2/1/10
Today was a pretty cool. I spent the day in the rolling hills of PA at a workshop on Restorative Practices. The leader was dynamic and has somewhat made me a believer...of course until I get back in the classroom and my hair stands straight up on end bracing for the onslaught of energy that will be unleashed.
Restorative Practices is taking the concept of Restorative Justice and developing a broader setting in which its practices can be employed; the premise being that “human beings are happier, more productive and cooperative, and more likely to make positive changes in their behavior when those in positions of authority do things with them, rather than to them or for them.”
“You’re out of here”… “I’m writing you up”… “Keep it up and you’ll be suspended!” These are short phrases that describe the zero tolerance policy in today's educational setting which is problematic and needs to seriously be examined. Is suspension or expulsion the answer? No, because in urban areas the streets become the teacher and in suburban areas the internet becomes the comforter. Is classifying students the answer? No because many classified students will be returning to the regular education setting by way of the inclusion movement thus requiring that the behavior climate in the regular education setting should be ready to receive these students back.
School climate is a definite concern in many school systems and restorative practices is an emerging discipline that addresses this concern.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Diary of an Inner City Teacher II (religion)
Today is the second day of Kwanzaa. The principle for the day is Kuchichagulia which means self determination. I refuse to let circumstance define my destiny. Kwanzaa is a celebration of African American culture starting with our roots in Africa. Belief in God is a sure foundation in the heritage of black people.
As far back as my memory goes God was there. My grandmother taught her grandchildren to pray when we were still knee high to a grasshopper. Every night before we went to bed we got on our knees and said the Lord’s Prayer, then blessed everybody in the family. Sunday school was an important part of our lives.
As a teenager I was part of a very unique group in high school. Our friendship transcended racial and ethnic barriers as well as religious and economic ones. I had black, white, and Asian friends. Some were Jewish, some were Christian, some believed in God and some didn’t. Some came out of mansions and others from much more modest circumstances. Our common bond was that we wanted to make the world a better place to live in for all people. We came of age during the anti communist era, the civil rights era, and the Vietnam War era. Berkeley, CA was considered a radical little town and that’s what we were, radical in thought, radical in vision, and radical in action.
After being inspired by Malcom X to critically examine the role that the Christian church played in slavery I began to explore other religions. I was so inspired by Malcom X’s autobiography I became a student of Islam for a short period of time. I was given the name Tamam which means good.
Then I met my husband. My husband’s grandparents were pastors in a church where the founder of the church was an ex-slave that taught that Jesus was black and that black people were also part of the early origins of the Christian church. These ideas which were revealed to him by God have since been verified by research; the African Heritage Bible being one of many sources. More and more people are now beginning to accept a darker version of Jesus as opposed to the blond blue-eyed portrait of my formative years. My grandmother-in-law invited my husband and I to her church in Miami when we were there visiting. It was at that time that I became a follower of Jesus and wanted to personally learn more about him.
Jesus was a radical in his time. He went against the established religious practices of the day and challenged people to seek a higher spiritual plane. Many of the religious leaders and other people felt so threatened by him that his short dynamic ministry came to an abrupt end when he was betrayed and crucified.
If it is possible to be a left wing Christian then that’s what I am. I definitely believe that all Americans have a right to decent housing, health care benefits, education, and food. There should be no homeless people in one of the richest nations on earth, nor hungry individuals let alone starving children. Jesus was also a pacifist and so am I.
In the public school system there is suppose to be a separation of religion and state. Teachers are not supposed to impose their own philosophical views upon their students. The American culture is so diversified that even in the inner city I have had students from different ethnic groups as well as religious backgrounds and developing a climate of respect is extremely important. Here’s an interesting anecdote.
One afternoon in class after hearing gunshots outside the students were agitated and a girl stated that she was afraid. Before I could stop myself I asked the students how many of their parents and guardians prayed daily for their children’s safety. Every hand shot up in the class. Each child respected the fact that the adults in their lives prayed for their protection in a dangerous world.
Well…so much for separation of church and state.
As far back as my memory goes God was there. My grandmother taught her grandchildren to pray when we were still knee high to a grasshopper. Every night before we went to bed we got on our knees and said the Lord’s Prayer, then blessed everybody in the family. Sunday school was an important part of our lives.
As a teenager I was part of a very unique group in high school. Our friendship transcended racial and ethnic barriers as well as religious and economic ones. I had black, white, and Asian friends. Some were Jewish, some were Christian, some believed in God and some didn’t. Some came out of mansions and others from much more modest circumstances. Our common bond was that we wanted to make the world a better place to live in for all people. We came of age during the anti communist era, the civil rights era, and the Vietnam War era. Berkeley, CA was considered a radical little town and that’s what we were, radical in thought, radical in vision, and radical in action.
After being inspired by Malcom X to critically examine the role that the Christian church played in slavery I began to explore other religions. I was so inspired by Malcom X’s autobiography I became a student of Islam for a short period of time. I was given the name Tamam which means good.
