Unlike last week, I really enjoyed the book that I read this week. I read The Secret School by Avi when I was in elementary. Actually, one of my fifth-grade teachers read this book to my class. I remember loving the journey through this book and immediately begged by parents to buy it for me once we were done reading it in class. Since it had been so long since the last time I had read this story, it was almost like reading a brand new book. I remembered bits and pieces, but overall, it was a fun journey to venture on. I highly recommend this book to others!
In April 1925, in Elk Valley, Colorado, eight children were attending school in a one-room schoolhouse under the direction of Miss Fletcher. Much to the students' dismay, Miss Fletcher's mother had become ill and she had to leave to go stay with her mother. Mr. Jordan, the head of the school board, informed the students that school would be closed for the rest of the year, and it would resume next fall. Those in eighth grade who had to take their exit exams to enter into high school would have to wait another year. This could not be so, thought Ida Bidson, a fourteen-year-old student of the schoolhouse. She was dismayed at this news, but her eighth-grade classmate, Tom, had a better idea - Ida should become the teacher. How could this work? A fourteen-year-old teacher? If all students, including herself, wanted this past school year to count, they would have to continue the school in secret - hence, the start of "the secret school." Thus, Ida Bidson officially became Miss Bidson at the age of fourteen.
Can a fourteen-year-old really teach a whole classroom? Do Tom and Ida make it into high school? I will not spoil the rest of the story so you will have to read to find out if this plan works.
I would love to read this story to my future classroom. I feel that it has the potential to teach students about the value of perseverance and confidence. Sometimes, we have to step out of our comfort zone in order to succeed. There is a poem that is recited throughout this book several times. It states:
"Do what conscience says is right; Do what reason says is best; Do with all your mind and might; Do your duty, and be blest." What a great, encouraging poem! This shows students that if they pursue a dream, of course doing what is right along the way, their chances of pursuing that dream are high.
I hope you take the time to consider reading this book. I truly enjoyed it! Have a wonderful week!
Ashton Schimmelfpennig
Ashton, this sounds like a wonderful book and I am already curious if they move on to high school?! Offering my thoughts to your question, I do not think that, realistically, a four-teen year old could teach a whole class everything that they need to know to succeed in high school. HOWEVER, if I was in the same position as Ida, I would probably do the same thing she did. This would be an awesome book to use in any classroom to teach, like you said, perseverance and confidence, and pushing ourselves to step out of our comfort zone to succeed. Even though I have not read this book, I know Ida is a great role model to her peers because she leads by example at such a young age. This book seems to have a powerful message all students need to hear! Thank you so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great book! I know that there's no way that a fourteen year old could become a teacher, but I really want to read your book to find out the ending. I agree that this would be a great book to read to my class! It probably has a ton of great messages to teach to students. Excellent post!
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