#7 Battery Recharge

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxsOVK4syxU
This really nails it, after all. I heard it out of the blue on NPR a couple of months ago, and it so
inspired me. Just listening to passionate, smart, articulate people talk about what they do is enough to recharge my batteries now and again. It's good to remember your original impetus.

Teaching is in the top quartile of most complex and difficult jobs, and deserves respect. We've all had our share of bad teachers, but the typical across the board dismissal is unwarrented.

I CHOSE this profession!

#1 Experiencing Different Types of Learners

Last year, I had the good fortune of being able to observe and work in a self contained special education classroom in a local middle school for about three months. At the end of my time there, I sat down and interviewed the teacher, with the goal of writing a paper comparing her philosophy with her actual practice. I was suprised to see how unified and pragmatic she was. What I expected was either a burnt out containment approach, or wide eyed optimism. I saw neither. Her practice was proven effective in my mind when a former student, now mainstreamed into the public high school, dropped by for an unannounced visit. He was there to express his thanks to the teacher, and to encourage the younger kids with stories of his success.

The field of special education is firmly misunderstood by the public. When my uncle who has worked in the field for 30 years tells people what he does for a living, they usually respond with something like "Wow, you must be so patient!"
When he tells this story, which I've heard before, he radiates indignance. "No, I'm a highly trained professional, working like a scientist to get results!"
I've heard that account for years, and in light of what I saw in the classroom here, he's right. If the success of the students depended on the emotional state of the teacher on any given day, the kids would likely be in bad shape. Consistency and professionality win the day by setting a calm, determined tone for the classroom.

This kind of work is hard, to put it mildly. The teacher stressed repeatedly to me the importance of finding ways to take care of myself, not neglecting any dimensions. It's suprisingly easy to get to cross the line of needing to recharge yourself so badly that you can't offer a spark to anyone else.

Action #3 / Taking Education Seriously

I love to read. At any one time, I've got several books going. I read manuals, philosophy, poetry, comic books, novels, history, online journals, textbooks, food packaging. I read literary tomes, and punk- rock xerox. I love to read.

What I love about reading is that it inspires me to figure things out by building associations with what what others already know. I'm linking up seemingly unconnected sources, and mixing in my own experiences. This way, I'm not re-inventing the wheel.

More than once, I've stumbled on to critical problem solving details in obscure packages. Bookstacks just beg me for exploration: I often feel like a pirate getting away with treasure. Those "eureka!" moments happen more often if you seek them out. Serendipitously. Go to Goodwill on 50% off day.

I haunt used book stores, resale shops, and every garage sale where I see a stack of books. I dig through them like an addict. It isn't that uncommon to find something by Thomas Merton for a dollar, or a deck building guide for twenty five cents. I can put both of them to good use.

About two years ago, I discovered a book by teacher I used to know. Though I never had a class of hers, she visited and lectured more than once in other classes I had, and she left a good impression on me. This affords me a great opportunity to reflect on her ideas from a different perspective, and compare the two experiences.

I'll probably get to this one over the summer. Meanwhile, I can finish what I've already started. Here's the current list:

Einstein- His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson.

The Divine Conspiracy- Rediscovering our Hidden Life in God by Dallas Willard

Why I Am Not a Christian by Bertrand Russell

Free Play- Improvisation in Life and Art by Stephen Nachmanovitch

Miracles by C.S. Lewis

Here I am, thinking about what I want when I haven't finished what I have. That's the behavior of an addict.

Action #8 Practicing Democratic Principles

I've been enmeshed in wierd situations at church before, but this one takes the cake.

We are a small, non denominational loose association of under a hundred people, mostly white. Our worship space consisted of an old converted movie theater. We have shared it at various times with a small Dominican church and, at the time this story takes place, an African American church. I've always wondered why the three groups, totaling around three hundred or so, didn;t find a way to combine ourselves into one body, but that's another story.

A group of guys from a local "boot camp" were coming to visit for a service, and to share life stories. These were all guys who had made a long list of bad choices involving drugs and gangs, and who were now deeply committed to changing their lives around. The group was made up of about ten guys of color. Our pastor was able to convince the members of the African American church to join us for this particular service.

We usually open the services with a half hour or so of song, led by the band I'm a part of. Piano, guitars, drums, singers, you get the picture. I play the bass. I've tried very hard over the years to introduce other sounds to the band but the style remains very contemporary, and very white.