Then I met my husband. My husband’s grandparents were pastors in a church where the founder of the church was an ex-slave that taught that Jesus was black and that black people were also part of the early origins of the Christian church. These ideas which were revealed to him by God have since been verified by research; the African Heritage Bible being one of many sources. More and more people are now beginning to accept a darker version of Jesus as opposed to the blond blue-eyed portrait of my formative years. My grandmother-in-law invited my husband and I to her church in Miami when we were there visiting. It was at that time that I became a follower of Jesus and wanted to personally learn more about him.
Jesus was a radical in his time. He went against the established religious practices of the day and challenged people to seek a higher spiritual plane. Many of the religious leaders and other people felt so threatened by him that his short dynamic ministry came to an abrupt end when he was betrayed and crucified.
If it is possible to be a left wing Christian then that’s what I am. I definitely believe that all Americans have a right to decent housing, health care benefits, education, and food. There should be no homeless people in one of the richest nations on earth, nor hungry individuals let alone starving children. Jesus was also a pacifist and so am I.
In the public school system there is suppose to be a separation of religion and state. Teachers are not supposed to impose their own philosophical views upon their students. The American culture is so diversified that even in the inner city I have had students from different ethnic groups as well as religious backgrounds and developing a climate of respect is extremely important. Here’s an interesting anecdote.
One afternoon in class after hearing gunshots outside the students were agitated and a girl stated that she was afraid. Before I could stop myself I asked the students how many of their parents and guardians prayed daily for their children’s safety. Every hand shot up in the class. Each child respected the fact that the adults in their lives prayed for their protection in a dangerous world.
Well…so much for separation of church and state.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Diary of an Inner City Teacher II
I guess people wonder why a teacher would be concerned about addiction. I empathize with the children sitting in my classroom whose lives have been negatively impacted by drugs and who suffer daily from the repercussions of having strung-out parents.
Drug addiction is a serious problem in the United States. It doesn’t matter whether they are prescribed or from the streets. They’re taking people out of here right and left. Drugs know neither racial boundaries nor economic walls. They’ll whip the mess out of the rich and famous as well as the economically disadvantaged; then move on to the middle class and anybody else who thinks they’re big enough or bad enough to beat them. The difference in outcome though is that the wealthy and the insured go to various rehabs and the less fortunate eventually end up in jail…money talks in this country loud and clear.
How many of you have loved ones, friends, or acquaintances struggling with this demon? If you don’t know of anybody personally have you heard about someone’s struggle through the grapevine?
As teachers we’re suppose to teach our students to say no to drugs yet when many of them go home there are folks getting high. Then children listen to their various electronic devices as rappers glorify the head trip or put on a DVD where characters are rolling up getting ready to get wasted.
How does a teacher separate society’s romantic image of getting stoned from the reality of addiction?
Drug addiction is a serious problem in the United States. It doesn’t matter whether they are prescribed or from the streets. They’re taking people out of here right and left. Drugs know neither racial boundaries nor economic walls. They’ll whip the mess out of the rich and famous as well as the economically disadvantaged; then move on to the middle class and anybody else who thinks they’re big enough or bad enough to beat them. The difference in outcome though is that the wealthy and the insured go to various rehabs and the less fortunate eventually end up in jail…money talks in this country loud and clear.
How many of you have loved ones, friends, or acquaintances struggling with this demon? If you don’t know of anybody personally have you heard about someone’s struggle through the grapevine?
As teachers we’re suppose to teach our students to say no to drugs yet when many of them go home there are folks getting high. Then children listen to their various electronic devices as rappers glorify the head trip or put on a DVD where characters are rolling up getting ready to get wasted.
How does a teacher separate society’s romantic image of getting stoned from the reality of addiction?
