White Teacher (Paper) - Softcover

Inspirational and motivating...It is a book commendable to teachers, parents, and anyone else who wishes to understand him/herself better and is willing to continue to grow. In this humane and beautifully written account, Paley describes her progress in learning to deal more openly with her pupils'--and her own--perceptions of race. The reader, following Paley's progress with a succession of bright, charming, and sometimes exasperating children, sees how she became a better and more mature teacher. "White Teacher" is really a nonfictional "bildungsroman," a chronicle of both Paley's educational progress and that of the kindergartners under her charge...The stories, beyond even the lessons she draws from them, are very fine..."White Teacher" documents an admirable dedication... It is an eloquent little book. -- Julia M. Klein "New Republic" Paley's mistakes and blind spots are as vivid as the life-sized children in this portrayal of a journey toward valuing and talking about differences, and helping children to do the same. While this account does not boast of arrival...it should be of interest to anyone committed to nurturing children or to understanding human development in a pluralistic society. "White Teacher," black children: Paley approaches this largely unexplored minefield with candor and incisiveness...The wit and sureness of her observations are compelling...Repeatedly, Paley uses anecdotes to convey judgmental errors, tentative adjustments, barriers overcome, as well as a feel of the classroom--a quiet accumulation of insights which both beginning and veteran teachers will value.

Vivian Gussin Paley, a former kindergarten teacher, is the winner of a MacArthur Award and of the 1998 American Book Award for Lifetime Achievement given by the Before Columbus Foundation.