The leader brought in a song which was supposed to bring everybody together around the idea that God transcends color. The piece was concieved as a sort of gospel rave up, of the kind stereotypically heard at charismatic African American churches. We went over the song several times that morning, warming up and getting organized for the service. It dawned on me that we were setting up to parrot a style in an inauthentic manner, without respect for the form, to an audience who wasn't going to find it funny at all. The singer's insincere and much repeated James Brown gut bucket shout really just made me cringe. I don't think black people enjoy seeing cheap immitations of black cultural icons played back to them for chuckles.

I spoke up.

"Maybe we should drop the James Brown thi-"

I was shouted down before I could even finish the thought. White privilege is a steam roller.

Sure it's a free country, where we enjoy freedom of speech. But to paraphrase Paul, "Everything is acceptable, but not everything is good." There was much more at stake than just style of performance, or entertainment. The whole point of a service like this is to create an atmosphere where everyone feels welcome, where everyone can transcend themselves and the daily grind. I was faced with a choice: quit the band on the spot, or continue to participate try to influence the group from the inside. I tried the latter.

I'm pretty sure no one intended to come across as condescending, but it was a farce in the end. Our higher purpose was completely undermined. My objections came to nothing.

This experience did confirm some suspicions I had. Action is more powerful than words, sure. However, words have more power than I previously would have given them credit for. They also have the power to divide people gathered around a common cause, and to alienate them from that cause. Having tried words for the purpose of inspiring and watched them fail, I should have taken action.

I have a habit of raising tough questions when I think it's justified. I always try to do it in a way that brings light, not just heat. It's a habit I'll continue to practice. It is my responsibility to speak up for what I believe. It does not always yeild the results I seek, and it is often uncomfortable. As Americans, we don't have the right to be comfortable all the time.

Even though it stings sometimes, it always feels righteous. Sometimes, it even makes a difference.

Action #10 / Effective Teachers

If monkey see, monkey do holds true, then I'll benefit from observing good teachers. This semester, I've been able to do just that in three different settings, and I've just stumbled on another way of doing this:

TEACHER TUBE!

Obviously, this is youtube for teachers. It's a young site, where viewers benefit from participants ideas. Teachers are posting themselves giving lessons or just resource video.

The fact that this site exists is inspiring to me. I can spy on good teachers from afar!

Action #9 / Allies

As a general rule, guys don't enjoy sharing personal feelings. It's not that we don't have them, just that we don't always enjoy talking about them. We often act as if our feelings are not a factor in daily life in order not to have to talk about them.

That said, self reflection is a step toward a healthy emotional life. The next step is engaging personally with a sympathetic person. Sharing personally and regularly with someone sometimes jumpstarts the reflection process while the exchange is happening. Adding a spiritual dimension to the exchange is both rare and spectacularly inspiring.

This doesn't always require long conversations, but sometimes short ones coupled with some kind of action. A hike in the woods, over a beer, any number of possibilites. The activity offers a kind of buffer we can retreat to when the conversation gets too close. Just hike a while at that point, allowing a little processing time. Say more when you have more to say.

I am so fortunate in this regard. I have a few freindships, and some family ties which run quite deep. The exchanges I share with them almost always end up in spiritual territory. It is so good to remember that my interaction with God is not solitary, but has a necessary communal dimension too. When God reflected on all he had made, he decided that:

"It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him."
- Genisis 2:18

I can look my little sister in the eye, and see Him. Now and again I have conversations that I am amazed to be a part of. In those moments, I don't have trouble sharing feelings spritiual, emotional, or otherwise.

I'm fortunate because for me, this isn't rare.

Action #9 / Allies

Two of my neighbors, formerly married, work in the local school system. One as a high school English teacher, the other an office staff member and P.T.O. officer. They both have afforded an interesting view into the interior operations of their respective schools.

The English teacher relates personally to me about his day to day experience. According to these stories, he is pretty well supported by the administration. He seems to get along well with the other teachers in the English department, providing the spontaneous, improvising element.

I can't help but wonder sometimes, if the other teachers see him as a resource or not. The department doesn't seem to spend much time working together. Perhaps there isn't a lot of collaboration because of differences in style. Putting myself in their shoes, I can see why they might not. Would you rely on an unknown quantity, even if he's a very benevolent one? I wonder what the standardized test scores look like in that department?

The other resource I mentioned, working at the local elementary school gives me a lot of hope, at least for the future of that school. She's been there long enough to remember and relate to me what a mess it was before the current principal took over. She describes a very hospitable and cooperatve environment. She also tells me that most of the teachers are in solid control of their classrooms. As a bi-lingual staffer, she works hard to support the principal and the teachers in the building. As a PTO member, she is engaged with the school on behalf of students and parents.

The fact that both of these folks are working toward the same goals of ensuring student success is encourageing. Perhaps there's room for me, too.