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Socratic Seminar 3.24.17

Students were discussing a range of topics from: Why is it pertinent for children of color to educate themselves of their history? What other people were important to the advancement of equal rights for people of color? Give an example of at least three other influential people from our past. ~TO~ The philosophies of Marcus Garvey and Earl Little. Do you agree with their philosophy? How would that affect the black community today? Explain. I was so impressed with their comments, their ideas. I was even more roused by the evidence and research that many students used to support their notions. However, there was one comment today that "dropped the mic" shall we say. Student: Education is important. Not just from everyday school, but learning on our own. Bringing life to black hidden figures. If we just learn what society wants us to learn then we accept a comment like 'go back to Africa'. But a person that knows their history and familiar with colonialism would respond, 'you go back home too! We were stolen from our land and brought here and you massacred a whole race of people to claim land that was already inhabited. So if I gotta go back to Africa, you go back to Europe." These are the moments in teaching that make a militant, pro-black everything educator smile.

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Reflection

One thing I despise more than standardized tests, is preparing for standardized assessments. I understand practice is needed, but we have replaced educating with testing. Today my students took one of three benchmarks required of them. All of which are the accurate read of proficiency for the PARCC, or so they claim. I have yet to see it. After testing I shared their scores with them and unfortunately, but not surprising the majority of my students' scores dropped. They were disheartened. Confused. Dejected. However, my response after every benchmark is: Me: These assessments are a reflection on Ms. Turner and no way a measure of how smart you are. I need to reflect on my approach and come at it differently if you all struggled. It just means, we got a little more work to do, which we already knew. Right? Students: Yes, Ms. Turner Me: For real, I need to step my teaching game up a notch. (Smile) Student: But you are a good teacher. We just want everyone to know. We want you to be happy. (All shake heads in agreeance) Me: Do I look sad? (I point to my face). And... uh... who is everyone? We don't need everyone in our business. You already know...what goes on in Princeton... Students: ...Stays in Princeton. The notion that inner city students don't care about their education is a generalization. I teach 46, 8th grade students that cry when they do not perform as well as expected, want to retest for higher grades, revisit and revise work with poor grades for resubmission, and desperately want immediate feedback. I have instilled in them that they are synonymous to best and expect nothing less. My expectations are high and I don't waver my standards; not for the "bad ass", the child that "doesn't care", my special needs students, my lower performing students, etc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 30 minutes later~8th grade Math I can hear one of my students arguing with the math teacher. Student: Mr. *** I'm not taking that test again. Math teacher: Well your score dropped. You failed. Student: Ms. Turner said when we don't do well on these tests it's not us that failed... it's you! Teacher! Math teacher stunned at the response. Student: Reflect Mr. ***, you need to reflect.

#urbaneducation

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The above video titled “The Unequal Opportunity Race” was screened as part of a schoolwide Black History Month program at Glen Allen High School in Glen Allen, Virginia. Some parents apparently weren’t thrilled about that. One local grandparent had two words for what this video was pushing on white kids.

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Education.

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No Filter

Our amazing Social Studies teacher is a great partner and colleague. She supports the topics I cover and makes it her business to observe my class to learn consistent language and expectations. She is great!

She has been teaching the Miseducation of the Negro and delve deep into the school to prison pipeline. She taught our students about taxes and what you are ultimately paying for. Leave it to children to use what they learned at the WRONG times.

Student to math teacher: Ms. *** Says our taxes pay for education. But what happens when we aren’t satisfied with where the tax money went?

Math teacher: What’s your point?

Student: What’s my point? My parents taxes pay for you and I’m not satisfied. I want my return.

*** Although it seems harsh, I will defend. This math teacher is not an effective teacher. He has taught in all areas, been incharge of attendance, and always comes up short. Why is he still here? Tenure. A blessing and a curse. This man does more preaching, than teaching. He is extremely sarcastic and spends his math block arguing with 14 year olds. Worst yet, he believes he is an effective educator; the children are at fault. Now, I have taught my students to be advocates for their own education; when they feel wronged, speak up. Now subtitles for my student’s comment: “You aren’t adequately teaching me. I want to learn.”

This student was kicked out of class and as per usual they seek me out. He told me what happened and I was searching for the words that defended my colleague because after all we are adults and should be given a certain amount of respect. Normally, I speak to the student and send them back to class. Therefore, I mustered up the words that I thought fit the situation; "alright honey, take a seat and finish your classwork." The word teacher, educator, adult is not synonymous to perfect. We are wrong. We make mistakes. There are times when our children are right. You may not like the delivery (because they are still learning); but that does not negate their message.

#atleasttheyarelistening

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So true! Children are funny as hell, especially 8th graders. But at the same token they lack a filter, are candid, incredibly honest, and let’s not forget mean. So...What does that say about me, a teacher, when I spend most of my work day laughing with them?

When I laugh at a student’s joke, but then realize it’s inappropriate and I should not be laughing

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This quotation sums up my purpose in teaching urban education. I would also include, "being able to distinguish between truth and alternative facts".

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#blackempowerment

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Urban schools do not need super heros; so hang up your capes. Urban education needs teachers who are committed to the mission to educate all students effectively and efficiently.

