Leila Christenbury is well known as a writer and researcher in English Education: her classic book ""Making the Journey"", now in its third edition, has been a guide to countless middle and high school language arts teachers. In her new book, this veteran teacher and teacher educator reveals what did and - more surprisingly - did not happen when she returned to the high school classroom after a hiatus of many years. Exploring her experiences in light of current teacher preparation reform efforts, the author's compelling narrative is a continuation of her earlier work that will resonate with those concerned about the state of today's American secondary education.In addition to personal reflections on her practice, Christenbury also: provides specific recommendations for enhancing the English classroom; explores the state of the American comprehensive high school and the fiction of excellence; examines the role of school in relation to the suburban middle class; addresses a number of problem areas: the timing of high stakes tests, policies regarding academic regulations, the uncritical adoption of a college ""model,"" the widening use of dual enrollment courses, and more.

Foreword by: Deborah Appleman