Teacher Who Couldn't Read

by John Corcoran

Book Overview

"The Teacher Who Couldn't Read" is John Corcoran's life story of how he struggled through school without the basic skills of how to read or write and went on to become a college graduate and a high... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1561792497
• ISBN13: 9781561792498
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Length: 254 Pages
• Weight: 1.29 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

The Teacher Who Couldn't Read: One Man's Triumph Over Illiteracy

This is a very touching story of a man who didn't learn how to read until he was 48 years old and at that, it took 10 more years to become fluent at an adult level. The story is also the cry of children, in the voice of one little boy, who just cannnot get reading in the classroom setting for one reason or another, and yet, they are overlooked and passed on. In their desparation, they often use destructive methods to become somebody in the world. Unlike John Corcoran, who became very successful while hiding his secret, numerous other children live lives devoid of the possibility that could have been theirs if someone had taken responsibility to teach them the code and proved to them that education is what it says it is: the doorway to a successful future.

The Teacher Who Couldn't Read

I found this story very interesting. I could relate as a child with learning problems and having been a teacher myself. It makes you stop and think about how we are teaching our kids.

Get this book!

This book begs of us to ask ourselves some important questions: Which people in your life are struggling with reading and writing? How would you know? How would you help? Millions of Americans of every age, race, gender, and class are functionally illiterate; how is this affecting you personally? How is society suffering? Why aren't these millions of people being taught to read and write during their years of schooling? (I'll disclose a tidbit here: it is NOT because they are unable to learn to read or are `disabled'). All these questions are addressed in this must read book. It contains a raw, riveting, honest account of one brilliant man's immense suffering as a functional illiterate for 48 years as he clawed his way through school and college, taught high school, and developed his own successful business. It describes how he came to learn to read, and the amazing path his passionate quest has led him down as he has devoted his life to helping the millions who are suffering as he did. As the owner of a reading center, I see the hurt and anguish students of every age experience because they are not able to read. I also see the joy, increased self esteem, and hope they experience as they quickly learn to read and realize they aren't `broken'. Read this book; you'll be glad you did!

This is a great book that truly opens your eyes to the TRUTH about illiteracy!

(...) This was a great book. I recommend this book to people who can remember multiple events, as this is an autobiography, and the author goes over many points on the timeline of his life. The book interested me because it was a true story of someone who fought the battle of illiteracy, and made something of himself, as well as reaching out to others, instead of giving into his problem, and letting life slip by. To me, he is almost a hero, since he prevailed and is still working hard to change other people's lives. (...) Future interviews with people showed countless stories of kids getting though high-school. John made friends with other new-readers. John and all these people were not dyslexic, nor did they have any mental issues. He explains that they, like himself, simply were illiterate, and anyone who doesn't learn to read after 4th grade has a very slight chance to do so.

A good book

In this book, Corcoran brings adult illiteracy to the surface as he tells us of his own illiteracy and the struggles he had to overcome it. In the richest country in the world, it is astonishing the 1/3 of the adult population is functionally illiterate. Corcoran tells a moving story, but he switches his point to many times. He paints himself as a victim and as one who is not to blame for his handicap. Well he does offer some good valid points on correcting the educational system, he is not the one qualified to tell us what is wrong. He taught for almost 20 years, and who knows how many of his students he didn't reach because of his own illiteracy? It is hard for anyone to listen to the message that he is trying to convey.