I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had

My Year as a Rookie Teacher at Northeast High

By: Tony Danza

Narrated by: Tony Danza

Length: 6 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Long before he starred on some of television’s most beloved and long-running series such as Taxi and Who’s the Boss? and went on to distinguish himself in a variety of film and stage roles, Tony Danza was a walking contradiction: an indifferent student who dreamed of being a teacher. Inspiring a classroom of students was an aspiration he put aside for decades until one day it seemed that the most meaningful thing he could do was give his dream a shot.

What followed was a year spent teaching 10th-grade English at Northeast High - Philadelphia’s largest high school with 3,600 students. Entering Northeast’s crowded halls in September 2009, Tony found his way to a classroom filled with 26 students who were determined not to cut him any slack. They cared nothing about “Mr. Danza’s” showbiz credentials, and they immediately put him on the hot seat.

It was only after experiencing abject terror for several weeks - and even dissolving into tears on several occasions - that Tony began to pick up the tricks of how to get kids to learn.

Featuring indelible portraits of students and teachers alike, I’d Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had reveals just how hard it is to keep today’s technologically savvy - and often alienated - students engaged, how impressively committed most teachers are, and the outsized role counseling plays in a teacher’s day, given the psychological burdens many students carry. The audiobook also makes vivid how a modern high school works, showing Tony in a myriad of roles - from lecturing on To Kill a Mockingbird to coaching the football team, organizing a talent show, leading far-flung field trips, and hosting teacher gripe sessions.

Inevitably, Tony’s students steal their way into our hearts - in a way that always feels authentic. A surprisingly poignant account, I’d Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had is sometimes laugh-out-loud funny but is mostly filled with hard-won wisdom and feel-good tears.

©2012 Tony Danza (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Hope and change

Where does I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Middle

What was one of the most memorable moments of I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had?

Everytime he connected w the students.

Which character – as performed by Tony Danza – was your favorite?

Him.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Many...makes you appreciate your past teachers...have hope hat there are many more like him....but frustrated that schools in posh areas receive far more funding just bc of the area and eliteness, when 5 miles away there are kids in HS who cant read... And it all right in our Nations Capitol...disgraceful! I applauded Mr. Danza for brining so many of the struggles by teachers, administration, etc.

Any additional comments?

I could still picture 'tony' from who's the boss through the story.....:)

Great Listen for Teachers!

Would you listen to I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had again? Why?

Yes, it made me laugh and cry.

What was one of the most memorable moments of I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had?

When Mr. Danza's class group hugged him.

Which scene was your favorite?

Too many to name.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A teachers job is never done.

Any additional comments?

I love how he spoke of how students could frustrate him so much then on a dime make you love them so much. Very true! Enjoyable book. Thanks for writing it!

JUST WHAT I NEEDED

Would you listen to I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had again? Why?

Tony Danza captures in this book the desire that I have now at a midpoint of my life. I also am changing careers and becoming a teacher after a career in another field. Mr. Danza captures the desire and drive that makes a person try to do something new at a older time in their life. Also, he captures why teaching is so incredibly important and a worthwhile endeavor even though it is really hard, time consuming, sometimes thankless and sometimes defeating career. Thank you Mr. Danza for giving those that decide to make education a priority a worthwhile career and passion to have at any point in a person's career path. This was my pat on the back every time I listened so I know that the work is worth it. Thank you.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book is full of extreme reactions! I laughed out loud! I cringed, and cried.

Any additional comments?

This is a wonderful book for those with teenagers and for those going into teaching or have a question about making a career change especially if it is into teaching.

I enjoyed listening to Tony Danza read his story.

What made the experience of listening to I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had the most enjoyable?

I never knew the fact that Tony Danza was a teacher. I really enjoyed listening to him tell his own story. I think when an author reads his own work it adds so much more to the true feeling of a book. The author knows where to put the emphasis and what feeling it should emit. This was an interesting story of a year in the life of a teacher who really cared about students. There are more like him out there teaching but I'm sure many more who couldn't hack the way kids are now. Lots of parents don't back up the teachers. It's easier to let their kid do what he wants, harder to confront than to ignore problems. Tony gets through to the kids, but imagine putting that much effort out year after year! It would wear almost anyone out. God bless he teachers who stick with it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had?

