"I have to go to school on Monday;Mrs. James misses us too much on the weekends.

""The title of this book came from a conversation between a first grader and his mother. He must have felt that his teacher was pining away every evening, every weekend, and every summer, just waiting to be with the class again.

Actually, most teachers fill their off-hours very well with other children and their own children in Sunday School, Y camps, or other community programs. ""Don't Miss School on Mondays" does the best job of any book I've seen to encourage teachers and other educators to embrace teaching as a higher calling and an act of social justice.

Pat James' true stories, required reading from the scriptures, and homework will help any teacher to keep a heart for teaching through the good times and bad. In a society where teachers are asked to do everything and often to do it in a cookie-cutter sort of mentality, Pat instills the art of teaching as well.

For the teacher or former teacher, Sunday School teacher, or any educator who cares deeply about children, this look is required reading. I highly recommend it for a heart-lift and a laugh as well.

" Mary Ruth Moore, PhD, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas. Pat James is a teacher who loves to teach.

After her decision to "check in the chalk," people would ask if she was counting the days until retirement. The answer was no!She just knew it was time to say goodbye to the classroom.

Little did she know that there was to be a huge change in the next few months. Their daughter Julie became ill, and the Jameses left their beloved San Antonio and moved to California.

Julie fought bravely, but she passed away four years later, leaving a husband and three young daughters. Teaching continued in California as she helped home-school the girls, worked in a teaching co-op, became a camp counselor, and, with her husband Jerry, taught a class of delightful elementary students in Sunday School.

Looking back over the years, Pat can claim three college degrees, an "Elementary Teacher of the Year," nominations for other honors, and a couple of "Who's. (Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges and Who's Who Among American Teachers.

) But these would all be worthless if it weren't for the love of teaching that has caused her to strive to be worthy of the title "Teacher. ".