The Courage to Teach
Parker J Palmer
1998
John Wiley & Sons
The courage to teach is a non fiction account of Palmer’s experiences of teaching and training teachers in various schools, at different grade levels. The book provides great insight into the processes within and outside the classroom that have a direct bearing on teachers’ lives.
Teachers who are reflective and are trying their best to make sense of the system, and teach to their best abilities, would find a lot of solace in this book. All teachers would gain from it, but the sensitive, reflective ones, who the system pushes towards becoming mediocre, careless teachers, are likely to find this book comforting. In addition, there are some specific strategies that schools, administrators and teachers can use.
It is significant that Palmer repeatedly talks about the need for self development for teachers. All teachers need to look inwards, something that is missing in most ‘skills’ based trainings in schools. It also highlights how teaching is not a distant profession, it engages a teacher, involving them with the full investment that one can make. To all the people who are asking why teachers are always tired and overworked, it is because it is emotionally draining to be this invested for such a substantial part of the day, knowing that the students you are investing in may not be a part of your life beyond a few years.
All good teachers are invested teachers. Palmer, time and again, brings to the fore the need for teachers to work on recognising their own emotions, and identities, without which they risk the danger of being dragged back into the world of just finding immediate solutions and employing behavioural strategies.
A highly recommended book for all teachers. Get it here or listen on audible.