that will provoke thought and emotion. She explores her philosophies and those of her colleagues to make the reader think about their students, how to teach them, and how to interact with them everyday. She is a wonderful storyteller and an inspiration to all teachers who deeply believe in what they are trying to accomplish. I strongly recommend that you pick up this book and have a look for yourself.
Pages: 117
Price: $13.95
ISBN: 0-325-00365-3
Reviewed by Craig Robinson, Point Loma Nazarene University
