Rating: 
Summary: A Book About Highschool Drama
Review: After reviewing the novel, Teacher: The One Who Made A Difference by Mark Edmunson, I would give it two stars. This book was about a boy and his high school memeories and how in the end a teacher made a difference on his future. This book only relates to the teacher every so often, until the last chapter, where finally the author lets us the reader know how his future was affected by the teacher. Throughout the book I felt like the reading was pointless and had no relation to the title. I learned more about the football plays than I did about the author being affected by his teacher. The good thing though, was some of the stories were interesting but at points they were hard to understand. The author would be explaining one thing and then quickly switch over to another, making the book at some points have no organization. Also the use of big words seemed sort of ridiculous just because the tone of the book was so casual. The words were very out of place. His use of analogies with philosophers and characters in the book was also something that kept my interest. If it wasnt't for the few funny stories and the intersting analogies I feel I would have tossed this book away a long time ago.
Rating: 
Summary: Malcolm X in Muffa!
Review: "High school is, one fears, where ultimate identity is conferred. For it is here that, for the last time in life probably, people will pull back and tell you, or at least demonstrate in no unmistakeable terms, what they truly think about you.""Teacher" is a sought after but rarely found gem to which I can relate on almost every level. I know there is something for every reader in it. For me, it works even more effectively as both a memoir and a portrait of an era than as a tribute to an inspirational teacher. I graduated from high school in 1970 and lived through and enjoyed the hell out of those times of political upheaval and the Age of Aquarius. I read "Malcolm X" and "Soul on Ice". When some Weathermen (the most radical faction of SDS) came to convert us, they warned us that all music except the Stones "Beggars Banquet" was counterrevolutionary. I loved The Incredible String Band and recently managed to find some of their songs to download, though my 16 year old daughter cringes when I play them. I graduated from Grahm Junior College in Boston, where Mark's friend Dubby played hockey (and where Andy Kaufman was our most famous alumna). And now, over 30 years later, I work in Medford, MA and one of my friends is a Medford High School teacher. To those who say "Medford High School wasn't like that" - nuts to you! EVERY HIGH SCHOOL WAS AND IS LIKE THAT! Edmundson's descriptions of his love affairs with television and football are enlightening to those of us who are indifferent or hostile to both. His loving yet totally strained relationship with his father tears at the heart. His analysis of race relations in the 70s rings very true. I agree that a followup visit with Mr. Lears would have added to the tribute, and I also wonder why there is nary a mention of Edmundson's mother, but these are minor flaws. I devoured this book in a few hours and will buy a copy to share with my book club. It is both poignant and hysterically funny.
Rating:
Summary: "Student" is more apt title
Review: "Student" is a more apt title for this book, and that is not meant to be a criticism. The teacher, Franklin Lears (probably not his real name), is in the background, and the student, Edmundson, is in the foreground. Thus, the book mirrors what Lears did some 30 odd years ago: Lears is the catalyst, the cajoler (a reticient one), the 'teacher' who holds up a mirror and asks you to critically examine yourself and your beliefs. Edmundson submitted (and submits) himself to this examination; and, without explicitly saying so, Edmundson invites the reader to do the same (he does this, I think, by writing as sincerely, honestly, and frankly as he possibly can about his own self-examination).
This book is about a lot of things, including Edmundson and Lears. It is biography/memoir, philosophy, popular culture(Edmundson beautifully interprets Johnny Carson, the Beatles, Elvis, and others), history, pedagogy. It's also filled with great writing; Edmundson is an elegant prose stylist. Unfortunately, book stores don't know what to do with this book (at least not yet). At my local "Bricks & Mortar" their only copy was tucked away in the education section. That's a pity because the book deserves a wider audience. Maybe word of mouth will spread the message. (Perhaps Edmundson has an academic's disdain for self-promotion; to my knowledge, he hasn't popped up in the usual places for authors with new books.) I would especially recommend this book to teenagers. I would do so, however, in the Lears' "You might like this" manner. There's no faster way to make a teenager hate a book than require them to read it. (Are you listening, Teacher?)
Rating:
Summary: Disappointment
Review: (...) book on NPR and that interview was excellent. (That's why I bought the book.) Edmundson focussed on what a difference Lears made in his life, and Lears spoke for a few moments, which was touching. The book's focus, however, is on football, sex, the Vietnam war and drinking for about 190 pages. Edmundson spends too much time setting the scene rather than showing the outcome of Lears' influence on his students' hearts and minds. Finally, if you endure, the last 70 pages are about how a teacher can change young lives.
