| Title: | Contemporary Education Issues: Teacher Training – A Reference Handbook |
| Author: | David Pushkin |
| ISBN: | 1-57607-357-2 |
| Publisher: | ABC CLIO |
| Address: | 130
Cremona Drive PO Box 1911 Santa Barbara California 93116-1911 www.abc-clio.com |
| Date of Publication: | 2001 |
| Classification: | |
| Intended Audience: | Trainee Teachers within the USA |
| Strengths: |
Wide–ranging in perspective encompassing a range of theoretical and practical issues Makes North American ITT-related debates accessible Presents helpful reference and contact details Includes case studies in the narrative |
| Checklist Rate - One to Five | |
| Appropriate Content |
1
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| Student Use |
1
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| Tutor Resource |
1
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| Visuals |
N/A
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| Overall Style |
1
|
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| One of Series |
Yes
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| Photocopiable |
No
– e-version available
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Full EMAC Review
Contemporary Education Issues: Teacher Training – A Reference Handbook - David Pushkin
The content of the book / resource
The book provide a clear historical context for the USA’s teacher training systems as a preface to perspectives on current and controversial ITT-related issues on the cusp of the current century. Whilst it has an academic and theoretical underpinning it exemplifies through the author’s opinion and personal experience. It covers issues such as academic, professional and in-service training. It never seeks to impart a gloss – hence its chapter headed ‘Professional Disillusionment’.Its effectiveness in catering for its target audience
It is very clearly directed towards the USA audience but aside from some transferable issues relating to mentoring and the training process will not cater for trainees on this side of the Atlantic.The value to the user
The book is somewhat negative and cynical in style and nuggets of information for the hard-pressed beginning teacher might be hard to find. It does offer some guidance on job seeking and professional and academic reassurance but requires time and careful reading. The contact details will presumably be helpful to the North American reader.Its capacity to support students and/or mentors
It provides some sort of discursive research-based analysis of the training and induction process. However, it is not easy to access and its apparent over-reliance on opinion may reduce its use – particularly for the hard-pressed trainee.Its particular strengths and any weaknesses
The style is heavily personalised and, as such, may irritate the reader – it certainly did me. Nonetheless I found the historical context narrative interesting and engaging, but that is probably self-indulgence on my part and might not be a recommendation for the typical reader. Its generally cynical and pessimistic tone might be discouraging for the beginning teacher.Readability, presentation and cost
It is reasonably easy to read although the caveat about the slightly irritating personal style should be noted. References and recommendations are easily identifiable. On a superficial level the acid free paper on which the book is printed makes it a heavy tome and not pleasant to handle.