A Teacher's Perspective: Inside the Public Schools

[Craig]

For months, I have been looking for an opportunity to share what physically and mentally goes on inside a classroom. This may be the place. I won't (at least I'll try) get into a lot of philosophy, just the day to day stuff or, as they say in sports,"keeping it between the lines." I'll have to give some of my background and since I'm almost at the end of my career, I will bring you up to speed as to where I've been and the things that went on at those schools. This will be an ongoing process so get ready to ride with "Teacher Man! I will try to let you in on some of the things that really go on in the Public Schools, Monday through Friday, bell to bell! I will share a little bit about my training and I'll try to bring you along using my ears and eyes. Hopefully, you can feel, see and hear what I feel, see and hear because I will give it to you like/as it happens. And trust me, I need this discussion as much as anyone!

Coming to Memphis, Tennessee, in the early nineties, I had an opportunity to get certified in a program called 'Project Teach!" It was a collaborative program involving Memphis State( at that time!), LeMoyne-Owen College and Shelby State Community College. It gave a few minority students with bachelor degrees an opportunity to get certified in elementary education. I jumped at the opportunity since working for temp services throughout this city was not what I considered my cup of tea. I also felt I could really give back to the students. I knew it was a great opportunity. Not that it meant anything but my father was an educator and so was my mother. So I thought I could do this. I was nearly 40 at the time and I had never given any real thought about making teaching a career. I had taught several months with an emergency credential in South Central Los Angeles and I thought it couldn't be any worse than that. And at least with this program I could get some valuable and necessary training to really help kids learn and be successful. So I took advantage of the opportunity.

My brief experience in Los Angeles was at Bethune Junior High on 78th and Broadway. It was in the middle of a strong Crip gang presence and there was beginning to be an East Los Angeles' hispanic growth spurt with gang issues too. Most of my students were Hispanic and Black. Many of the Hispanic students couldn't speak English well or at least they played like it. Many were new arrivals to the US and the LA community and, by law, all children have the right to attend public schools in America. I was teaching Algebra and was sharing a room with a white guy. I had scored high on the CBEST teaching aptitude test in all areas and particularly math so since they needed math teachers, I got hired. You see I had received a strong math training while in the public schools of East St. Louis so I knew I could do this. I didn't have any classroom management skills but thought I could handle the students since I was raised in East St. Louis and had survived the military. I had never had any education courses so I wasn't prepared for what I was about to deal with. It was a trip! Students wouldn't listen!! They would throw erasers!! Uniforms were whatever! At that time most students wore their colors.

One incident I remember was with Javier, a Latino kid. I spotted him tagging a wall and I shouted "stop"! He bolted and my instinct told me to go after him. He jumped the fence and boy was I embarassed. I thought I was doing what teachers are supposed to do. Right! I was told by a more experienced teacher to never chase after a student. That was that! They brought him back into the school and, subsequently, back into the room. Before the semester was over, I think he quit coming. Another memorable situation happened one day with a young Black student. He was really a good guy if/when he came to school but one day he dropped some weed after showing me a bankroll of money. He was affiliated with the Crips but that didn't bother me. Most were affiliated with some organization. When he dropped the money and the weed, he quickly picked it up and ran. Again, I ran after him but this time I stopped at the office. He left the building and eventually returned. I don't think much happened to him in terms of consequences. We laughed as a matter of fact about the money and the drug situation. He quit coming to class too, I think!

I lasted at Bethune until that Spring. It was daily chaos and confusion for me. They had several dances. The students got a snack break about 10:00am in the yard which was surrounded by fence. It reminded me of a penitentiary yard. Snacks were given and the students had an oppportunity to socialize and plan! The Principal was a Black lady (cute) and seemed rather under the radar. I dealt with her a few times because I had taken a lot of days off! (smile) I enjoyed teaching but the rigors day-to-day were rough. One day the white guy I was sharing a room with got pissed at me for some reason. I told him the room was the kids, not ours. It lead to more stress. He was very territorial while I was just there trying to help the students learn some algebra. Anyway, by the Spring I had found a job in the defense industry. I'll stop here for now. Next, we'll head to Memphis!(smile) Boy do I have stories to tell about this experience.

[Craig]

Thanks Barry. We'll see! I do believe security is a problem when you have to police the police. This whole system needs to be revamped. The construct is falling. Cracks, Shaky foundation, unrealistic expectations. I am not sure anymore. I'll continue to do my best though. And I'll keep looking at me. (smile)

[B. Crittenden Freeman]

Funny thing is how Mr Darling proudly bragged about how they had the best Metal Detection systems.... Better than the airports. And all that could not stop the alleged rape.

