Essay about sylvia barret

Essay
“Sylvia Barrett: the first-person narrative as a way of characterizing a hero”

The main character of this book is Sylvia Barret, she is a recent college graduate, and works as a high school English teacher. Sylvia would like to work in a nice private school, like so many of her friends. Instead Sylvia takes a job with the board of education, in a nieve attempt to reach out to the under privileged inner-city children in public schools. Sylvia battles with so many choices in this book. In the end she makes the right ones.

Sylvia Barret, a new teacher is starting her first day in room 304. She finds out that teaching isn’t all that she thought it would be. Her first friend is Bea a veteran teacher who helps Sylvia out by explaining how Calvin Coolidge high works. The writer takes all the craziness of a normal high school and embellishes them; for instance the school guidance counselor is always using big words and thinks all the students need help. And Mr. Mchabe the administrative assistant who is nosy about everything. The Janitor who is never available. The students are also exaggerated, “the slut” who needs to be next to two boys boys at once in class. The student government organization president, he always is looking for a vote.

This book shows how Sylvia works hard for the kids and they could care less. She thinks she’s doing right by them and is always trying to help out. Sylvia rights to her best friend Ellen, who has a husband and daughter (Which is what Sylvia dreams of one day having) to tell her about Calvin Coolidge. It seems in every letter her attitude and opinion change. First she hates it, then she loves it.