Meet Bel Kaufman, 101-year-old Writer and Teacher

"All the time I was teaching, I was also writing short stories. I poured out everything," says bestselling writer Bel Kaufman.

In this video, Kaufman speaks about her initiation into an American classroom, when she enrolled in a New York City public school after immigrating with her family from Russia. Although Kaufman couldn't speak English, her teacher treated her kindly, and Kaufman was inspired to become a teacher herself.

Kaufman later dedicated herself to teaching in the New York City public school system, an experience that led to her celebrated novel Up the Down Staircase.

Up the Down Staircase exposes "the lack of communication, the lack of understanding, the bureaucracy, the gobbledygook, but it's funny," Kaufman says. "It's about love—it's about the many facets of love."

Here's to all the teachers, and all the writers out there sitting in front of "a blank piece of paper."

May you be inspired by Bel Kaufman, and by each other, always!

Tags: bel kaufman, education, inspiration, teaching, up the down staircase, video, writer, writing

7 members like this

Comment

You need to be a member of She Writes to add comments!

Join She Writes

Comment by Laura on September 26, 2012 at 7:52am: Glad you'll be rereading Kaufman's work, Jobi! Definitely interested to know how it goes the second time around.

Comment by Laura on September 26, 2012 at 7:51am: Thanks, Lisa Ann. Always neat to connect with folks who saw the movie first and then enjoyed the book!

Comment by Laura on September 26, 2012 at 6:32am: Wow, Lola! How wonderful to connect with a cast member from the film adaptation of Bel's novel. I'm glad to feel the interview offered a worthy tribute to her work.

Comment by Jobi Harris on September 26, 2012 at 2:36am: This is one of the best books I have ever read! After so many years, I am inspired by this piece to read it again.

Comment by Lesa Ann Weller on September 25, 2012 at 9:27pm: I was forever moved by this book at a young age. After seeing the movie, I learned it is best to read the book. It is true, the story she told, for so many people. Bel Kaufman is an inspiration to writers and teachers. Such a beautiful, remarkable woman.

Thanks for sharing, Lola!

Comment by Lola! Love on September 25, 2012 at 4:09pm: I love this interview with Bel Kaufman. What a compassionate and compelling story teller.

I read the book when I was cast in the movie Up The Down Staircase starring Sandy Dennis in 1966.

The movie paid homage to this brilliantly honest writer. Thank you for sharing her story.

Lola! Love