[Craig]

Thanks again Barry! Keep them on their toes! I truly judge the majority of the schools are/have been safe because of the kids not the adults. Most behavior is learned and as you know many adults don't want/hate to take a look at themselves. Thanks for your vigilance and keep it up! Al asked me to be on his forum at the Teachers' Learning Academy on racism as it relates to education. I can't wait! Ain't scurred no more! (smile) We haven't started to scratch the surface on many of these things.

[Craig]

After my elementary teaching experience in Memphis I decided to take a position at a middle school in a more affluent area of town. This school had a white female principal and the demographics was different. It was also an opportunity for my son to attend school with me because the school was K-8. My son was in the fourth grade and I could take him with me every day since my wife worked for the airlines. I would be teaching 7th grade science. It was fun! I was also the baseball coach for six years at this school. The school had an optional program which allowed some of the brighter students to be segregated from the mainstream/regular kids. This was good for the standardized test scores. The brighter students didn’t have to be distracted with so many behavior problems that usually come with the regular classes. It is also an advantage for the teachers of honor students. They can use this as a tactic to intimidate and threaten the kids of being dismissed if they misbehave. I had the regular kids. It was okay for the most part. Students had to often be disciplined for talking and disrupting the class but over all my management style controlled my classes. Occasionally I had a student who needed more attention than others.
One such student comes to mind. He was a little white guy. He would run into class and slide on the floor. I believe he was labeled as ADHD. One day I tried to discipline him, because we could still. He ran to the office and the Principal called me to see what was going on. I shared with her that I was going to give him some consequences like any of the other students but he felt he could get away with things the Black kids couldn’t and I couldn’t do anything to him. That was difficult. It let me know that in many cases there are different standards as to how we discipline Black kids and white kids. So to avoid those situations I had to use other strategies. I had a young Black girl curse me out and as I walked her to the office I shared with her who really was in charge. When her mother came she was ready to go off on me for being tough on her little darling. We were in the AP’s office and as I was explaining what happened her daughter interrupted and exploded on the whole process. The mother saw what I was talking about. I felt relieved.

As the baseball coach we had six great years. My teams won 5 division championships and went to the city championship twice. We won once. One year I had an undefeated team. The team was integrated and had a great mix of brain and talent. It wasn’t all peaches and cream. Parent participation was minimal and I didn’t have an assistant. I had to often stay until all the students were picked up in the evening and we didn’t have a field to practice so we went to the park. I had to provide transportation but I loved the game and the boys. Most days were fun but there were a few crazy incidents. An example is the time an Asian student mooned a white lady in a car trailing behind our bus. I exploded on his ass! The elderly lady followed us all the way back to the school. I was beside myself because I had no clue. While on the bus I hadn’t realized he was doing that. Boy did I go off. The Principal reprimanded me the next day and suspended the student. I could have killed him. I know boys will be boys but to show your butt to a female following the bus is a bit too much. Several of the students went on to play high school baseball and I believe a couple may have gone on to play in college. I do know of one who played football in college. It is rewarding when we see them down the line and they tell you they are doing well.
As far as being a parent at a school where your child attends I have mixed emotions. I was pretty active in my son’s life and education because he was with me every day. He played baseball with me and was in the marching band. Sometimes I had to run interference for him with his teachers because as he got older he did what some boys do, allow peer pressure to get him in trouble. I didn’t understand why it was so hard for him with some teachers since I was at the school but I judge some of the teachers were trying to make it really tough on him. I didn’t mind. A couple though I felt were ridiculously hard. Of course they were white female teachers and I have my opinion about that.They relate differently to our Black boys, in my opinion. But he made it. I didn’t understand how some teachers could fail him because I was there to assist him if he needed with make-up work or extra credit. My wife and I were in his life and very involved but some teachers just seemed to be ass hole.

