What It's Really Like by Jane Morris is, at times, a hilarious, heartbreaking, outrageous and terrifying look into what teachers face on a daily basis in America's classrooms. It was also a bit overwhelming to realize the current state of our education system, and the way our society has failed teachers.

The author does a good job of balancing the bad with the good, the hilarious with the horrifying, and reminding the reader that teachers are among the most compassionate and patient people in the world. I seriously laughed out loud in several places, only to be brought nearly to tears a few pages later.

The stories in What It's Really Like come from a wide range of teachers in a wide range of educational situations and circumstances, from elementary school to high school, private to public, rich and advantage to poor and disadvantaged.

My dad was a teacher when I was young, and he ultimately called it quits because of lack of administrative support and what he saw as a growing disrespect among both students and parents for the teaching profession. That was nearly 40 years ago. If this book is any indication, things have only gotten worse.

If you're a teacher, nothing in this book will be a surprise. If you aren't a teacher, this book just might change how you see the profession and the people who are called to teach.

This review is based on an advance copy read.

Not really my cup of tea— thought I’d enjoy but the stories were a little ordinary and predictable. Liked the idea though. Teachers deserve lots more respect.

As an instructional aide that works with life skills students, I found this book to be an accurate description of what it is like working in a school! Some of the stories were hilarious and made me feel better about some of the situations that I have been in. I recommend this to anyone that works in a school.