Beryl Gilroy (1924–2001)

Black Teacher is Beryl Gilroy''s memoir of coming to England from Guyana (then British Guiana), her struggles to find teaching work as a black woman, and her ultimate success and love of teaching. Beryl's preference was to work with immigrant and under-priviledged children, to whom she dispensed love and attention, and gained that love back no matter how uruly the schoolchildren were upon meeting them. She studied hard to learn different teaching methods, and her inventive and intelligent show more mind conjured up a multitude of fresh pedagogical techniques that charmed even the most recalcitrant student. Working to diminish the ingrained racism that the English had in post-WWII Britain was a great difficulty. At first Beryl's skin colour prevented her finding a teaching post, as there were people of colour immigrating from all across the Commonwealth, much to the distaste of most of the English people she encountered.

Like Beryl, I was interested to find out what kind of parents turned out children such as these. Widespread poverty was much of the reason. The Finsbury Park area where she taught also had its share of parents who thieved, drank, drugged, engaged in prostitution in the same small flat as their children, and of course there were many parents who abused their children.

Beryl did well for herself. She was determined, hard working, and endlessly curious. She achieved an M.A. degree in Education, and a PhD in Counselling Psychology. Beryl was also made an honorary fellow of the Institute of Education in London. I was impressed with her throughout the book.

I've only given the book three stars because despite my admiration of Beryl and my interest in the children she taught, I found some parts of the book incredibly dull, and there were points when I considered giving up the book entirely. It took me over a week to finish the 268-page book, when usually I manage at least two books a week. I do recommend the book; Beryl went up against a country that didn't welcome her and ended up being honoured by those who had tried to stop her teaching in the first place. Beryl was a heroine, a 5'2" petite heroine, who ultimately found victory in her choseen profession. show less