There was one incident where I almost lost it. My son had taken a laxative of some sorts the night before and had to go the restroom. He asked the teacher and she refused. He tried to hold it. Bell rang and he could hold it anymore. Fortunately, he came to my room and I had some extra clothes for him to wear. He had used it on himself. Luckily I was in the building and he had a safe place to go. Imagine if I hadn’t been there. The kids would have made fun of him and perhaps ruined him. I went off on that lady and the administration. If it had happened in my room I could imagine a parent being pissed at me. So incidents like that cause me to improve as a teacher. I am at the school so I saw what happens to some of our kids. Even though they get on our nerves they are still kids and it is the teacher’s responsibility to make the better decisions. I am not saying it is always easy because I had to constantly make similar decision but I side on the safe side and remember what happened to my son.ons of deciding if a student is being for real about using the bathroom or not.
Middle School students take a lot of energy but overall the experience was good. Towards the end of my time there I because a thorn in the administrations side because I was always there for my son. Since he was my priority and since he was graduating I was surplused. Simply speaking I was involuntarily transferred. This worked out because it gave me an opportunity to teach high school and since my son was in high school he could go with me there too. I am not sure if this was a great idea but at least I could keep my eyes on him during these crucial years. Dealing with a white female principal in an affluent area of Memphis was interesting. She had a strong hold on the finances and her management was great. She had Black males handle the discipline of the more challenging kids and she tended to handle the issues dealing with the white students when necessary. She ran a tight ship but had her people in key positions to ensure her program was effective.

[Craig]

