Failing Students #1

By Jeff Valure
failingstudents.com

Remember sitting in geometry class in 7th grade, learning about the Pythagorean Theory, and wondering to yourself, “When the hell am I ever gonna ever need to know this?” Well guess what, you weren’t the only one—turns out your teacher was standing up there pondering the same damn thing.

This is just but one of the many observations and anecdotes author Jeff Valure, a middle school math teacher himself, discusses in the premier issue of this zine. The pages are filled with stories of obnoxious parents and restless students, but most captivating of all however would have to be the author’s own personal efforts to try and combat the ills of our country’s fledgling educational system. He admits forthright “Idealism was going to be hard.” But despite the disparities, he hopes to impart on his class that “you don’t always have to buy into the game.”

In what could of easily turned into a bitchfest about pet peeves on the job or rants about government reform, we’re instead given an honest look at what many educators are thinking but are perhaps too nervous to speak out on. Undoubtedly an original project, Valure brings some startling insights to the forefront, and after a good read-through it’ll have you thinking twice about just what they’re teaching your kid over in homeroom.

-Sean Logic

Related posts:

1. Nine Gallons #2
2. Tortilla, Issue 1