Random Thoughts I
I have always held the strong conviction that I would never teach in a system that I would not send my kids to school in. For the most part, my kids went to school in the same system I taught throughout my career, with a few notable exceptions.
I have taught in all kinds of schools: large and small, rural, suburban, and urban, majority Black, majority White, and 50/50 schools. What I have found is that kids are kids, no matter where they are.
Jeff Davis and Madison County were roughly 90% White. Greenville, Juliette Low ES in Savannah, and Mitchell County were roughly 90% Black. Fitzgerald, Elbert County, and Southeast HS in Macon were roughly 50/50 schools. And then there was Lithia Springs, which was roughly a 33/33/33 school- Black, White, and Hispanic. Lithia Springs was also the largest school I taught at, where Mitchell County was the smallest. Jeff Davis, Madison County, Fitzgerald, Greenville, Elbert County, and Mitchell County were all rural schools; Southeast and Juliette Low were urban schools, and Lithia Springs would be suburban.
My kids attended school at Madison County, Fitzgerald, Elbert County, Mitchell County, and Lithia Springs. Because of how much I moved, they had to move as well. Only twice did we give them a choice, and both times they chose to go to school in my system. When I was teaching in Elbert County, we were living in Madison County. Stephen chose to remain in Madison County, because he was going to be a junior. Eric went his Freshman year to Madison County, then chose to transfer to Elbert County for his last 3 years. Karyn finished MS in Madison County, then attended her first 2 years at Elbert County before finishing at Mitchell County. Miller has moved the most, beginning Kindergarten at Elbert County before moving to Madison County after Eric and Karyn were diagnosed with Type I diabetes within 3 weeks of each other, causing Jackie to resign from her math teaching job at Elbert County and go back to teaching preschool, so she could work half a day, and be available for the kids if needed. Miller then attended schools in Mitchell County for 5th grade, then Lumpkin County for 6th and 7th. He then attended 8th grade at Turner MS in Douglas County, then Lithia Springs HS. He will finish out HS at Lumpkin County HS.
I tell you all of this to give you perspective of where I've been, and the kinds of places I have taught. But I also must explain a little of my upbringing in Columbus. I started school in 1969, the first year that schools were fully integrated in Columbus, so I was the first class to always be integrated. My dad was the head of the Fine Arts Department of what was then called Columbus College. My mom was active in the Faculty Wives Club, and eventually also worked in the Continuing Education Department at Columbus College. My parents worked with Fort Benning sponsoring officers from other countries who trained there, and we also hosted several exchange students. Therefore, from a very young age, I was exposed to people of different cultures: Korea, Iran, Ethiopia, and Japan, to name a few. We met and ate with them, and would show them how a "typical" American family lived. Like all kids, I assumed everyone's upbringing was similar. I was brought up to be tolerant of other viewpoints, and see things from other perspectives.
One other aspect of my background illuminates my view of the world: I was a member of the US Army Reserves for 4 years, one in Waycross and three in Macon. Both of those units were majority Black, especially the unit I was in my last 2 years in Macon, which had 196 soldiers, with only 4 of us White. The best part was that nobody cared. We had a mission to do, and we went about our business. This isn't to say that I don't have any racist tendencies, because I probably do. But it does mean that I try my hardest not to give in to them, and to treat everyone fairly, regardless of their race. I only hope I have succeeded more than I have failed.
Some of the funny (strange) and funny-but-not-funny comments I have received from students through the years include:
"You just don't like me because my dad is Black and my mom is White!" (Honey, I didn't even know...)
"You always favor the White kids!" "You always favor the Black kids!" (These were from the same class at the same school about 2 weeks apart, said when the other person was absent. I guess I favored all kids?)
"Mr. Anderson, I hated you and your class, but I have to say I learned more in the 2 semesters here than in the previous 7 years combined." (Said by a graduating senior her last day of school, at the end of my first year at the school. I'll take it...)
"You need to shut the f*** up, you m*****f*****!" (Said by a first grade girl in an elementary classroom. The saddest part is that the other kids were unfazed by her outburst, which means this was language they were used to hearing at home.)
"Why can't we play more rap music?" (I had a student play several rap tunes on his trombone for me, and I wrote them down, added harmony, and passed them out to the kids. I called it Rap City. Get it?)
