I’d Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had is television, screen and stage star Tony Danza’s absorbing account of a year spent teaching tenth-grade English at Northeast High — Philadelphia’s largest high school with 3600 students. Entering Northeast’s crowded halls in September of 2009, Tony found his way to a classroom filled with twenty-six students who were determined not to cut him … determined not to cut him any slack. They cared nothing about “Mr. Danza’s” showbiz credentials, and they immediately put him on the hot seat.
Featuring indelible portraits of students and teachers alike, I’d Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had reveals just how hard it is to keep today’s technologically savvy – and often alienated — students engaged, how impressively committed most teachers are, and the outsized role counseling plays in a teacher’s day, given the psychological burdens many students carry. The book also makes vivid how a modern high school works, showing Tony in a myriad of roles – from lecturing on To Kill a Mockingbird to “coaching” the football team to organizing a talent show to leading far-flung field trips to hosting teacher gripe sessions.
A surprisingly poignant account, I’d Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had is sometimes laugh-out-loud funny but is mostly filled with hard-won wisdom and feel-good tears.
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I enjoyed the way the story was presented. It was very well written, and gave a realistic view of what is happening in high schools across the country. It explains what teachers are up against, and shows how dedicated they are to instructing and molding the students of today.
As a retired high school English teacher, I could totally appreciate Tony Danza’s true-to-life account of life in a classroom. Danza’s insights and observations were spot-on; his spontaneity was refreshing; his lessons were creative; his honesty and humility were noteworthy. His students were lucky to have him as their teacher. But he probably …
Very well written and edited. An informative book about today’s education system.leaves the reader very thoughtful, but also entertained. Well worth reading!
An eye opening account of what educators have to go through in our country these days.
This is a really great book for teachers.
Three years ago I retired from a 37-year teaching career. This book brought back so many of the frustrations and challenges that teachers deal with on a daily basis, but it also reminded me of how much I loved making a difference in students’ lives. I appreciate Tony Danza’s efforts to bring the serious issues of education to the forefront of our …
Tony Danza as a teacher? Based on his roles in “Taxi” and “Who’s the Boss” you wouldn’t think he would be an inspired educator of English Literature, but in fact, that is exactly what he is, as described in this heartfelt and touching book. This is a very engaging and worthwhile read. It illustrates the huge challenges facing teachers and …
A true “fish out of water” story, the star of “Taxi” and “Who’s the Boss” decides to use his college degree teaching English to inner-city teens in Philadelphia.
I DiD my student teaching when I was a senior in college and can feel for him- what an eye open opening experience!.Danza does it all with self-depreciating humor, as he confronts the …
I liked how he focused on his failures as a new teacher and how he learned from them. I’ve been teaching for 22 years and his book was right on target. Very realistic and entertaining.
My daughter is a teacher and this book highlighted all the things she’s told me about. If the kids fail because they never come to class or do the work this somehow becomes the teachers fault yet you’re not allowed to discipline or enforce rules. The parents don’t care about anything but the grade and they don’t make their children take any …
I have always liked Tony Danza as an actor, but after reading this book, I think he may be an even better teacher than an actor! He had a real heart for the students in his ninth grade English course, and being a writing teacher myself (college level), I got some very good ideas from the projects he had his students work on–something that …
Historically accurate depiction of American Teaching Profession. Realistically depicts trials and rewards of the Profession. A llittle too much self congratulations for having completed what is expected.
Especially interesting for people in the teaching profession.
Soulful content as Danza explores the scene of public school education in Ameria. He carefully tries to avoid generalities and does a good job of building the characters he came in daily contact with – both educators and students – in a way that make us care about them. Most informative, very nicely written and highly interesting.
Tony Danza spent a year as a first year teacher of 10th grade English in a large Philadelphia high school. His story is inspiring and reality based. This should be required reading for everyone. A great read and story.
Highly recommend this book to young and old. Kudos to Tony Danza!
Great book about a TV star returning to his “college roots” as a teacher. He was able to win over some tough customers – administration and students as well as creatively teach the course material.
I was impressed by Tony Danza’s writing style and his teaching style. I thought this was a great read.
I think this gives a realistic look at what it’s like in an inner city school in this century. Should be required reading for all those folks who think teachers are overpaid and under-worked.