"'You read all four books?'" (112)

This section opens with Erin beginning the year with a new class. She uses her own money to buy books for her students and hosts a "Toast for Change" in which students are given the chance to start fresh. The students read their books and express interest in having Miep Gies and Zlata Filipovic. Thus begins the next adventure. Miep comes to visit the class and the students show her utmost respect. The students are also able to get Zlata to come to see them. They have a formal dinner for their parents and their honored guests and it is truly a 5-star affair.

The students really seem to connect with the texts that Erin uses in the classroom. I was touched by Maria's desire to find The Diary of Anne Frank in Spanish for her mother. You know you're doing something right when, not only are your students effected by what you teach, but they want to share it with the world.

Again, this section of text raised more red flags. I respect Erin, I really do, but on a professional level, she concerns me. She seems unable to create clear boundaries between her personal life and her job. I understand that teaching is an all-inclusive job and it's hard to put the day's events away when you come home, but to be a good professional, you need to protect yourself from burnout. One of the things that really concerned me was when she admitted she was nervous about the beginning of the year because her Sharaud and his friends had graduated and were unable to help her figure things out. I feel like those questions should be discussed in the professional arena. Student feedback is one thing. Student assistance is another.

With that said, I know the circumstances in which Erin was teaching are extreme and atypical. I don't think she's a bad teacher, I just feel she often sets herself up for failure in her personal life. I have a hard time believing that those hardships don't effect her professional life. I also think, because she does do so much with her classes, her sacrifices are rewarded when she is allowed to continue to teach the same students the next year. In the end, what kind of message does that send to other professionals? Erin's level of involvement is great because she's really giving those kids a chance, but is sets a standard that other teachers must sacrifice just as much to have the opportunities awarded to Erin.