After being surplused from the middle school because of the new Highly Qualified initiative, I panicked. I had been a science teacher for six years. I had my Master degree but they said I was highly qualified. Go figure. Never the less things worked out and I would have an opportunity to teach French. French you say! Yeas French! See, I had been certified by the state of Tennessee during the elementary certification program, Project Teach. This was a blessing and I didn’t even realize think about it. Teaching French would be great even though I had some fear. It was an ideal opportunity, one that I hadn’t even considered. I had been to France but had never taught or used my French other than while traveling. . I was excited. And my son would be able to attend with me. I also would have an opportunity to coach softball something that I had never done but was excited about having that opportunity. The school was closer to my home and it appeared everything was perfect.
In my six years at Mitchell High School I dealt with all sorts of adversities but being a father and a teacher at the same school was my toughest dilemma. I’ll get back to that. My first years were good. The students had many of the same problems that I was used to from my experiences in Los Angeles and at the other schools. Many had little parental support and there were the typical issues of poverty and drugs and gangs. Yes the gang problem seemed to be taking hold of the Memphis youth. I didn’t have many problems with it myself but the students loved to claim their gangs, Crips, Bloods, Vice Lords, Young Mob, etc. It sometimes got out of hand and seemed almost out of control. There were lots of fights and drugs at Mitchell but overall the family feeling between the school and the faculty and students was great. I found myself very comfortable at events that I supported since I was also a parent, a concerned parent. I had situations with some very tough kids who would fight being disciplined. But overall I did quite well at managing my problems. While at Mitchell I experienced a shooting, a drowning, many fights between students, students and faculty, arrests of students, drugs, etc. It was quite a ride.
Once there and getting accepted by faculty and students I began to experience things about teaching from a whole new experience. No classroom could prepare you for this, no textbook, no mentor, nothing. The only preparation would be from on the job training. And if you weren’t tough skinned you would have a hard time, even existing. The day to day grind and the students would chew you up and spit you out. This was as real as it could get. One example of the anger and violence that took place there happened between two young ladies. I do not like breaking up female fights but I have had to in the past. They fight more/worse than the males. I had an incident take place where a girl told me referring to another young lady: "If that bitch moves, I am going to kick her ass!" What happened is the young lady being threatened had allegedly taken the one making the threat’s uniform shirt. She was determined to get it one way or another. I found myself putting myself between the two young ladies after one had been paged by the office. If I hadn’t intervened there is no telling what would have happened. I was attempting to prevent/discourage any violence. It didn’t do any good. When the young lady tried to leave the room the other girl jumped three desks and chased her into the hall. This type of activity was regular at that school. Some of those kids were so violent it was scary. When that girl caught the other girl she lit into her, pulling hair and pounding away. Again mind you I am not security. When the police/security finally came along and separated the girls. One had a hand full of hair and the other was bleeding pretty darned bad. I believe they got a suspension for a couple weeks. In Kroger’s that would have been assault. At the same school a student walked in the cafeteria and shot another at point blank range. Luckily no one else was shot. He calmly gave the gun to one of the adults in the cafeteria after he had shot the other student. Often there would be fights between security and students who defied them or refuse to adhere to the adults commands. I know of situations where hall monitors literally had to slam students to the ground to keep them under control. It was outrageous.
It was hard teaching at an urban high school where my son attended but I felt I would hate not to know what he was doing. So I decided to let him go to my school. Not sure if that was a good decision but I did it anyway. My son was always trying to fit in with the regular guys. Often he would do dumb stuff. He would skip class and use the band as his excuse. He even got caught off campus a few times without permission. The peer pressure was tough on him. Never-the-less he was my son and I had to try my best to support, discipline, encourage and ensure his safety. That’s the bottom line. It was really tough for both of us. But we stuck it out. My wife would try her best to stay at school and support the teachers. It is rough raising a Black male in today’s world but we tried our best. We were in his life, daily. And he resisted like most but we didn’t give in. He was tough cookie. He wasn’t a bad child but like most teens he got adventurous and would sometimes do stupid things. I say all this to say this. Regardless of his behavior, no other man has a right to put their hands on him. Let me!
We were trying to get him out of high school by any means necessary. I gave up on the “A/B student thing” because he was in such a tough environment. He was trying to wear the son of a teacher hat and be accepted by his peers. I understand that piece. I was his age once. Even though my grades were good, “But for the Grace!” I know I did some crazy things. Probably worse than he could ever do. He had problems completing his English course work so he had to attend summer school to catch up. I was in support of that. My wife was too. Don’t just pass him because I teach there. Make him earn it. That summer he also had a job as a lifeguard at the local park so he was on the right track. He was working and going to summer school. I was proud of him. This would be his last year and he was going to graduate. That’s the bottom line.
Anyway, one day that summer, I just happened to be at the school. His mother was there too assisting him in the classroom with his computer modules. What happened next is crazy. He was called out of the classroom by a male teacher who had heard he was involved in the theft of his IPOD. We had already discussed this with the teacher/coach, myself and the my wife. My son wasn’t involved. And if he were we would take care of him. My son denied being involved. I was okay with that. Anyway, the objective was to complete e the course work so he could graduate. He followed the 6’5” teacher out of the class with the permission of the English teacher and next thing, I was called to the office and myself who had gone to the pool to get his pay check was called. We all met in the office where my son was in shock, crying and trembling. He had been assaulted by the teacher in the restroom and the female teacher who had given my son permission to leave had witnessed it. I was enraged and my wife was too. It doesn't do me justice to explain how I felt at the time.
I wanted some explanation and some understanding as to why this man would do this. I really wanted some revenge. That was the father in me. Honestly, I actually thought all sorts of crazy things. I taught at the school and wouldn’t do that to anyone’s kid much less mine. That day was crazy! I couldn’t imagine doing what he did. If I had done it to his kid and he has one how would he feel. We went to the office and the Principal asked me, "What did you want to have happen?" I was shocked d at the time so I just wanted the man to get some help. We later went to Human Resources and filed a report at the Police station. The next year was so stressful. You couldn’t imagine it. I had to work with this guy knowing he had done what he had done. We would walk by each other and he was told by his attorney, I judge, not to even look at me. It was tough. My son had to be extremely careful. I had to be extremely careful and this guy had to be extremely careful. Imagine that stress? I don’t know what/if anything happened to this guy. I just know he is lucky that I am a professional. Many parents would have gone off. I kept my cool. My wife and I obtained legal counsel and I guess it will play out in the court system. The teacher became the athletic director. My son graduated and I was surplused after six years of successful coaching and teaching. It was devastating. It was best that I leave!
Despite the daily teaching struggles and challenges of being a father at the school, I did find time to enjoy myself as the softball coach. In my tenure I put some miles on my vehicle hauling the girls’ softball team. I followed all the sports programs. I even went to tournaments in Houston, Centralia, Ill., and to the state championships. I was involved as a teacher and a coach. Also as a parent I followed my son, who played baseball and was in the band. His band director even used our property to hunt deer. He acted as a surrogate father for me because my son really bonded with him. The band went to Mardi Gras, many parades and festivals and concerts. My wife and I were very supportive. During my tenure as coach I took the team to the playoffs four times and made it to the sub state once. That’s the furthest they had ever gone in the history of the school. I enjoyed my stay at that school but the pressures of being a father took their toll. When the teacher choked my son I knew it was time to go. Many of the student I had taught at that school were cousins or relatives of students I had also taught at the elementary school where I first began my career. I stay in touch with many of my students still. The faculty and the administration were great; Some were like family but like most family there was dysfunction.

[B. Crittenden Freeman]

Mr. T, I'm hoping that you can check in and share that the High School in question "shored-up" their Metal Detection process starting today!!!

[B. Crittenden Freeman]

So, I'm assuming that things have NOT changed at the school and the Metal Detection process remains the same...

