Sit Down and Shut Up

Innocently stumbling into the field of education at the last minute, Roger Wong discovered teaching had many rewards, and over the years, he developed a visceral love for his chosen occupation. But sometimes, his job did not love him back! Unruly students, arrogant administrators, and even life-threatening classroom situations befell him. Unreasonable, impossible school reforms, racial dilemmas, and an unshakeable fear of failure permeated his semi-illustrious thirty-four-year career. He even endured a classroom full of fourteen-year-olds during a major earthquake! And survived!

Yet none of this averted his resolve to equip his students with a quality curriculum or his best effort at terrific teaching. Paranormal classroom happenings? Not a chance. Tuna fish and human hair sandwiches? No way. A bursting bladder? Think again.

Instead, he found himself developing lifelong friendships with staff members, an intrinsic feeling of accomplishment through helping students succeed, and even experiencing romance in the classroom. (It may not be what you are thinking!)

This book is what teaching in a public classroom is really like, without any excuses or apologies, and without wearing the rosy lenses of societal stereotypes. It’s a frank look inside the mind and classroom of one rather insignificant, average, individual teacher. He struggled to be the best he could be, sometimes succeeding, and sometimes failing in unimaginable fashion.

-- Roger Wong