Values are in vogue in education: they are stated in school policies across the land. Amidst the reality of classroom life, however, the very best of intentions can be compromised as the insidious influences of power, pressure, and responsibility come to bear. Living Contradiction charts the journey of Sean Warren, an experienced and successful teacher who became a living contradiction as his authoritarian professional practice became increasingly incongruent with his personal values and aspirations as an educator. This candid account, written in the form of a dual narrative, describes how Warren lost himself in his rigid commitment to upholding standards in the classroom, and documents how his action research project - combined with co-author Stephen Biggers mentoring -helped him find a better way to authenticate his practice without compromising standards or authority. Living Contradiction investigates (he efficacy of Warren's modified approach and tells the story? of how he overcame the incessant demands of classroom tension and disruption by becoming 'confident in uncertainty'. Grappling with both the philosophical and the pragmatic, the authors challenge the status quo on the effectiveness of punishment and authoritarianism in today's schools, and expertly survey a wide range of research in seeking answers to the question that all educationalists must ask: What do we 'want our education system to do for our children:" Suitable for teachers, NQTs, and policy makers, Living Contradiction is a resonatory self-examination of teacher identity and a significant contribution to the debate about how schools and classrooms are run.