TEACHING AS AN ACT OF LOVE: Thoughts and Recollections of a Former Teacher, Principal and Kid. Richard Lakin. New York: iUniverse, Inc., 2007. 231 pp. Paperback, $19.95. In this book, Lakin recounts his insights from a 35-year career as a classroom teacher and principal in Connecticut and Jerusalem. It is a collection of thoughts and lessons learned, peppered generously with anecdotes that illustrate his central theme that "love is the basis of all authentic teaching--both at home and at school" (p. 3). It is a practical book full of wisdom that only can come from a life dedicated to the mentoring of children.
The book is written in short vignettes, with thoughts and stories that can be read either as a whole or as short inspirational lessons. Lakin addresses such topics as classroom management, testing, administration, school climate, and bureaucracies. He addresses these issues not in a sterile academic manner but rather as someone who learned hard lessons in the trenches of actually leading classes and schools. The author provides simple but effective teaching strategies, such as how to handle 1st-graders who are fighting to be first in line to go to recess. Solution: turn the line around so that the back is front and the front is back. But he also tackles more complicated but completely plausible issues, such as what to do as an administrator when a classroom pet rabbit gets out of its cage and soils the carpet and furniture, or what to do with a room full of angry 4th-grade boys who were caught fighting during recess. These issues are not usually addressed in other pedagogical texts.
As entertaining and informative as these vignettes are, Lakin never strays from his central notion that good teaching comes from solid, proven teaching techniques administered by dedicated teachers who love their craft. No matter what the problem may be, he reminds the readers that "when you care enough, simple solutions to the little and big problems fall into place" (p. 25). This is a principle that any teacher, student, or parent would appreciate.
Reviewed by Paul Choi, high school history teacher, New Covenant Academy, Los Angeles, and doctoral student, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA.
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