Chapter One: You're Fired, Go Teach! Summary and Analysis

Tony is nervous his first day of school - the first day he would have his own classroom and be called, "Mister!" At Philadelphia's Northeast High, only his fellow teachers can call him Tony. "Engage the students," keeps repeating in his head - the mantra that he was taught in teacher orientation. His school room is scrubbed and ready for the students. His classroom rules are on the wall: "BE here on time and prepared; BE kind; BELIEVE." (4)

Tony had been shocked when the clerk at the local school supply told him that teachers get only $100 for supplies for the entire year. Tony had bought loads of materials and charged them to his personal credit account. The clerk, who was also a teacher supplementing his income, warned Tony not to smile...