{"product_id":"up-the-down-staircase-isbn-9780525565659","title":"Up the Down Staircase","description":"Sylvia Barrett arrives at New York City’s Calvin Coolidge High fresh from earning literature degrees at Hunter College and eager to shape young minds. Instead she encounters broken windows, a lack of supplies, a stifling bureaucracy, and students with no interest in Chaucer. Her bumpy yet ultimately rewarding journey is narrated through an extraordinary collection of correspondence—sternly worded yet nonsensical administrative memos, furtive notes of wisdom from teacher to teacher, “polio consent slips,” and student homework assignments that unwittingly speak from the heart. An instant bestseller when it was first published in 1964, \u003ci\u003eUp the Down Staircase\u003c\/i\u003e remains as poignant, devastating, laugh-out-loud funny, and relevant today as ever. It timelessly depicts a beleaguered public school system redeemed by teachers who love to teach and students who long to be recognized.“[A] classic. . . . Shot through with despair and hopefulness, violence and levity. . . . A stunningly accurate portrait of life in an urban school.” —\u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“The most enduring account we have of teachers’ lives. . . . Empathetic and aware.” —\u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe New Yorker\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “The seminal book on the hardships and joys of teaching.” —\u003ci\u003eThe New York Times \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Easily the most popular novel about U.S. public schools in history.” —\u003ci\u003eTime Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Merely the most excellent and truthful picture of a contemporary American teacher’s life that we are likely to have for a long time to come.”\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e—Life Magazine\u003c\/i\u003eBel Kaufman was an author and schoolteacher. Born in Berlin in 1911, she spent her childhood in Odessa and emigrated with her family to the Bronx when she was twelve. Her grandfather was the Yiddish humorist Sholem Aleichem. In addition to \u003ci\u003eUp the Down Staircase\u003c\/i\u003e, she is also the author of the novel \u003ci\u003eLove, Etc\u003c\/i\u003e. She died in 2014.Hi, teach!\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Looka \u003ci\u003eher\u003c\/i\u003e! She's a teacher?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Who she?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Is this 304? Are you Mr. Barringer?\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eNo. I'm Miss Barrett.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I'm supposed to have Mr. Barringer.\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eI'm Miss Barrett.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e You the teacher? You so young.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Hey she's cute! Hey, teach, can I be in your class?\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003ePlease don't block the doorway. Please come in.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Good afternoon, Miss Barnet.\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eMiss Barrett. My name is on the blackboard. Good morning.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e 0, no! A \u003ci\u003edame\u003c\/i\u003e for homeroom?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e You want I should slug him, teach?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Is this homeroom period?\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eYes. Sit down, please.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I don't belong here.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e We gonna have you all term? Are you a regular or a sub?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e There's not enough chairs!\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eTake any seat at all.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Hey, where do we sit?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Is this 309?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Someone swiped the pass. Can I have a pass?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e What's your name?\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eMy name is on the board.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I can't read your writing.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I gotta go to the nurse. I'm dying.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Don't believe him, teach. He ain't dying!\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Can I sharpen my pencil in the office?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Why don't you leave the teacher alone, you bums?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Can we sit on the radiator? That's what we did last term.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Hi, teach! You the homeroom?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Pipe down, you morons! Don't you see the teacher's trying to say something?\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003ePlease sit down. I'd like to—\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Hey, the bell just rung!\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e How come Mrs. Singer's not here? She was in this room last term.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e When do we go home?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e The first day of school, he wants to go home already!\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eThat bell is your signal to come to order. Will you please—\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Can I have a pass to a drink of water?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e You want me to alphabetize for you?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e What room is this?\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eThis is room 304. My name is on the board: Miss Barrett. I'll have you for homeroom all term, and I hope to meet some of you in my English classes. Now, someone once said that first impressions—\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e English! No wonder!\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Who needs it?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e You give homework?\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eFirst impressions, they say, are lasting. What do we base our first—Yes? Do you belong in this class?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e No. Mr. McHabe wants Ferone right away.\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eWho?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e McHabe.\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eWhom does he want?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Joe Ferone.\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eIs Joe Ferone here?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Him? That's a laugh!\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e He'll show up when he feels like it.\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003ePut down that window-pole, please. We all know that first impressions—Yes?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Is this 304?\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eYes. You're late.