Barbara Maria Kovacs

Chalkboard Jungle: One Teacher's Struggle to Survive in the American Public School System Barbara Maria Kovacs

Publisher Marketing: Brenda Connor dreamed of being a teacher her whole life. Recently graduated from college, she's thrilled when she gets a job as a public school math instructor. But her joy soon turns to despair when she realizes the job she dreamed of is something of a nightmare. First, the length of her employment is based on the results of a standardized test known as the FCAT. What's more, Brenda's students are disrespectful and uninterested in learning-and in spite of Brenda's phone calls, their parents don't care. The administration is determined that students must improve their test scores-no matter the cost. Brenda quickly finds herself under the watchful eye of assistant principal, Mrs. Harrison, who-instead of offering her support-seeks to get rid of Brenda, documenting her performance in the classroom and threatening to place her on a professional disciplinary plan Brenda's only friend, Mr. Fisher, is also under evaluation. They are both thwarted at every turn, harassed via weekly interrogations and classroom reviews. Brenda's dream of being a teacher is vanishing before her eyes, and she must decide: are students worth fighting for, or will she give in to administrative pressure and quit before stress destroys her body and mind?