The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy
I remember reading Pat Conroy’s The Water is Wide in graduate school, 30ish years ago, mesmerized by the narrator’s experiences as a new teacher in an unusual environment – an island off the coast of South Carolina that is nearly deserted and seemingly forgotten by the mainland. The teacher was up against tremendous odds, and he triumphed. This feeling is one that many of us know even if we have taught in more traditional settings – cities, suburbs, rural areas. The feeling of getting through to students, making connections, expanding their worlds, and having a few laughs on the journey – all of these are the high points of teaching. In today’s world, I am saddened by the pleas of teachers looking for support from parents and administrators, the indifference of students in a post-covid classroom, and the fatigue that results from both. Books like Conroy’s offer hope, laughter, and a reminder of why we chose this profession. What books do you turn to for inspiration?