I'm sure there were many more, but my memory fails me at the moment. Until next time, may your day and your family be blessed!
I have taught in all kinds of schools: large and small, rural, suburban, and urban, majority Black, majority White, and 50/50 schools. What I have found is that kids are kids, no matter where they are.
Jeff Davis and Madison County were roughly 90% White. Greenville, Juliette Low ES in Savannah, and Mitchell County were roughly 90% Black. Fitzgerald, Elbert County, and Southeast HS in Macon were roughly 50/50 schools. And then there was Lithia Springs, which was roughly a 33/33/33 school- Black, White, and Hispanic. Lithia Springs was also the largest school I taught at, where Mitchell County was the smallest. Jeff Davis, Madison County, Fitzgerald, Greenville, Elbert County, and Mitchell County were all rural schools; Southeast and Juliette Low were urban schools, and Lithia Springs would be suburban.
My kids attended school at Madison County, Fitzgerald, Elbert County, Mitchell County, and Lithia Springs. Because of how much I moved, they had to move as well. Only twice did we give them a choice, and both times they chose to go to school in my system. When I was teaching in Elbert County, we were living in Madison County. Stephen chose to remain in Madison County, because he was going to be a junior. Eric went his Freshman year to Madison County, then chose to transfer to Elbert County for his last 3 years. Karyn finished MS in Madison County, then attended her first 2 years at Elbert County before finishing at Mitchell County. Miller has moved the most, beginning Kindergarten at Elbert County before moving to Madison County after Eric and Karyn were diagnosed with Type I diabetes within 3 weeks of each other, causing Jackie to resign from her math teaching job at Elbert County and go back to teaching preschool, so she could work half a day, and be available for the kids if needed. Miller then attended schools in Mitchell County for 5th grade, then Lumpkin County for 6th and 7th. He then attended 8th grade at Turner MS in Douglas County, then Lithia Springs HS. He will finish out HS at Lumpkin County HS.
I tell you all of this to give you perspective of where I've been, and the kinds of places I have taught. But I also must explain a little of my upbringing in Columbus. I started school in 1969, the first year that schools were fully integrated in Columbus, so I was the first class to always be integrated. My dad was the head of the Fine Arts Department of what was then called Columbus College. My mom was active in the Faculty Wives Club, and eventually also worked in the Continuing Education Department at Columbus College. My parents worked with Fort Benning sponsoring officers from other countries who trained there, and we also hosted several exchange students. Therefore, from a very young age, I was exposed to people of different cultures: Korea, Iran, Ethiopia, and Japan, to name a few. We met and ate with them, and would show them how a "typical" American family lived. Like all kids, I assumed everyone's upbringing was similar. I was brought up to be tolerant of other viewpoints, and see things from other perspectives.
One other aspect of my background illuminates my view of the world: I was a member of the US Army Reserves for 4 years, one in Waycross and three in Macon. Both of those units were majority Black, especially the unit I was in my last 2 years in Macon, which had 196 soldiers, with only 4 of us White. The best part was that nobody cared. We had a mission to do, and we went about our business. This isn't to say that I don't have any racist tendencies, because I probably do. But it does mean that I try my hardest not to give in to them, and to treat everyone fairly, regardless of their race. I only hope I have succeeded more than I have failed.
Some of the funny (strange) and funny-but-not-funny comments I have received from students through the years include:
"You just don't like me because my dad is Black and my mom is White!" (Honey, I didn't even know...)
"You always favor the White kids!" "You always favor the Black kids!" (These were from the same class at the same school about 2 weeks apart, said when the other person was absent. I guess I favored all kids?)
"Mr. Anderson, I hated you and your class, but I have to say I learned more in the 2 semesters here than in the previous 7 years combined." (Said by a graduating senior her last day of school, at the end of my first year at the school. I'll take it...)
"You need to shut the f*** up, you m*****f*****!" (Said by a first grade girl in an elementary classroom. The saddest part is that the other kids were unfazed by her outburst, which means this was language they were used to hearing at home.)
"Why can't we play more rap music?" (I had a student play several rap tunes on his trombone for me, and I wrote them down, added harmony, and passed them out to the kids. I called it Rap City. Get it?)
I'm sure there were many more, but my memory fails me at the moment. Until next time, may your day and your family be blessed!
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