The Realities of Teachers' Work

This text follows the fortunes of the teachers of Hillview Primary School over ten years. It explores what it is like to be a primary or elementary school teacher in an urban school with around 200 children, mixed in social class and ethnicity, and suggestd what we can learn from them in the future. The author describes the school as a workplace, focusing on four key features: the characteristics of the children; the school's physical setting; the available resources; and the ethos of the school. The book also explores the fact that among these mostly women teachers, a culture has developed which stresses caring among the teachers and helps them to cope with the difficulties they encounter. The book considers the school as a part of the wider community, looking at changes in teachers' careers over time and the effects of educational reform.