Rating: 
Summary: Author should stick to scholarship not memoirs
Review: A poorly written memoir of how, in the late 1960's, a nerdy philosophy teacher, Franklin Lears, changes the life of Mark Edmundson, a high school football tough with few future prospects. Even though Edmundson himself became a professor of English at U of Virginia and a prizewinning scholar as a result, this memoir veers frequently and wildly off the potentially interesting theme of the story into incoherent ramblings about high school life at the bottom of the intelligence chain. He even misses the opportunity of seeking out Lears as an adult to let him know the profound impact he had on at least one student during Lears' first and last year as a high school teacher. This book, which received a moderately positive review in Newsweek, turned out to be a real disappointment.
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Summary: Criticism without context?, or What Does the Author Say...
Review: about Sex and Violence? Brooding over the varied, puzzling and, at times, unsubstantiated criticisms of Edmunson's memoir, I felt compelled to weigh in, offering a defense of the more ludicrous critiques, while noting my own concerns about the text. While every reviewer will inherently reflect there own cultural bias and perspective as a reader, the charges that this is text is a collection of vignettes, devoted to little more than sex, violence, football and the Vietnam War, is dismissive and misleading. What these charges neglect to present is the context in which these topics are discussed. Moreover, this suspicion of "cheap thrills" sadly overlooks one of the more significant aspects of Edmunson's memoir: the criticism and "looking back" analysis of how specific events shaped a young, directionless--I know, a bit redundant--eighteen-year old, working-class Medford boy. Edmunson's mentioning of sex, violence, footabll, or the Vietnam War are merely touchstones for larger observations about forming an independent identity and questioning the groups and group mentalities we ally ourselves with, a particularly effective examination of high school. With regards to sex, Edmunson merely skirts the issue, or mentions it in the most cursory manner. The most vivid passage is an adult Edmunson as narrator remembering his youthful conversation with another student who claimed knowledge of those girls who "do" or "don't;" at no time in the text is their a mention or description of graphic sexual intercourse. When examining the text's sexual references, the considerate reader notices the discussion is one in which teenagers' claims to sexual "authority" are merely methods to obtaining acceptance by the crowd at large. Have we not experienced this ourselves? We claim to have seen a movie, read a book, obtained some experience in an effort to fit, to gain acceptance. Edmunson reveals how Lears, the title teacher, began to transform the young author's view of his world; the very response great teachers elicit.
In addressing criticisms of the Vietnam War, Edmunson is merely noting the presence, in all its oversimplifications, of a significant cultural moment in his youth. Would we really pay attention to a book, set in a 1968 working-class neighborhood, that failed to mention the war? Is this "all" the text is about? Certainly not. One chapter details how Lears brought SDS representatives from Harvard to discuss their pro-North Vietnam/anit-war position with not only Lear's philosophy students, but any student who wished to hear them speak. While I don't want to give away the irony of what happens, let me just state that Lears certainly didn't bring the Harvard elite to educate the unwashed masses, and the SDS got a little more than they bargained for in "Me'ford." Much like the references to the Vietnam War and Sex, the alcohol and violence criticisms would lead you to believe that Edmunson's book is verbal Peckinpah. I wonder how many people stopped to consider the possibility that the violence is neither condoned nor celebrated, nor is it even sensationalized violence; Edmunson's violence is a frank discussion of the false masculinity offered in the pursuit of identity through football, a discussion one can witness every fall weekend on countless sports preview shows. Edmunson does not glorify the violence celebrated in male sports; rather, he offers an interesting analogy: A football team, vigorous group energy personified, is like the Greek armies camped outside Troy's walls; the leader of the team, coach or player, is like Achilles, fighting for honor, relishing in poetic praise the enemy's defeat. For Edmunson, this feeling was palpable and narcotic; however, his philosophy teacher introduces a new idea, the Socratic stance, marked by endless and annoying questions--something teams don't like--that lead to a revelation of everyone's limited understanding. In short, Lears offers the young Edmunson a new concept: extended comtemplation rather than rash, though enjoyable, action. This is not a celebration of violence; it is a consideration of athletic violence, and why it exists. And alcohol? Well, yes, Edmunson admits he drank, while also saying that his teenage experiments with alcohol were attempts to desensitize himself, an attempt to avoid any real consideration of why he did what he did. Hardly the alcohol-fueled debauchery other reviewers have mentioned. These comments aside, yes, this book does have flaws. Often, the reader wishes to know more about Lears, his methods, his actions, his identity. Edmunson does remain silent on these issues, especially when we desire more speech; yet, Edmunson's book is not simply about Lears; it is about the impact, both then and now, one teacher had on one student. To focus solely on Lears would be at the loss of Edmunson's reaction to Lears, and that would be a great loss; however, there are moments when I still want to know exactly what the little man did next. Edmunson's style could also be considered, at times, unnecessarily intellectual and disjointed. While I don't want to psychoanalyze the author--a statement indicating I will; my apologies--it seems like Edmunson is trying to prove he is transformed, so different than the working-class "ruffian" of his youth. As a teacher, I enjoyed this book; it reminded me of both my own transformational experiences with challenging, unique teachers, and the reasons I have chosen this career (at my alma mater, no less!)