Ms. Turner ~It never fails. Young, white teachers vow their educational experience to urban education so they can "make a difference". They have this super hero mentality believing our children need to be saved. Now from what? I don't know. What will "save" our children from this mythical villian or antagonist, is teaching. Effectively educating inner city children will equip them with the "power" to defeat the "villian" you have so generously come to save them from. Nothing more nothing less. These students do not need your sympathy, but empathy would be nice. However, do not allow your empathy to provide them with excuses for why they can't. Keep expectations high, do not relent; for the best way to "save" children of color is to simply educate.

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Quotes for the day

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Never Satisfied 3.16.17

Everyday we check that our students have completed homework. The homework checklist gets sent to the office where they send a phone blast to parents to alert them that last night’s homework was not completed.

An Administrator walks into my homeroom as I am reprimanding them for not completing homework.

Admin: Ms. Turner, everytime I come in here I’m impressed with the amount of checks you have versus zeros. You’re students have the highest average of completion everyday. Lay off them a little.

He addresses my homeroom, Ms. Turner should relax a little, right? You all are doing well.

Students do not respond (because my kids know what it is)

Administrator is standing there with a goofy grin on his face.

I smile and kindly respond: Well, Mr. *** , they may have the highest completion rate; and that is satisfying to you. But until I have all checks, one hundred percent, I will never be satisfied.

He nods and quickly exits my room.

My students appreciate and understand that I want the very best for them. I am hard on them because the world will not be light. My expectations are high because in order to survive post middle school, they will have to internalize those same expectations for themselves. If I don’t expect them to be their best, they won’t and many will never know what they are capable of. To impress Ms. Turner is hard to do, once you show that you are happy with their progress, 8th grade students will become complaisant. Instead, once they reach the finish line, I move it a few yards; always pushing them to strive, achieve, and beleive they can win no matter where society might deem the end of the race.

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The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.

I am constantly combating underlying notions that my current administrators have embedded in their mind as truth. 
 As simple as requesting the Halloween Party be cancelled due to student behavior. I was pulled into a meeting where I was told; what did I expect from the middle school and their behavior; they have mostly substitutes. Can we really hold them accountable for their behavior?

I was taken back. But responded, absolutely. Why wouldn’t I? I do not accept mediocrity from my students. An adult is an adult whether it is a sub or a teacher; and I expect them to behave as such.

But is that realistic to ask of them?

Realistic to show respect? Well what is the expectation of the students in Livingston ( a neighboring suburb) or Maplewood (another neighboring suburb)? I will not reward mediocrity, especially when I know they are capable of much more. What message does that send? 
 Needless to say, despite my objection; admin adamantly believed the party was earned; and I should be present in the gym to chaperone or police as I’ve done so well in the past.

I decided however, I would show my disapproval by not chaperoning. Admin decided to have the middle school students participate; so I would go to the gym at the end when it was time to collect my 8th graders and let administration worry about the students for once. Why should I be the enforcer of students who exhibit behaviors that we, the middle school, deemed were the very reason why we did not believe middle school was deserving of the party in the first place?

If we hold our students to higher standards, they will rise. If we continue with the expectations defined on Halloween, our children will continue to behave in a manner that is mediocre and substandard.

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“You are too old to be spoon fed… Grab hold of the spoon and feed yourself; that way you are able to control what is being consumed, how much to digest, and what to abstain from entering your system.” -Ms. Turner

Children have to be taught to take charge of their learning. Do not settle. Question. Do not agree. Challenge. Do not be passive. Be active. Do not be naive. Substantiate.

We cannot allow learning to continue any other way. They rely too heavily on the “Give me… Tell me…” Testing has ruined their ability to think and wonder, and stifled their educational growth as a student that leads to self-discovery and exploration and contributes to their overall knowledge.

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To save man from the morass of propaganda, in my opinion, is one of the chief aims of education. Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction….

When your students show their understanding of the rhetoric present in our history books.

We discussed Stacey Dash’s comment regarding the need to get rid of black history month and BET. Stating, there is a desire for equality, but we continue to separate ourselves. Prior to the discussion below, students were able to determine Black History Month was developed to commemorate people of color who were not represented in our textbooks or curriculum; because like everything else, the white man controls who and what we learn about. The conversation continues below:

Me: Thinking back to your earlier years in elementary school. Who were you informed of as an influential part of civil rights?

Students: Dr. King

Me: You learned about Dr. King before you were even able to spell his name. Now when did you learn about Malcolm X?

Students: 6th grade

Me: Keanna, how?

Student: When we read the Autobiography of Malcolm X with you.

Me: So not in a textbook… Why?

Student: Dr. King’s philosophy was non-violent and did not believe in retaliation. However, although Malcolm X was not known for random violence; he believed in self defense. Dr. King’s message was civil obedience while Malcolm X is known for his famous quote. “By any means necessary.”

Me: Okay.

Student: If you think about who writes the textbooks, Dr. King is safe and his views acceptable. However, Malcolm X viewed the white man as the devil and our oppressor.

Me: I could see that.

Student: Ms. Turner, I also remember learning about the Pilgrims. The first Thanksgiving, the big celebration. We made the hats out of construction paper and everything. They were the first to settle in this new land. Everything was good. But they left out the part where they slaughtered the Native Americans, stole their land, and then claimed it as their own. Me: Conveniently, yes.