City Kids, City Teachers

Reports from the Front Row

A classic collection exploding the stereotypes of city schools, reissued as a companion to City Kids, City Schools

“With its upbeat mix of ready-to-share city kids’ memoirs and classroom strategies, this book is an inspiring resource for veteran teachers, parents, community members, and students.” —Educational Leadership

City Kids, City Teachers—now reissued with a new introduction by William Ayers that reflects on how improving urban education is more essential than ever—has become a touchstone for urban educators, exploding the stereotypes of teaching in the city. In more than twenty-five provocative selections, set in context by Ayers and Patricia Ford, an all-star cast of educators and writers explores the surprising realities of city classrooms from kindergarten through high school. Contributors including Gloria Ladson-Billings, Lisa Delpit, June Jordan, Lewis Lapham, Audre Lorde, and Deborah Meier move from the poetic to the practical, celebrating the value of city kids and their teachers. It is a useful guide as well as a call to action for anyone who teaches or has taught in the city, for those considering teaching in urban schools, and for every parent with children in our schools today.

Praise

“A refreshing and eclectic collection which prods, inspires, and just plain agitates—all in the name of urban school children.”
—Alex Kotlowitz
“Hopeful, helpful discussions of culturally relevant teaching as well as . . . moving illustrations of what urban teaching is all about . . . a collection that will inspire many.”
Publishers Weekly
“You’ll feel sad, angry, hopeful, agitated, and inspired.”
NEA Today
“Has the potential to create genuine change in the learning, teaching, and administration of urban public schools.”
Library Journal

Goodreads Reviews