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.

Educational and Inspiring

I really enjoyed this book read by the author. It helped me to gain perspective on what teachers deal with every day, even though Danza himself admits it's only the tip of the iceberg. It's also strangely kindled an interest in poetry...

Apology Accepted

Is there anything you would change about this book?

More emphasis on teaching, less emphasis on social work.

Would you be willing to try another book from Tony Danza? Why or why not?

Probably not. It would depend on the topic of the additional work.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Since the author read his own book, I am unsure how it could have been improved.

Did I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had inspire you to do anything?

No

I loved it

I thought I would be bored but it was well written and well read. Makes me wonder why anyone would want to be a teacher in today's world.

Pretty good, but nothing groundbreaking

Tony Danza does a pretty good job collecting stories about his year of teaching. There are plenty of interesting anecdotes in this book about the various difficult students he teaches at a low-income school in Pennsylvania. Overall, it's a well done book, but there's nothing in here that's going to really impress you. The insights about teaching, students, and public education are all pretty standard. You could pick up any number of similar memoirs from teachers and find exactly the same opinions expressed.

Mr. Danza has put out a decent book and he narrates it well. If you're interested in education, or just memoirs in general, you'll probably like this book. If this kind of book isn't something you'd usually read, then this one probably won't make a convert out of you.

Loved it!

Would you consider the audio edition of I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had to be better than the print version?

Yes! *SO* great hearing Tony read it!

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

His entire journey into the life of the profession.

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

[all]

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this book! Child of two teachers, so I respect the profession immensely. It was great to see someone jump into the fray and share his experiences.

a wonderful and painfull look at modern schooling.

Mr. Danza was amazing for starting and finishing this one year of teaching. great book!!!!

Opens your eyes to teacher experience

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

Definitely! I found it really engaging, and it has an important message about the challenges facing teachers and the strength it takes to do their job.

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

Maybe "The Freedom Writers Diary" but not really. Most books on a similar subject focus on a teacher who single-handedly provides life-saving changes in their students lives. Tony Danza's book doesn't paint him as an amazing, awe-inspiring character. It shows a more realistic portrayal of teacher struggles and mistakes, and takes into account the challenges imposed by internal and external forces on the teachers, the students, and the school as a whole. I really appreciated the fact that it wasn't a story of Danza coming into a school and saving everyone through his love for his kids and innovative ideas, rather it was a more ordinary tale that lots of teachers have and will experience.

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

I wouldn't be opposed to it, but I wasn't driven to listen to it all at once. It would make a good podcast-like or serial story, where you get an hour or so at a time.

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this story, and I feel like I gained a better appreciation for teacher struggles through having listened to this. People considering joining programs like Teach for America would find this an interesting and potentially helpful resource, as it deals with an inner city school, as well as the challenges facing first year teachers in particular. Anyone with a hand in regulating education or imposing things on schools and educators should listen to this, and recognize how often their interference is more of a hindrance than a help.

America needs to hear this.

I read this book in February. In my line of work, February is a dreaded month—I am a teacher. Mr. Danza explains in this book why February is such a dreaded month in education with his firsthand experience in public schools along with all of the stresses of the second semester from fighting, to snow days, to testing—I loved reading about a celebrity who could empathize with where I am in my career! My timing for reading this was perfect—I feel more motivated now to end my school year well while engaging the students. As a teacher, I found tons of helpful hints and reminders in the text, but as an American citizen my eyes were opened. Mr. Danza’s perspective offers an honest look at the greater issues of the American education system and why it should be of the utmost concern to everyone—even those who are privileged enough to send their students to private schools. This is a book for everyone—not just teachers.

Great read for teachers!

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

I think that all my teacher friends would enjoy it and I would like non-teachers to listen.It sheds some light on what teachers deal with in the classroom.

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

Educating Esme

What about Tony Danza’s performance did you like?

That he spoke from the heart.

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

His story about Alex. All teachers (at least that I work with) come across those kids that they would love to adopt. You know that the kid deserves a better chance. Wish you could save all those that need it...

A must for every teacher to read!

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

Absolutely. Tony captures the difficulties of being a first year teacher and the challenges of working with 'at risk' students with honesty and compassion. I loved his sense of humor.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Tony, of course.

What about Tony Danza’s performance did you like?

I loved Tony's reading of his own book. I felt like I was having a conversation with him.

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

It made me laugh and cry.

Any additional comments?

Fantastic book. One of my absolute favorites.