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Summary: In Defense of Meffud
Review: As a 1960 graduate of Medford High School and then as a student teacher in English in 1965, I have to take exception to Mark Edmundson's characterization of Medford High, its students, and its teachers. Yes, Medford (or Meffud, as we natives prefer to call it) is a blue collar community. Yes, Medford High had some mediocre teachers. And yes, lots of hoods and "fast girls" were students there. But in addition to the hoods and the tramps, Medford High had some serious students, who managed to transcend the mediocrity of almost all public education in the 60s to produce some fine minds. Some of us went to Harvard, Vassar, Tufts, Amherst, Williams, John Hopkins, and the like. Others went straight to beauty school or, in the late 60s, to the military. Michael Bloomberg, the current mayor of New York City, is an 1960 MHS graduate. And Paul Theroux, the prolific travel writer, was a 1959 graduate. Countless others, whose names may or may not be recognizable, went on to make a difference in the world outside of Meffud. Many of us were fortunate to have some exceptional teachers at MHS. Perhaps Mr. Edmondson was too late to suffer under the academic rigors of Miss Kathleen Sharkey, who produced more English majors, English teachers, writers, and readers than anyone can imagine. Those of us who had the privilege and the burden of having Miss Sharkey (aka, The Shark) for English, especially Honors English, did not leave MHS without feeling the impact of a truly devoted teacher. And there were many others. Mr. Edmondson's rite of passage from thug to scholar is an interesting and impressive one. But in the process of writing about it, perhaps he should not paint Medford High, its staff, and its student body with such a broad brush. Many of us were not thugs while we were there and still managed to become well educated in the process.
Rating:
Summary: Thought-provoking
Review: Despite its occasional tedious passages, I have not stopped thinking about Teacher since I finished it a week ago. As a high school teacher and an avid reader, I picked this book up hoping it would be an inspiring story of a teacher's ability to make a difference. It is certainly that, but it is also much more. As I read I found myself contemplating Lears as a teacher and evaluating my own teaching goals and methods. While I'm not entirely convinced Lears had all the answers, this book has certainly provoked a great deal of reflection about the teacher I am and the teacher I'd like to be. Anyone who is dedicated to teaching students how to think for themselves should read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Academic dishonesty
Review: Edmundson's belligerence comes across in this book. He passes quick judgments on the academic establishment, traditional teachers, traditional parents, students that follow the rules, and traditions. What's lacking is a real feeling for the people, places, or times of the 1970s. He rarely connects with those around him, and when he does there's the uncomfortable feeling that he's making the subjects into something he desires them to be rather than what they are. It's a sad read for that reason. A few examples: he lashes out oddly at female students, who have rejected him for various reasons. I think that comes across clearly at several places in the book. He sexualizes people and places at weird times which is just a little offputting, especially because he's extraordinarily judgmental. He loves fighting apparently.
Rating:
Summary: More about Lears
Review: For everyone who read the book and wondered, as I did, what ever happened to Frank Lears, NPR did an interview with Edmundson, which is available to listen to on the web. It's about 4 minutes long. The interview was on Aug. 31, 2003, on "Weekend Edition" and the title was "Teacher Follow-Up." Amazon won't let me post the link, but to find it, do a Google search of: "Edmundson teacher npr interview Liane Hansen". After reading the book, it was fun to listen to the interview.
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