Learnt
Edward M. Baldwin
Reviewed by Barb Radmore
I have spent a lot of time trying to figure out why I could not put
this book down. It does have a plot and characters that will grab your
heart but it is not an original story line. In Learnt Mr. Baldwin
revisits the theme made popular in books and films such as The
Blackboard Jungle, To Sir With Love and Stand and Deliver. A teacher is
forced to come up with ways to reconnect disengaged, unmotivated
students with school and hope for their future. Tony Avery is the
latest entry into this class of caring educators.
What sets this book apart and kept me riveted was the high quality of
Baldwin's writing. His ability to portray the disillusioned students
and staff is wonderful but we have met the characters before. It is the
ability to look into a modern classroom and show the fears, foibles and
futures of the educational partners, teacher and student, that shines
in this novel. He maintains his variety of themes while including two
compelling story lines- that of new teacher Tony and that of his new
student Kenny. The book has triumph and tragedy, hope and
disillusionment. It has it all.
I will admit I had trouble getting used to his extensive use of dialect
through out the book. It almost caused me stop reading in the
beginning. But it is a crucial element in the book, with the setting
and the plot. I suspect that my reaction to it is just the one Baldwin
hoped to cause. In the book he coins the word "Choklish" to describe
it- combining 'chocolate' and 'English' together because chocolate can
be white or dark. This use of language to its fullest, to examine the
beauty of spoken words is one of the many enduring aspects of this
work. It looks at language as a reflection of who we are, who we want
to be and how we want to be seen and how we see each other. He also
uses the written voices of the students to portray their thoughts and
viewpoints.
Baldwin's PR indicates that he wants to be "America's Education
Novelist" but this book expands to lessons outside the classroom. He
examines the role of how race is perceived in and outside of schools.
He delves into the role of the parents in shaping the student, both the
positive and the negative. Tony's own mother is a direct, stark
contrast to that of the troubled student Kenny's in every way possible.
He uses those two characters as polar opposites to show the effects
parenting can have. He discusses the role of blame educators can try to
put on others"...students-they aren't students by choice, but by law.
Not the parents'- many are parents either by chance, by default, or
both...Students and parents haven't gone through workshops and
internships, bent on honing their techniques before being awarded with
the title of "student" or 'parent...neither student nor parent makes a
very good scapegoat- at least, not any more." He has many
different themes that run under his suspense filled plots. It is not a
moralistic work that preaches, it is a caring work that whispers its
truths while shouting its intentions.
Baldwin's writing career could take many future forms. It will be
interesting to see how he uses his extensive talent to continue the
theme of "classroom dramas." It is just hoped that he does not
sacrifice his considerable writing ability and potential to meet a
preset, publicity phrase. The possibilities of using a school
setting as the structure for examining the strengths and weaknesses of
our society are endless. If Baldwin continues to use this as well as he
has in Learnt he will be the up and coming writer for our modern
culture.