The most memorable event was when the students gathered around their crying teacher to comfort him. It was touching. Most kids are deep down good souls. Kids need love, attention, guidance and time at home with family. Let's not forget discipline, not beatings, but discipline.

Great book for all!

I always love books that are read by the author. This is a snapshot of one year of teaching and I loved the impact and influence Tony shares.

I may be a little biased, but ....

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone! Teachers will love it because it will make them reflect back upon their own (probably disastrous) first year of teaching. For anyone else, if you'd like to get a small taste of what urban high school education is like, read this book.

I had the interesting experience of sharing my first year of teaching at Northeast High School with Mr. Danza, so in a way this book was very personal for me. Although I already had three years of experience under my belt, it was my first foray into urban education. Additionally, the following year, I had several of Mr. Danza's students in my own English class. So for me, this was like reading about home. I enjoyed the book so much more than I enjoyed the television series. It seemed more honest and definitely more real.

From the perspective of someone who wants to be a professor in a college of education at some point in the future, this book is crucial. Although Mr. Danza only had one class of students to worry about, his experiences -- his fears, his successes, his failures, his joys-- are all very real.

I also thought it was a masterful decision to have Tony read his own book. His voice is absolutely wonderful, his inflection perfect, and of course since these are own experiences, you can't ask for a more honest and personal style of reading. I listen to a lot of audiobooks, and truthfully, I think that maybe Mr. Danza has found a new niche! I would definitely listen to him read another book.

What other book might you compare I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had to and why?

Mr. Danza's book is sort of like Jonathan Kozol "lite". It lacks the authenticity of Kozol's more research-oriented books, and definitely the political angles, but the emotion is still there.

Which scene was your favorite?

Towards the end of the book, there is a scene where Mr. Danza reflects back on his year of teaching and is saddened and moved to tears at the thought of his experience coming to an end. This was an especially poignant scene, one that teachers everywhere can relate to.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Of course! Not just because these students were my students too. The book is very well written and emotionally poignant.

An Ode to teachers everywhere

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Teaching is one of the most important professions in the world. Mr. Danza makes it real.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Tony Danza, obviously. After that, every student and teacher with whom he interacted. (I taught English. Can you tell?)

What about Tony Danza’s performance did you like?

Having the author read a story gives it the passion he/she felt when writing the story. I felt that very clearly in this narration.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I shed tears at the end when he talked about the rewards of teaching. It truly is for the students, certainly not for money or the rules placed on teachers. I speak from experience.

Any additional comments?

I wish everyone from the president of the U. S. to the lowliest among us would spend a year in the classroom, any classroom. I truly believe things would change for the better in education. These kids are our future leaders. They are our future, period. If lawmakers understood what happens in the classroom and in the homes of these students, we could give them the tools and help they need to make the world a better place for all of us.

Loved it!

What made the experience of listening to I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had the most enjoyable?

Enjoyed having Tony Danza as the narrator, and appreciated his honesty.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes!

Any additional comments?

Enjoyed every minute of this book!

What a great story.

What made the experience of listening to I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had the most enjoyable?

I never thought too much about Tony Danza, I never really watched him on TV back when he was all over the place, but I now know why he was (and is) a star. What a quality guy, able to get so involved in these young peoples' lives and enrich them in such a great way. Just his one year with these kids probably did so much to change their lives for the better. What a brave thing to do when he really didn't have to. Very touching story, and I don't get teary very often.

A Fantastic Listen for anyone who believes in the

This book was well written, emotional and real. As a teacher, married to a teacher and from a family of teachers, I have a firm belief in the importance of this job and am saddened by the red tape and hoop-jumping of bureaucracy as well as the difficulty of reaching students on the fringe. This book captures both the feelings of the despair of failure and the hope of success that keeps us coming back everyday. Tony Danza's voice is the perfect delivery for this memoir, too. There is something about the thick Brooklyn accent and the gravely tone of his voice telling his own story that makes it so much more real and emotional. I have recommended this book to many of my teacher friends but I hope that non-teachers read it, too. The whole reason he started this was to bring change and hope to education in our country and the more people who read it and understand what goes into teaching, the more hope there is for change.
A fabulous listen!