Edu-babble
The Glamorous World of the New York City Public School System
by
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5. In the first two months, take no prisoners. Be a complete and unfaltering Terminator machine to each and every one of them (you don’t want to look soft). When you earn each other’s respect then you can begin to nurture them.
= The best two days of my teaching career concerning behavior management were in October and May of my second year of teaching.
October
L.J. was part of the tougher yet manageable group in my hardest class. All 33 of them were testing me though. I never gave them an inch and provided great evidence of them not trying. A slip of paper that is filled out by the student stating their name, class, the assignment given, and their reason for not handing it in on time. They bake in a small blue binder until its time for parent teacher conferences. DING! GET IT WHILE ITS HOT. I GOT EXCUSES COMING OUT OF THE WAZOO, ANY TAKERS? Also, I used my support on whichever floor I was teaching on that day… the dean, the AP, their other teachers, and their mommas. Two months of this and then the day came when I knew I had them by “the balls” so to speak.
Ms.? Yo Ms.!
Ms. What?
Ms. Green
What is your question?
Well, we was wonderin if you were married?
Nope, why?
Because you’re too tight, you needs to get laaaiiiidddd.
May
The month of May is glorious. The student’s hearts and yours melt with the snow. The students have finally stopped testing your limits and make astonishing strides in class work and group work. Then, without even realizing it, the eyes in the back of your head are peaking out from your shell of hair. You can spot an incident 5 seconds before it happens. With my back to all 33 of them I am writing on the chart paper. I hear the unmistakable sound of crinkling paper then giggles. Don’t even think about throwing paper balls, boys. Without pausing I stopped a ruckus and earned respect in one swoop of a marker. At the end of the period Rosa stayed after to talk to me, like she has been for months now. Offering to carry binders for me, with much gratitude, I lead the way up the stairs. Ms. Green thanks fo the grade third semesta, do you need help wid anythin else? Well, I do have my AK in my trunk maybe you can help with that after you eat lunch. Are you still coming up to the library after you eat? Damn Ms. Green! Stop playin round. Yeah, course I’ll be dere, yous my nigga. Peace!
What a compliment! Only her closest associates are referred to in this manner. I was now one of the few she trusted and has a deep connection with. Although she knows my feelings on the N- word, she was trying to express herself. I tell them knowing the history of the African- Americans it offends ME, even if it doesn’t offend them.
6. They respect people who respect themselves (keep your posture straight, keep your chin up, hands folded in front of you, and dress in a style that makes you feel comfortable)
= there is the teacher who looks like he stepped out
out of Cape Cod with his salmon colored slacks, cobalt blue botton down, and color coordinated bow tie. However, the students(and adults) respect him because he matches(very important) and he holds his own.
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Book Details
About the Book
Have you ridden the New York City Mass Transit
System lately? Yes? Then, have you boarded the
flight to the bizzaro world of city public school
teaching? Attracted by those adorable Teaching
Fellows advertisements? Make a Difference in a
Child's Life. Little do you realize when you get
placed in the Grade F schools that you have
entered The Twilight Zone! Is it the children?
No... it is the adults! You will spend so much time
worrying about your five or six supervisors that
you and the children are on the same side. I make
many colleague- approved suggestions in this manual
as I have been out in the force for a couple of years
and have somehow survived. The children are wonderful
gifts to the world. They make mistakes, like getting
caught bringing in a machete purely for protection
when he walks home from school. I would say 85%
of my school's students are endearing and struggling
young learners that you will fall in love with and treat
like your own. However, to see the forest through the
trees you need to follow the tips I provide in this
manual. The most important one is to use edu-babble as
much as possible. I provide a glossary at the back of
the manual to be cunningly whipped out when you realize
you have no idea what the principal is referring to.
About the Author
Gwendolyn Green is the pseudonym used by a teacher
of 4 years in the New York Public School System in
a low income and highly diverse section of the Bronx.
She has been a resident of the state of New York
for 23 years and thought it would be a great idea
when in high school, out in the suburbs, that she
would like to be teacher. She received her B.A. in
education from Manhattan College in Riverdale, NY.
Although an outstanding and wealthy section, it is
still technically part of the Boogie Down Bronx. Most
of the college's connections (its all who you know -FYI)
are in that borough. In conclusion, the author was
offered a position to teach at a tidy and heavily
beaurocratic school and has since gone gray both
from genetics and stress.