logo Wed, 16 Oct 2024 20:53:42 GMT

They Never Learn


Synopsis


From the author of the "raw, ingenious, and utterly fearless" (Wendy Walker, USA TODAY bestselling author) Temper comes a dynamic psychological thriller about two women who give bad men exactly what they deserve--perfect for fans of Killing Eve and Chelsea Cain.

Scarlett Clark is an exceptional English professor. But she's even better at getting away with murder.

Every year, Dr. Clark searches for the worst man at Gorman University--professor, student, or otherwise--and plots his well-deserved demise. Thanks to her meticulous planning, she's avoided drawing attention to herself...but as she's preparing for her biggest kill yet, the school starts probing into the growing body count on campus. Determined to keep her enemies close, Dr. Clark insinuates herself into the investigation and charms the woman in charge. Everything's going according to her master plan...until she loses control with her latest victim, putting her secret life at risk of exposure.

Meanwhile, Gorman student Carly Schiller is just trying to survive her freshman year. Finally free of her emotionally abusive father, all Carly wants is to focus on her studies and fade into the background. Her new roommate has other ideas. Allison Hadley is cool and confident--everything Carly wishes she could be--and the two girls quickly form an intense friendship. So when Allison is sexually assaulted at a party, Carly becomes obsessed with making the attacker pay...and turning her fantasies about revenge into a reality.

"A gorgeously written ragestorm of a thriller" (Wendy Heard, author of The Kill Club), They Never Learn is a feminist serial killer story that you won't be able to put down.

Layne Fargo

Summary

Chapter 1: The Teacher Trap

* Argues that traditional teaching methods are ineffective and create a culture of rote memorization and punishment.
* Example: A history teacher assigns a massive textbook chapter to be read overnight, resulting in students struggling to recall information the next day.

Chapter 2: The Grammar Trap

* Criticizes the overemphasis on grammar in language learning, arguing that it hinders fluency and creativity.
* Example: An English teacher spends hours drilling students on verb conjugation, but they still make errors in spontaneous speech.

Chapter 3: The Exercise Trap

* Contends that excessive textbook exercises and worksheets stifle critical thinking and discourage exploration.
* Example: A math teacher assigns 100 multiple-choice questions on a concept that students have barely grasped.

Chapter 4: The Homework Trap

* Asserts that homework often overburdens students, exacerbates stress, and undermines learning.
* Example: A science teacher assigns a 5-page lab report that takes students several hours to complete.

Chapter 5: The Testing Trap

* Argues that standardized testing creates pressure and stress, leading to shallow learning and gaming the system.
* Example: A school administrator focuses on increasing standardized test scores, but students perform poorly on authentic assessments.

Chapter 6: The Technology Trap

* While acknowledging the potential of technology for education, warns against its excessive use as a replacement for human interaction and critical thinking.
* Example: A teacher relies solely on online lessons and quizzes, reducing student engagement and fostering passive learning.

Chapter 7: The Differentiation Trap

* Criticizes the current emphasis on differentiating instruction for individual students, arguing that it can lead to inequity and undermine collaboration.
* Example: A teacher divides students into different groups based on ability, resulting in a sense of separation and competition.

Chapter 8: The Relevance Trap

* Emphasizes the need to connect learning to real-world experiences, but warns against over-reliance on extrinsic motivation and entertainment value.
* Example: A social studies teacher plans a field trip to a local museum but fails to link the experience to the curriculum.

Chapter 9: The Joy Trap

* Argues that while joy is important in learning, it should not be the primary focus, as it can lead to superficial knowledge and a lack of rigor.
* Example: A teacher creates a fun and engaging environment but students fail to grasp essential concepts.

Chapter 10: The Reform Trap

* Criticizes the constant cycle of educational reforms, arguing that many fail to address root causes of ineffective teaching.
* Example: A school district implements a new curriculum every few years, but student performance remains stagnant.