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Kwanzaa Chant
Umoja...Umoja
Unity...Unity
Communities…need strong black families
Communities…need strong black families
Kuchichagulia…Kuchichagulia
Self determination...Self determination
Black History must be a part of education
Black History must be a part of education
Ujima…Ujima
Collective work and responsibility…Collective work and responsibility
Let’s work together on the problems in our communities
Let’s work together on the problems in our communities
Ujamaa…Ujamaa
Cooperative economics…Cooperative economics
Buy black... shop black... support black... give back
Buy black... shop black... support black... give back
Nia...Nia
Purpose…Purpose
The healing of our communities should be our main focus
The healing of our communities should be our main focus
Kuumba…Kuumba
Creativity…Creativity
Through our art we can express new realities
Through our art we can express new realities
Imani…Imani
Faith…Faith
Our belief in God will keep us day by day
Our belief in God will keep us day by day
Unity...Unity
Communities…need strong black families
Communities…need strong black families
Kuchichagulia…Kuchichagulia
Self determination...Self determination
Black History must be a part of education
Black History must be a part of education
Ujima…Ujima
Collective work and responsibility…Collective work and responsibility
Let’s work together on the problems in our communities
Let’s work together on the problems in our communities
Ujamaa…Ujamaa
Cooperative economics…Cooperative economics
Buy black... shop black... support black... give back
Buy black... shop black... support black... give back
Nia...Nia
Purpose…Purpose
The healing of our communities should be our main focus
The healing of our communities should be our main focus
Kuumba…Kuumba
Creativity…Creativity
Through our art we can express new realities
Through our art we can express new realities
Imani…Imani
Faith…Faith
Our belief in God will keep us day by day
Our belief in God will keep us day by day
That Star from Afar (holiday poem)
The holidays are drawing near
Hearts are filled with good tidings and cheer
The spirit of giving fills the air
Lights and decorations everywhere
Many people will celebrate the birth of Jesus
Who was born to give his life for us
He is that bright and morning star
That looks down from afar
His eternal light is shining bright
Offering mankind everlasting life
Constantly radiating His infinite invitation
To join Him in eternity’s jubilant celebration.
Hearts are filled with good tidings and cheer
The spirit of giving fills the air
Lights and decorations everywhere
Many people will celebrate the birth of Jesus
Who was born to give his life for us
He is that bright and morning star
That looks down from afar
His eternal light is shining bright
Offering mankind everlasting life
Constantly radiating His infinite invitation
To join Him in eternity’s jubilant celebration.
The Vigil
Indigence explodes raining shards of complacency on broken families
Violence points guns pulling triggers of ignorance killing innocence
Bullets speed quickly across barriers of time piercing the future
Parents are haunted by screams from beyond the grave of murdered children
The war is on
Crack and smak smiling illusions of happiness stand on the corner
Thieves steal through the night silent phantoms in the dark breaking into lives
Drugs rob the children
Hunger devours their strength
They sleep in anger
The streets lure the young with promises of riches stifling the spirit
Music from cars blasting curses and obscenities sing of degradation and humiliation
Mothers shed tears crying for children gone astray lost in shades of gray
Poverty marches on
Jesus is waiting
Silently keeping vigil
Through the long dark night
Violence points guns pulling triggers of ignorance killing innocence
Bullets speed quickly across barriers of time piercing the future
Parents are haunted by screams from beyond the grave of murdered children
The war is on
Crack and smak smiling illusions of happiness stand on the corner
Thieves steal through the night silent phantoms in the dark breaking into lives
Drugs rob the children
Hunger devours their strength
They sleep in anger
The streets lure the young with promises of riches stifling the spirit
Music from cars blasting curses and obscenities sing of degradation and humiliation
Mothers shed tears crying for children gone astray lost in shades of gray
Poverty marches on
Jesus is waiting
Silently keeping vigil
Through the long dark night
Thursday, December 17, 2009
A Rough Day (Teetee's corner)
Today was a rough day in the neighborhood. Ole slew foot Violence, his flat foot cousin Addiction, and their buddy Affliction jumped Never Bothers Anyone and beat him into the hospital. I remember back in the day when the neighborhood watched out for the children. Not so anymore…craziness wanders the streets lookin’ for trouble. Angry little children just a fightin’ each other and people runnin’ to see who’s getting’ beat up.
Me, well I say its cause drugs done messed up the families. Folks all in jail…mamas, daddies, grandmamas, granddaddies…all behind an illusion…come on let’s get high…hey you wanna party? Let’s have some fun…you got the blues? Come on I know sumpin’ make you feel better…now if them ain’t famous last words. Next thing you know drugs done took over your life…mamas take food out they children's mouths and buy slippery joy...daddies robbing lookin' for hope at the bottom of a crack vial...
More folks in jail for drugs and all the dumb stuff it make you do…poor people ain’t got no money…that’s a bad combination…no money and a habit…now whatcha think gonna happen? People gonna get stupid and end up locked up and they babies end up in overcrowded houses or foster care...never feelin' secure...never feelin' loved...just anger, anger, and more anger!
Yeah sho' remind me of my friend's little boy...
Me, well I say its cause drugs done messed up the families. Folks all in jail…mamas, daddies, grandmamas, granddaddies…all behind an illusion…come on let’s get high…hey you wanna party? Let’s have some fun…you got the blues? Come on I know sumpin’ make you feel better…now if them ain’t famous last words. Next thing you know drugs done took over your life…mamas take food out they children's mouths and buy slippery joy...daddies robbing lookin' for hope at the bottom of a crack vial...
More folks in jail for drugs and all the dumb stuff it make you do…poor people ain’t got no money…that’s a bad combination…no money and a habit…now whatcha think gonna happen? People gonna get stupid and end up locked up and they babies end up in overcrowded houses or foster care...never feelin' secure...never feelin' loved...just anger, anger, and more anger!
Yeah sho' remind me of my friend's little boy...
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