Hidden Lessons: Growing Up on the Frontline of Teaching

Hidden Lessons is a heart-rending account of the challenges in our education system, but also a celebration of teachers and students who have triumphed through adversity. It reminds us that teachers are not just at the frontline of education, but also at the frontline of social mobility and racial justice.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 16 September 2021
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton General Division

Beautifully written,Hidden Lessons is both a heart-rending account of the challenges in our education system,and a heart-warming celebration of teachers and students who have triumphed through adversity. The pride Mehreen has for her community and the lives she has touched is palpable. - DAVID LAMMY
You're in at 7 a.m., there until 7 p.m., and marking into the late hours. You've got one student who's a full-time carer, another who's pregnant, and a third who's just joined a gang. You haven't got enough textbooks to go around, and one of the parents just called you an extremist. You've just gone through a devastating heartbreak, and you have to teach Romeo and Juliet to 30 hormonal 14-year-olds. Welcome to life as a teacher. This is a world that all of us know, but most of us have completely forgotten. It's a world where you're working 50-hour weeks, but you're still just a part-time teacher because the rest of the time you're a security guard, a nurse, a counselor, or a friend. It's also a world where you spend all day with some of the most interesting people you know. And even when the lesson plan has been abandoned, you're still learning. Mehreen started teaching at 21, and by the time she left 10 years later, she'd learnt a bit about teenagers and a lot about life. This is her story. Baig's book reminds us that teachers are not just at the frontline of education, but they are also at the frontline of social mobility and racial justice. In a narrative that has you in tears at times, and at other times has you punching the air in triumph, Baig reveals the disastrous consequences of this nation not valuing teachers enough. A wake-call. - Sathnam Sanghera
Mehreen writes with energy and enthusiasm about the highs and lows she experienced in her five years of teaching. She describes the challenges she faced, such as working long hours, dealing with difficult students, and dealing with the lack of resources and support. However, she also shares the joy and fulfillment that comes from seeing her students succeed and grow.
One of the most striking aspects of Mehreen's story is her pride in her community and the lives she has touched. She writes about the students who have overcome personal obstacles and achieved great things, and the impact that she has had on their lives. She also talks about the importance of community and the role that teachers can play in building strong, supportive networks for their students.
Hidden Lessons is not just a book about teaching; it's a book about the power of education to change lives. Baig shows how teachers can inspire and motivate their students, and how education can provide opportunities for people who might otherwise be excluded. He also highlights the importance of valuing teachers and recognizing the hard work and dedication that they put into their work.
Overall, Hidden Lessons is a powerful and inspiring book that will resonate with anyone who has ever been a teacher or who has ever been touched by the power of education. It's a reminder of the incredible impact that teachers can have on their students and on the world, and of the importance of supporting and valuing them in their work.

Weight: 382g
Dimension: 146 x 223 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529383034