Two things are urgently needed in the teaching profession today: an understanding of real children, not theoretical ones, and intelligent humour. The Bitter Root offers readers a beautifully concise and readable book, as well as a mixture of nonsense and wisdom, frivolity and sound sense. It is written by a practising teacher of 13 years' experience who has developed - as well as patience and a sense of irony - some classic and timeless educational ideas unsullied by political loyalties or personal ambition.