Far From Finland

What is it like to be a teacher in a public school today? Far From Finland offers a teacher’s perspective in texts and photographs. The title refers to the fact that Finland is often cited as a model of educational best practices, while the United States falls far short. As Hickerson writes, “You teach with the resources available, not with the resources you wish were available. Your students get what is offered and not what they deserve.” Hickerson trains his camera on his classroom, colleagues, students, and computer screen. He documents teaching, standardized testing, staff development, lunch, assemblies, graduation, and chores such as making photocopies, organizing digital curriculum, grading tests, and cleaning up. He writes about his heavy workload and of trying to meet the needs of his students given the chronic underfunding of public education in his state. Hardbound with printed cover, 6.5 x 9”, 68 pages, sewn binding, 54 color photographs, text by the author. Signed and numbered. $ 40.