Being Schooled

Our first week of working at the Holy Springs summer school is nearly complete and it has been quite a week!  The week really began Sunday afternoon when Larissa and I  helped set up for a meeting over at what I like to call MTC Headquarters - or Guyton Hall.  I have woken up each morning at 5:30 AM to catch the 6:10 AM bus to Holy Springs.  Yes, it's an early start, but the day is over before you know it and I have already have learned a great deal.

I am trying to keep what Ben Guest calls, "the beginners mind", approaching each situation as if I have nothing to loose but everything to learn.  The entire 'summer school' concept is so completely foreign to me - what ever happened to summer camp? Detentions, referrals, bells for classes, a strict dress code, and even the P.A. system - all new to me.  These 'instruments' for running an efficient and productive school day were never apart of the Waynflete School formula I grew up with.  I realize now more than ever what a lucky kid and camper I was.  

Detention was something I first saw watching the movie Ten Things I Hate About You - and was that ever a romanticized portrayal.  This afternoon, nearly 40 kids (about 1/5 of the summer school population) had received detentions, and because of the numbers, extra desks were placed in our office so I got to see what it was really like.  Every student was black, and all but one were male.  I felt so cold and awful just sitting there, glancing up from my work occasionally to see what kids were doing.  It looked like a mini version of the United States prison system, and we know well that system isn't working.

Sitting there, I did a bit of thinking about a Sociology class I took with Dr. Witherbee at USM.  In the class, we read "Punishment and Inequality in America", written by Princeton's Bruce Western who describes the particularly dire circumstances for young black men in this country.  I recall one startling study of nearly 1,500 private employers in New York City, which found that black job applicants with no criminal records weren't any more likely to get a job than white applicants who were just out of prison.  

The kids talk about not coming back.  Most hate it, while others actually attend for enrichment.  Will these boys make it out?  Do they have a shot in life? What can MTC do to help them?  Is detention really a good answer?  I certainly don't have the answers.  At least, not yet.  I tried to make it appear as though I knew what I was doing as I handed out copies of President Obama's Inaugural Address for the students to copy - yep, that was their punishment.  It really didn't seem like punishment to me; reproducing an inspiring and eloquent speech from the nations first African American president.  All I keep hoping, is that these young children, however poor and disadvantaged, will realize that their teachers are here to help them and not to punish them.  

On a better note, life is sweet here in the South and the University of Mississippi and MTC are treating me well.  Oxford is a beautiful city, rich in history, culture, and cuisine!  I will try and post a bit more about the farmer's markets and favorite shopping and eating spots as Oxford has many!  Agenda for the coming weekend: a trip to Square Books (http://www.squarebooks.com/) for a look at what's new in fiction, the farmer's market in Taylor (http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/M23756) for some fresh veggies, milk, and eggs, and a yoga class in town.  Let's not forget the weekend getaway to Austin's farm.  There is so much to look forward to and I am trying to savor it all, even the difficult days and 5:30 AM wake ups!  Did I mention Faulkner is in town?