Scratch Where It Itches:
confessions of a Public school teacher
This is Tony Rotondo's first novel. Loosely based on his own life as an English teacher for forty years, the book's main character - Tony Angelo - reminisces about his childhood of poverty in an Italian-American household where pasta and penance were served daily.
Angelo speaks frankly about his own pitiful education and the education of his students at the Facade Area School District in Quaker County for the many years he wielded the chalk. Although he reigns supreme in the classroom, his wife reigns supreme in their home. His three kids keep him humble, as does being a teacher.
Angelo shares his Italian-American childhood and education in Catholic and public schools where his cheeks - facial and gluteal - bare the brunt of mean-spirited nuns and "laid" teachers alike. His early years are so sad they are sidesplittingly funny.
Nurtured on the broken English of his sainted mother and his rat bastard grandfather, Tony surprises all in the family by becoming an English teacher.
"Che teach?! Get a real job? Nun jew wanna make lotsa money?"
He surprises all in the Facade Area School District by lasting forty long years, his fingers permanently stained with red ink. His approach to teaching is as down to earth as his students.
"No, Billy. You can't say that in school. Try anal vacuum instead."
At home he is Every Husband goaded by his wife to fix what is broken and eat what is cooked.
"Steak? You want steak? Get a real job! And fix the toilet!"
Anybody who's been to school and wondered why will laugh at Tony's insights. Anybody who's been married will wonder why too. And anybody who has kids will see them in Tony's.
"Are we there yet?"
Read what Kirkus says about Tony's book
Tony Rotondo
Author, teacher, speaker
Tony was a public school teacher forever, teaching English in all grades...7 to graduate school. He began in 1964, the year the SAT's began their decline. He takes full responsibility and offers sincere apologies.
Married to his best friend, Mary Ann forever, he has three kids and four grand kids.