Notes from a Classroom: Reflections on Teaching by Kay McSpadden

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School Library Journal

Adult/High School A candid portrait of the 30-year career of a South Carolina public high school English teacher, these 72 short essays were previously published in a Charlotte, NC, newspaper. A devout adherent to the democratic principles of public school education, this no-nonsense, disciplined, at times pedantic ("Mrs. McSatan") teacher expects only the best from her students. She makes no exceptions for race, gender, disability, or family-income status. Confessing that she sometimes fails to show empathy or compassion in the classroom, McSpadden clearly cares deeply for her students, and they for her. Interwoven throughout are pieces of a more personal nature, providing a glimpse into the author's home life as mother and wife. Juxtaposing the personal with the professional helps to humanize the persona of "schoolteacher." Claiming that her mother promoted Socratic thinking/questioning to her as a child, McSpadden uses this same style of critical pedagogy within her classroom, referring to Socrates often in her essays. She concludes with a list of the books, plays, and films that she uses in her senior English classes, along with brief explanations as to why she chose these particular sources and how she believes they help foster critical-thinking skills in young adults. McSpadden's reminiscences about the rewards and challenges of her work should provide insight to students considering a career in education.-Jodi Mitchell, Berkeley Public Library, CA