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Front of the Class cast with Brad and Nancy Cohen
On the eve of Brad Cohen’s December 7, 2008 debut CBS Hallmark Hall of Fame original movie about his life with Tourette Syndrome, I decided to purchase his 2005 book, co-written with Lisa Wysocky, entitled: Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had to get a sneak peek into the wonderfully inspiring story.
The book is very simplistically written, at approximately a middle school level, and I recommend that parents of children with tics invest in it and either give it to their kids or read it out loud with them. Really celebrate this book together and focus on all the goodness it provides in the long term. I think Brad’s story will have a lasting impression that the movie alone may not fully capture, that is, a smooth and coherent Brad speaking clearly to us without the physical barriers of Tourette Syndrome to distract us. And the book really takes you on a journey that I imagine can’t be captured fully in a 2 hour film. But the Hallmark folks are not going to disappoint.
Brad promises that it is as true to his real life as possible. He says, “Hallmark Hall of Fame decided they wanted to create a family movie and have my story be as authentic as possible. They wanted it to be as real as possible even down to my exact tics I do.”
Brad’s story is uplifting. He coaches us to hang in there, fight the fight, never give up and above all else, celebrate this distraction as a “constant companion”. The book reads much like I imagine Brad speaks, minus the interjections of his occasional vocals. Who he is in your mind’s eye is Brad, the truly centered, determined, confident Brad that he desperately tries to display to the folks in the real world. But ironically, it is the folks in his literary world that really get it, get that part of him that only his real friends get. The other folks in his life– his childhood teachers, elementary classmates, and later the restaurant workers, theater managers, sports fans, even 24 school principals who interview him but refuse to hire him, these folks just can’t see past his involuntary interruptions long enough to get to know him as a living, breathing, intelligent thinking human being with basic rights. But still he plugs on, often times showing empathy for the very people who ridicule him.
“My life with Tourette’s has made me realize that everyone has a ‘thing’ that haunts them in some way. It might be prejudice or chronic illness. It might be physical limitations or life circumstances or ego or pride or jealousy or hate, but everyone has their thing. When we can control the thing, we feel empowered and optimistic. But when the thing wins, we travel the road to despair. The key is to find a road that leads around your particular limitation, a road that maybe has more bends in it but gets you to the same point in the end” (Cohen, 83).
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Tags: Book, Brad Cohen, Film, Front of the Class, Hallmark Hall of Fame, Inspirational Story, Movie, Teacher, Tic Disorder, Tics, Tourette Syndrome
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Meet the Author
Just wanted to say thanks to Brad for working with me over his holiday weekend to get this article ‘just right’–
Thanks Brad, you were great to work with. Good luck with the paperback release and the movie!
Hi Caryn,
Loved your article on Brad and Front of the Class! I have the book and agree 100% with you. It is wonderful and Brad is amazingly inspiring. I was disappointed, though, that you did not mention that the book was co-written by Lisa Wysocky (www.lisawysocky.com). Co-writers put a lot of time and effort into a project and have a big impact on its outcome. That the book reads so well is as much as testament to her efforts as Brad’s story. Anyway, I hope a lot of people tune in to the movie Dec. 7 on CBS. I know I will.
Sure, Lisa–
No problem. I have updated the article to include your efforts!
Thank you Caryn for giving me the opportunity to share my story with your readers. I’m honored that you thought of me because I believe my story can help make a difference in the lives of many people who both have Tourette’s or not. My story is about giving the underdog a chance and the potential that could happen when the risk is made. I appreciate the positive review and I hope your readers get a chance to either read my book or see the movie. Thanks for all the support.
Cheers
Brad
Hi there. This is off-topic…Thanks for your comment on my blog. I like your home here too! I was wondering if you’ve read Omnivore’s Dilemma since you have so much info about corn. It’s a great read. I look forward to browsing. Ashley
im in the movie i sit next to the young brad in the classroom from the flash back scenes it airs december 7th 9/8 central
Hi Cody!
Thanks for stopping by. How exciting for you to be in a movie! I’ve always wondered how people get parts as extras in movies. I imagine this has been quite an experience for you, meeting the actors and getting experience in movie making. We will be watching out for you on Dec. 7th! Stop back again soon!
Hi Caryn,
I really enjoyed reading your article about Brad Cohen. After reading all of your comments to parents and young people encouraging them to read this wonderful book, I was wondering if you were aware of a recent YA novel published by another former school teacher who also has Tourettes. Jerk, California was released this September by Penguin and the main character, Sam, is a high school senior with TS. Jonathan Friesen, the author, was diagnosed later in life with TS. Jonathan’s comment about his book follow:
I would be glad to send you a copy of this book if you would be interested in taking a look at it. After reading Jerk, California, I felt a door of understanding about this difficult condition had opened for me.
Hope to hear from you.
Gail Smith
[...] like Brad Cohen, who’s biographical movie, Front of the Class, airs Sunday night on CBS, Mr. Friesen is also a former school teacher turned author who suffers [...]
Hello! I just finished watching the movie, Front of the Class. Words can’t describe how moving it was for me. I have severe TS (both motor and vocal) almost identical to what I witness in the movie… I’m currently an engineering student at UM and I just sent an email to the feature writer, James A. Fussell to thank him for his and Brad Cohen’s work.
Thank you as well, Caryn Talty, for this article. The article was extremely well-written and it has convinced me to save up and buy a copy of his book.
I’m wondering if it would be possible to communicate directly with Brad Cohen by email? Thanks again to everyone for all the good you’ve done.
Brad,
You are a remarkable Man!!! You give inspiration for anyone who is different in a world where people are looked at being the same. My son has multiple birth defects and has had multiple surgeries and people try to put limits on what he is capable of doing. He’s already past some of the limits they put on him. You life means a lot to me and gives me hope for my own son.
Michelle Jasperson
Minnesota