Exploring the various ways in which anarchist philosophy, atheism, and a background in DIY punk rock influenced one conflicted teacher's approach to the classroom over twelve turbulent and thought-provoking years, 'Anarchist Atheist Punk Rock Teacher' is more than just a memoir of some teacher you've never met. It is philosophy of education, of anarchism, of authenticity, and of life. Throw in some personal history, the deaths of both of his parents to deal with on top of juggling all the professional absurdities that come with the job (not to mention having to teach through a global pandemic), and you have all the earmarks of a biographical classic.
Sharing frontline insights which help explain why currently one in three teachers in England plan on quitting the profession, and the first-hand experience of being one of those very statistics, this memoir of struggle, grief, philosophy and hope tells a story of why, despite all its endless frustrations and inherent contradictions, there still might be no better job in the world than being an 'Anarchist Atheist Punk Rock Teacher'.
DaN McKee is an anarchist, atheist, punk rock teacher of philosophy and religion who lives in the West Midlands with his wife, his cat, and way too many books. He is the author of Authentic Democracy: An Ethical Justification of Anarchism and has published academic philosophy papers on anarchism, education, punishment, and punk. Back in the day, when he wasn't writing angry political columns for UK 'zines Scanner, Fracture, and Mass Movement, he was bassist and singer/songwriter in UK punk bands Academy Morticians and Bullet of Diplomacy. These days he releases music under the name Strangely Shaped By Fathers and saves his angry political columns for his two websites: Philosophy Unleashed and Everything DaN McKee.