Every Life Matters
Because we are all connected
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Only a week into the new school year, Rebecca had already realised that that not only did she have the most difficult class in the school, but also the most difficult class that she had ever been given to teach.
"Oh well, another battle to fight and WIN," she said to herself through gritted teeth as she gazed up at the large brightly-coloured sign emblazoned across the main notice board in her classroom.
"Treat your workers fairly!" the sign screamed at her. It was a real work of art: she had even taken out her paint set to do it and the thick, swirling brush strokes showed her passion in a way that no neat printed title could ever do. After that dreadful time she'd had at her last school that still haunted her she had to reach this new set of kids, give them lessons they could remember through life: inspire them. It was going to be a challenge but she would try to meet it head on. The kids in this run-down area faced poverty, crime, drugs and who knows what else at home. She could at least use some of the difficulties to become a good teacher. And she wanted to be one by the end of the year. Was there an alternative? Go back home and waste her life in mediocre nothingness? She shuddered at the thought.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
In inner-city London, life is lived between the extremes. Young, talented and naive, Rebecca Freeman is all set to thrive in her third year as a teacher in Purposefield Primary School, determined to make a difference to the lives of the young children, who face so many difficulties at home. But tragic events take their toll on her own life, and a crisis in West Africa where she grew up brings back haunting memories from her childhood. In the modern high-pressure world of teaching there is no room for weakness, and struggling to keep up with the demands of her work, she soon finds herself in conflict with the new ambitious Headteacher of Purposefield Primary School, Jeremy Goodfellow, who seems determined to make her life a misery. Can she turn things around and succeed as a teacher, or is there a voice calling her to use her talents and energy for something new?
"Every Life Matters" deals with multiple challenging themes, including workplace bullying, the difficulties faced by teachers in inner-city schools, family loss and the demands of adapting to a different culture. Be absorbed as you explore the emotional and colourful world painted by Rachel's vivid descriptive writing.
About the Author
Born in Belfast, Rachel moved to a remote village in West Africa in 1982 when she was three months old. She spent her childhood living between England, Northern Ireland and Africa. She is a qualified teacher and spent 5 years teaching in several London schools, all of which were in multicultural areas and brought their own challenges. Her writing has drawn heavily upon these diverse life experiences, and offers a fascinating insight into the worlds that she has known.
Every Life Matters is her first book.