First of all, I must mention that I have immensely enjoyed getting email from pals old and new lately. Thank you to everyone who is reading my blog or who at least responded to ABME. (Of course, only those who read the blog even know they’re getting thanked… Hmmm. I should write everyone back, and I will someday [not] soon when I have my classroom set up). I love an audience. More than having a record of a day’s events to look back on, I like to think that someone looks forward to reading my writing. That’s why I write.
And lastly, I’d like to thank the Academy…
My brain is so fried that earlier I was listening to my itunes playlist, but somehow thought I was listening to internet radio. I kept hearing all these songs I like, one after the other. I was really enjoying the “radio station,” thinking I’d have to listen again. Chapter One: Public Education And Its Damaging Cognitive Effects.
Are you tired of reading that I worked on my classroom today for seven hours? I’m tired of doing it. Especially without air conditioning. I don’t want to put together any complex sentences, literary devices, or wordplay tonight. I’m too dumb tired. What I will write is…
Everything I Wanted You To Know About My Job That I Forgot To Tell You:
Where I work: I.S. ###. I wouldn’t want anyone I work with to ever google our school and have my blog pop up. Thus, know that I work in Harlem in a school divided into four different academies. I work in the legal studies academy.
What I teach: 8th grade Language Arts and one class of 8th grade Social Studies. I’m not certified in Social Studies, nor have I taken it much since I was in junior high. Does this worry me? Yes! Will I fake it and pretend to know what I’m doing, despite the fact that I’m learning along with the kids? Certainly. I also have a homeroom class.
The security of my school: It has guards, but it doesn’t have metal detectors. I don’t know how scary my students might be. My school is in a poor area near a low-income housing highrise. I wouldn’t walk around the neighborhood at night.
The condition of my school: The outside of the building is a pretty typical NYC school, except it doesn’t have razor wire anywhere. I’m not kidding about that in any way - most NYC schools have barbed or razored wire on some part of the school building. Bars on windows aren’t uncommon either. My school has computers in every classroom, I hear, though I can’t confirm that. My classroom has four computers, but only two work. One keyboard is missing most of its keys. The hallways are shiny and clean, but the classrooms are another story. I won’t reiterate how much peeling paint or ancient graffiti is in my classroom alone. Most classrooms do not have an overhead projector or screen. Roll and grades are done on paper, not computer.
The rules of my school: They seem strict to me. Students are supposed to be given homework every day, even over holidays. Kids wear “uniforms” that don’t really have to be tailored at all. The “uniform” policy was designed to work with the supply of a large dollar store in the neighborhood, while eliminating some competition over who wears Rocawear and who doesn’t. Students cannot run errands for teachers and can never be left unattended. Students can only visit their lockers three times a day, instead of between every class. No one can wear a coat or jacket inside the building. Teachers must walk their homeroom classes out of school at the end of the day to prevent any school violence.
The academic performance of my school: My school was previously on the NYC list of failing schools. It was told that if it didn’t improve test scores within a certain amount of time, it would be closed indefinitely. It was able to improve scores and stay open, but it still has a lot of challenges. Most students are below grade level in every subject, and many students are not native English speakers. Because of this, I’m prepared for some heartbreaking days in room 108. Also because of this, I can get a special grant for up to four years if I stay at my school.
The demographics of my school: I’d say about half African-American and half Puerto Rican/Dominican. Most of the administration is African-American. I am one of a few white teachers. There are no white students, so that’s nice. I’ll never be mistaken for a student again!
