The Water is Wide is beautifully written. A distressing, yet inspiring memoir.
In the book, Pat Conroy writes an honest, candid account of his year as a teacher at Yamacraw, based on Daufuskie Island, off the South Carolina coast.
Pat’s early teaching position prepared him for yet another milestone in his courageous writing. From day one, at Yamacraw’s school, Conroy seeks to reconcile years of disregard for every child’s right: the right to a proper education. Conroy shares his shock, hopes and dreams for the children who are neglected and uneducated, which is sad, yet inspirational.
As with Conroy’s, Prince of Tides, I was drawn immediately into the unique story. I was appalled at the lack of education on the island and even more so, at the men in control who bent to no man to assist Conroy in his efforts to alter the offensive school system. It would take more than Pat Conroy’s unconventional teaching methods to deliver the tools required for the system to meet their children’s needs.
The children on Yamacraw were part of our future; the island’s school system investment let them down.
