Small Victories: The Real World of a Teacher, Her Students, and Their High School

by Samuel G. Freedman

Book Overview

Small Victories is Samuel Freedman's remarkable story of life on the front lines in the sort of high school that seems like a disaster with walls--old, urban, overcrowded, and overwhelmingly minority. Seaward Park High School, on Manhattan's Lower East Side, has been ranked among the worst 10 percent of high schools in the state--yet 92 percent of its graduates go on to higher education. The reason is dedicated teachers, one of whom, English instructor...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060162546
• ISBN13: 9780060162542
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 431 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Great story . . . and it's true

I have read this book 2-3 times, and I thought that my daughter who is going into teaching would appreciate reading it as well. Teaching is definitely full of "small victories" each and every day in the classroom.

The Single Finest Portrait of an Inner City Teacher and Her Students

Over the past quarter century a slew of teacher memoirs have appeared on the market. Some have been enlightening, some occasionally useful, and some a bit self-serving. But the subject of this account did not choose to speak for herself--nor did she seek to have her story told. For this reason alone the narrative "case study" that ensued when NYT's journalist Freedman walked in the shadow of this teacher is both believable and compelling. What the reader gains is insight into the daily life of a teacher struggling to make a real difference in the lives of disadvantaged kids. I could relate, having spent a decade teaching in a similar setting, and therefore recommend it for education faculty to share with preservice teachers (of English) or instructors of courses on contemporary American education and its socio-cultural contexts. Moreover, the profiles of individual students from a range of ethnic backgrounds gives the reader insight into their home lives and how their lack of social capital, save for one caring teacher, nearly prevented them from higher academic aspirations. That being said, I take umbrage with the tired accusation, levied in the editor's review that the system is solely to blame. Many bureaucrats work against nearly insurmountable odds; some are former teachers themselves who burned out along the way. And the families--especially the parents but also the students involved--must shoulder some of the responsibility for what they do or do not achieve. This simple reality is often conveniently overlooked by the finger-pointers. All in all, this is an easy narrative read with poignant depictions without the gratuitous sentimentality to go with it. I'm sure the teacher in focus must have been satisfied with the journalist's effort to sketch her life as an educator.

Stark Reality

I found Small Victories to be a text of incredible value for the even-handed way that it lays out the profound problems facing the New York City Public School system-- from the exhaustingly ponderous beaurocracy and latent racism of the Board of Education to the extreme poverty and violence that surrounds the students all of the time. Freedman cuts back and forth between sections of personal narrative and the political and social history of the Lower East Side so that you really gain an understanding of the way that many of these problem has been created and maintained by the education system over such a long period of time that overcoming them may be quite difficult. The story of Jessica Siegal, the teacher profiled in the book, is one of amazing courage and dedication that sinks into a depressing story of insurmountable obstacles such as uninterested politicians, bitter, lazy educators, and rampant poverty. The small victories that she achieves are incredible and important but are so far from remedying the very real problems of the school system, which short changes so many thousands of students in so many ways, that it is hard not to be left with a sinking feeling that the large failures of the system that surrounds Siegal just might swallow up the pride and drive off the teachers like her who perservere. Though this may be incredibly depressing it is a story that needs to be told and I applaud Freedman for tackling such a difficult topic with such a keen eye and unrelenting dedication to the truth.

Excellent, gripping, affecting and important book

I was very moved by this book which intertwined the stories of the lives of a dedicated teacher and her lower East Side students, many of whom faced giant obstacles to their academic success. I particularly appreciated the author's smooth narrative style, which contributed to his effectiveness in painting real lives. I was also grateful for the complete absence of a "preachy" tone, or a self-righteous attitude sometimes found in books on this subject. With the many stories in today's newspapers about NYC firing yet another school chancellor, students failing standardized tests, etc, this story, with its detailed descriptions of daily life in the classroom of a typical NY high school, and the colorful personalities of the school administrators, faculty, and the students they seek to educate, made a real impression. Not just statistics or hysterical arguments, but real lives, passions, and burnouts. Small Victories was very helpful to me to read in my effort to develop a more detailed understanding of the public education system and the problems facing young people today. An excellent story, cooly told with a powerful shape and impact.

It depicts the true struggle of life in poor area of NY city

This moving and engaging book is the written form of the movie STAND AND DELIVER! Well, not exactly, its a different plot, a different set of students, but its theme is similar. It depicts dedicated, caring, and truly amazing teachers at their very best bringing hope to students who have came from a neglected, hopeless, situation. The talented journalist Samuel Freedman has decided to tell us what life is for the students of Seward Park High School in NY city. During the 87-88 school year he literally trails around English intstructour Jessica Seigel and from his observations hes has compiled Small Victories. These are students who have come from families to poor pay rent for a house with working sewage, often abused at home, many immigrants, homeless and being shuttled between boarding homes and shelters. And yet, the talented, but moreover dedicated, instucours -- especially Jessica Siegel -- can turn many of these students around and help them see their dreams. How, can, form one of t he lowest 10% schools in US 90 % of graduates go on to higher education colleges? From a school where people come as their last choice, they come here knkowing they are "Built to Fail". Samuel Freedman takes us on spectcular journey thru Seward park high as we get to know the students crowded 30-40 per class, the teachers underpaid and overworked, a poor and underfunded high school, and a marvelous feat. This has been one of the most fascinating books I'v ever read. Indeed, though originally a college assignment, it has truly transformed my view of the "other end" of the world. Those who dont have what we take for granted -- a nice suburban home, money for clothes, heating, and food. How then can they be expected to even THINK about school... while the drug dealers drive "golden plated limosines"...? The wrong path is very tempting, the red carpet is lies for them. This book has taught me about what is th miserable reality for many inner city families, an imporant lesson in years of class work wont tell me. Indeed this book has a major significance for american education system. How can students like this strive so hard to get into some college while in "our world" those who have all dont care to? This book taught great lesson for american education, improtant lesson for life -- however in a different manner. It is very enjoyable to read .. not like a statistical study on american education... almost like a novell. Yet it shudders you to think ALL THIS IS TRUE... THIS IS (unfortunately ) REALITY. It is after all our world we should know about it.Review written by Sonya Dave', Foothill JUnior College, Los Altos Hills, CA :-) Hope you like Small Victories the same.