Learnt

With the use of cultural dialect, Edward Baldwin creates an intriguing story about children who come from an environment where no one wants to bother with them, much less educators. With the typical stereotypes these children are branded as “bad,” “no ambition,” and “will not amount to anything.”

The inspiring story revolves around Kenny Houston who lives with his single mother who cares nothing about him. Her life revolves around drinking, partying and many men. Kenny has been left to fend for himself, as well as his little sister, after their father dies suddenly. No one talks about this and Kenny keeps his pain and anger inside which leads him to become a problem child in school and in his little area of the world.

The second character to come into play is Tony Avery, a black man who is a first-year teacher in a school that is for those who cannot adapt to regular school, Lincoln High. It is full of misfits for students and the teachers could care less as long as they collect a paycheck. Mr. Avery tries to make a difference in the school by showing the students he does care and has made enemies as an English instructor because he talks “their talk.”

As a former teacher, I really enjoyed the theme of “Learnt.” I know how we can forget those that really need our help and yet we don’t give it because of how they dress, where they come from and most of all because of “the attitude.” No wonder we have such a high dropout rate in schools from kids who are in the lower income bracket and have no family to support them. One of the aspects I really liked was the way it was written, in “chocklish,” a combination of cultural dialect and Standard English. As many major reviewers have said “This is a must for all those who work in the school systems.”

Learnt
Edward M. Baldwin
Jazlo & Lossi Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9780979407444
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer for Reader Views (4/08)