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I'm not late. I'm absent.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e You are?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I was absent all last term.\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eWell-sit down.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I can't. I'm dropping out. You're supposed to sign my Book\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Clearance from last term.\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eDo you owe any books?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I'm not on the Blacklist! That's a yellow slip. This here is a green!\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Hey, isn't the pass back yet?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Quit your shoving!\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e He started it, teach!\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eI'd like you to come to order, please. I'm afraid we won’t have time for the discussion on first impressions I had planned. I'm passing out—\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Hey, she's passing out!\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Give her air!\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e—Delaney cards. You are to fill them out at once while I take attendance from the Roll Book. Standees—line up in back of the room; you may lean on the wall to write. Print, in ink , your last name first, your parent's name, your date of birth, your address, my name—it's on the board—and the same upside down. I'll make out a seating plan in the Delaney Book. Any questions?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e In ink or pencil?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I got no ink\u003ci\u003e—\u003c\/i\u003ecan I use pencil? Who's got a pencil to loan me?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I don't remember when I was born.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Don't mind him\u003ci\u003e—\u003c\/i\u003ehe's a comic.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Print or write?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e When do we go to lunch?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I can't write upside down!\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Ha-ha. He kills me laughing!\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e What do you need my address for? My father can't come.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Someone robbed my ball-point!\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I can't do it\u003ci\u003e—\u003c\/i\u003eI lost my glasses.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Are these going to be our regular seats\u003ci\u003e—\u003c\/i\u003ethe \u003ci\u003eradiator\u003c\/i\u003e?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I don't know my address-we're moving.\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eWhere are you moving?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I don't know where.\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eWhere do you live?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I don't live no place.\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e\u003cu\u003e \u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e\u003cu\u003eAny\u003c\/u\u003e place. You, young man, why are you late?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I’m not even here. I'm in Mr. Loomis. My uncle's in this class. He forgot his lunch. Hi, Tony\u003ci\u003e—\u003c\/i\u003ecatch!\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003ePlease dont throw—Yes, what is it?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e This Mrs. Singer's room?\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eYes. No. Not anymore.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Anyone find a sneaker from last term?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Hey, teach, can we use a pencil?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e You want these filled out \u003ci\u003enow\u003c\/i\u003e?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e There's chewing gum on my seat!\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e First name last or last name first?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I \u003ci\u003egotta\u003c\/i\u003e have a pass to the Men's Room. I know my rights; this is a democracy, ain't it?\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e\u003cu\u003e \u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e\u003cu\u003eIsn't\u003c\/u\u003e. What's the trouble now?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e There's glass all over my desk from the window.\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003ePlease don't do that. Don't touch that broken window. It should be reported to the custodian. Does anyone—\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I'll go!\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eMe\u003c\/i\u003e! Let \u003ci\u003eme\u003c\/i\u003e go! That's Mr. Grayson\u003ci\u003e—\u003c\/i\u003eI know where he is in the basement!\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eAll right. Tell him it's urgent. And who are \u003cu\u003eyou\u003c\/u\u003e?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I'm sorry I'm late. I was in Detention. \u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eThe what?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e The Late Room. Where they make you sit to make up your lateness when you come late.\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eAll right, sit down. I mean, stand up—over there, against the wall.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e For parent's name, can I use my aunt?\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003ePut down your mother's name.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I got no mother.\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eWell—do the best you can. Yes, young lady?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e The office sent me. Read this to your class and sign here.\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eMay I have your attention, please. Please, class! There's been a change in today's assembly schedule. Listen carefully:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e PLEASE IGNORE PREVIOUS INSTRUCTIONS IN CIRCULAR #3, PARAGRAPHS 5 AND 6, AND FOLLOW THE\u003cbr\u003e FOLLOWING:\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e THIS MORNING THERE WILL BE A LONG HOMEROOM PERIOD EXTENDING INTO THE FIRST HALF OF THE SECOND PERIOD. ALL X2 SECTIONS ARE TO REPORT TO ASSEMBLY THE SECOND HALF OF THE SECOND PERIOD. FIRST PERIOD CLASSES WILL BEGIN THE FOURTH PERIOD, SECOND PERIOD CLASSES WILL BEGIN THE FIFTH PERIOD, THIRD PERIOD CLASSES WILL BEGIN THE SIXTH PERIOD, AND SO ON, SUBJECT CLASSES BEING SHORTENED TO 23 MINUTES IN LENGTH, EXCEPT LUNCH, WHICH WILL BE NORMAL.","brand":"Vintage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46300713550053,"sku":"NP9780525565659","price":18.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780525565659.jpg?v=1767743319","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/up-the-down-staircase-isbn-9780525565659","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}