[Craig]

Barry! I've been meaning to check in but it's been real hectic. Had an UGRRO last weekend and it takes a lot of energy. In all honesty, the metal detector piece is the same! As the school year closes more vigilant security is necessary for students and teachers. Safety is paramount. Trust me, I'll keep my eyes open. (smile)

[Asha Bediako]

My Brother Craig, You are so strong. You endure so much! Reading your accounts has been really eye-opening. Stay well, and be careful.

[Craig]

Thanks Asha! The last several weeks have been interesting. Most of the teachers and students are excited about school being almost out. I know I am! It's been a long year. I have been in three different high schools in three different communities with three different administrations and it has been hard getting a sense of stability. In sixteen years this has never been the case. I guess I'll be invited to return back to my current position. Not sure yet. I am the only highly qualified and certified French teacher here but I have found that despite all the standards and qualifications for who stays and who goes, it doesn't always work that way. At my last school, I judged I should have stayed but I was surplused. Thought I had seniority and was the only French teacher at Mitchell. They said they weren't going to be teaching French because they didn't have enough students so I got surplused and found a position at Melrose, where after registration was completed that September and all the numbers came in, I was surplused again. The so-called registration numbers came in low and they had to get rid of a couple teachers. Since I was new to the building I was one of the ones to be transferred. Imagine the uncertainty and confusion that a new teacher would go through. I am a senior/seasoned teacher with almost 20 years. This year I have been through the same evaluation process that I went through last year. Supposedly, you only have to go through it every 5 years (the formal evaluation). I went through my formal evaluations and it was good at my last school. Get to Kirby and since it is a new school, I have had to produce the same documentation again. Boy this year has been a pain. I don't mind the walk in observations and the positive criticism but the redundancy of the paper work is ridiculous. Enough of that! (Smile)

The students have been fair these last few weeks. I only had one incident to cause me any grief. I had a young student call me a bunch of "Motherfuckers" because I wouldn't allow him to sleep in my class. HE awoke as I was filming him for evidence of his napping and subsequently called me and the computer MF after MF after MF. I didn't say a word because last time I replied to him for something he made threats to me and I am not going to allow anyone to threaten me. He was suspended that time for several days. This time he bolted from the class so I had to document and write him up, again. I told the assistant principal what had happened and he took the referral. About an hour later I was called to the office where the young man and his mother were sitting along with a police officer. She wanted to know what had happened. Her son had given his statement and she had doubts since, I judge she knows him best. He was off campus and the police had brought him back. Fortunately, this time his mother was in the neighborhood. I told her my side and shared with her that I have a 19 year old son, five grandsons and a brother in the penitentiary. I told her how her son called me motherfucker, the computer motherfucker and other students motherfucker before bolting out the class. I am responsible for him if anything happens to him because he is in my class. I told her this has happened before but I am here to assist this young man in succeeding. But I will not be called another "Motherfucker!" They don't pay me enough to be called all these names by a 17 year old. If it continues I would probably get fired. She understood my concern and thanked me for my time. The police officer and the assistant principal know the young man. I guess he was suspended for a few more days.

These are common situations that I judge are not discussed by teachers but it is a city wide problem. Many of our young urban men have issues with men asking or telling them what to do. In my judgment this issue is real serious. Our urban students have so many issues around authority. They don't respect it even if you try your hardest to be there for them. And believe me I have been called many MFs. I have tried my best to forgive and forget and understand and dismiss. I have looked at what part I play in it and tried to change my communication skills to better serve the students and the job but continuously, there is some student who wants to prove he is bigger and stronger and more vocal and more powerful. That isn't happening in my class. It is a daily struggle. Sometimes class by class but overall, I do quite well. Many students have run teachers off. I know of several cases. It takes a tough skin and an understanding heart to do what we do most days. It's not the same school house that we and our parents went to. Discipline and authority are challenged daily. If you don't hold your ground some of these kids will chew you up and spit you out. And so often the teacher is blamed for everything. Sometimes I don't think people on the outside have a clue.

[Aaron (Al) Lewis]

Craig, I know most of the excuses for so called black people fucking up, I do. And I must say there is no way I could do what you do. After the first motherfucker I'd have a murder charge.

[B. Crittenden Freeman]

Let's take a deep breath and consider....

Mr. Lewis, remember the conversation you had about "The N Word"? Remember the invitation you gave to us about NOT having a reaction to the word NIGGER? That is, to NOT have a recation to it and in that way one does NOT give another an opportunity to manipulate one or set one up? I imagine that is JUST WHAT that young man was attempting to do.

So, I invite everyone to NOT have a reaction to profanity.

After all, they're just words, sounds coming from a mouth and as such they do NOT cause any real pain.