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  • The Great Expectations School

  • A Rookie Year in the New Blackboard Jungle
  • By: Dan Brown
  • Narrated by: Gregory St. John
  • Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (24 ratings)
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The Great Expectations School cover art

The Great Expectations School

By: Dan Brown
Narrated by: Gregory St. John
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Editor reviews

Educators will find much of interest in The Great Expectations School: A Rookie Year in the New Blackboard Jungle, a memoir that tells the story of author Dan Brown’s first year as a fourth-grade teacher, at the age of 22. Brown describes the debilitating problems he encountered with the American education system, and how he found the strength to keep teaching, in the hopes that even within a broken system he might make a difference.

Gregory St. John’s performance is spot-on, and he modulates his voice skillfully, both to underline Brown’s indictment of public education in the United States as well as his genuine optimism that determined people can and do make learning possible for kids, no matter the obstacles.

Summary

At 22, Dan Brown came to the Bronx's P.S. 85 as an eager, fresh-faced teacher. Unbeknownst to him, his assigned class, 4-217, was the designated "dumping ground" for all fourth-grade problem cases, and his students would prove to be more challenging than he could ever anticipate. Intent on being a caring, dedicated teacher but confronted with unruly children, absent parents, and a failing administration, Dan was pushed to the limit time and again: he found himself screaming with rage, punching his fist through a blackboard out of sheer frustration, often just wanting to give up and walk away.

Yet in this seeming chaos, he slowly learned from his own mistakes and discovered an unexpected well of inspiration to discipline and teach and make a difference. The Great Expectations School is the touching journey of Class 4-217 and their teacher, Mr. Brown, but more than that, it is the revealing story of a broken educational system and all those struggling within and fighting against it.

©2007, 2011 Dan Brown (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about The Great Expectations School

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Very disappointing

too many names, nothing like any other Dan Brown books. Very long long and drawn out. Not what I expected, no real drama. I stuck with it, as Dan Brown is one of my favourite authors.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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WOW

oh my goodness what a fantastic and insightful audiobook written by the brilliant Dan Brown and well narrated by Gregory St John.

I would love to know the progress of the pupils from class 4-217 xxxxxxx

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Z.
  • 07-04-21

SUPERB !!

I bought this audiobook thinking the author is the "The Da Vinci Code" Dan Brown. Although it is not, I am glad to have it as it is a brilliant topic, well written and a "page" turner. I liked the voice of the narrator but sometimes it was hard to follow who is talking as there was not much difference between the voices of the characters.
All in all, I enjoyed it tremendously.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Now i know how he became a truely great writer

I now wish id read this book before reading all the others hits. Amazing author.

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