I’ve gone through the fire and I’ve been through the flood.
I’ve been broken into pieces seen lightning flashing from above.
But through it all I remember that He loves me and He cares.
And He’ll never put more on me than I can bear.
-Kirk Franklin “More Than I Can Bear”
Greetings folks. It’s not often that I start my weekly post with a gospel song. It’s not that I don’t know any or that I’m not a religious man, but that more often than not, my posts tend to be clearly on the other side of the tracks from religion. However, when writing this week’s post I felt compelled to share a little gospel to get this one out.
I love my job and many of the people that I work. There are some people I wish would get lost at sea (or find a new career) but for the most part I’m good. Yet and still my job can be trying. Educating America’s youth is a challenge. Some of them come from broken homes. Some of them don’t even eat very much outside of the 2 meals they get at school. Some of them are forced to shoulder a greater load of the household responsibilities than many of us can imagine. I once had a student who told me she had to work to pay half of the rent. When I was in high school I worked to have money for senior activities. Add that to the growing emphasis on standardized testing, the unrest that lies in the educational system, and turmoil that is our political and economic world and you have a recipe for disaster. Yet through it all, teachers are asked, no demanded, to put on a happy face, accept their meager wages, be happy they have a job and teach children who often times don’t want to be taught and don’t have adults in their lives outside of school to drive the importance of education. It’s a tough job but somebody’s got to do it.
This foray into the educational realm has been an eye opening experience and as I’ve said before, I’ll say it again, hats off to all the individuals who are truly teachers/educators; those individuals who went to school for this; those people who interned in college at a school and still wanted to do this; those people who go to school every day happy, proud to be a teacher, despite the many reasons not to be.
Public school teachers are tasked with teaching more than just their assigned subject. They are tasked with teaching good hygiene, with being good role models, with being a good listener, with being a counselor, and a support system. I’ve been in MDCPS for a little over a year and I have just about as many stories as I had when I worked for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.
This week has been particularly hard for me as I learned one of my student’s moms passed away and another was forcibly removed from the school and transferred to a school in Georgia. What saddened me about the latter situation is that when she came to say goodbye on Monday, tears in her eyes and puffy cheeks, I wasn’t there. I was home sick. Despite my good reason for not being in school to console her and hear the bad news in person, I still felt some type of way. I felt as if her mom had taken her not just away from the school and the community but from me as well. I preach to my magnet students that we’re a family and to come to me when they can’t go anywhere else. When one of my students, leaned on my advice for them to come to me, I wasn’t there.
My concern for the young man who lost his mother is profound as well. I and my mother share a very close relationship and while I’ve seen a lot of death in my life and have learned to take it in stride, the death of a parent, especially a mother, isn’t one that goes away. I’m concerned how he’ll respond, if he’ll be focused, what do I say, what do I do, do I bring it up or let him come to me, do I tell someone? I’m concerned that he’s hurting, I know he’s hurting and I have no idea how to fix it.
It’s only Tuesday and I’m already looking forward to the weekend. Add that to the daily drama of working in a place where it seems like every gain we make, there’s an attempt to erase it and the gains made before it. Combine that with the chaos that is my personal life and you have a recipe for a strong drink (no chaser).
I love my job, my students and (some of) my co-workers. However, at times, the lack of the secretary they promised, or the commitment to the program they sure me they had that seems to be missing, the absence of ample support, the students, the administration, me and life can be a bit much to handle all at once.
At times I listen to the above frame play in my head and I smile, put on a brave face, my cape and try to save the world. Other times I hear the refrain and I want to throw my iPod at the wall. I’m only human and at times admittedly I’m at a lost for what to do next; what to say; and where to turn, and I hate it. I hate not knowing. I hate not having the answer. I hate looking in the eyes of my students and wondering “how the hell am I going to do it today?” Admittedly, those really hard days are few and far between. However, this year they’ve been a lot more frequent than they were last year and it’s not a good look. So I’m torn between waiting to see if my shoulders are broad enough and strong enough to handle the load, or cutting my losses and going the other way. I’m torn between my sanity, peace of mind and sticking it out for a group of students, whom I didn’t father, but whom I care for almost the same.
In the mean time, and in between time, I’m going to try to stick it out, weather the storm, and play the hand that I’ve been dealt. Until next time, Stay Up and Be Blessed!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
All of the Lights
Turn up the lights in here baby
Extra bright I want ya’ll to see this
Turn up the lights in here baby
You know what I need
Want you to see everything
Want you to see all of the lights.
-“All of the Lights” Kanye West
Greetings folks! The number one question I’ve been asked since I left Chicago is “why did you leave practicing law to teach?” There are many reasons I can give for why I decided to leave Chicago and teach at Miami Carol City Senior High, but I’ve done that post before (see What The Hell Am I Doing? 8/24/10).
Today’s post is to highlight some of the progress made since I arrived in August 2009. Teaching, even high achieving students, is stressful, physically, mentally, and emotionally draining, and often times thankless. At times it down right sucks. But when it came time for me to prepare a report for my administration on our progress and I saw our accomplishments on paper, it made me realize that the 10-12 hour days, the stress, the worrying, is all worth it. So below are the highlights of that report. Enjoy!
41st Annual Legislative Conference
On September 23-25, students from the Miami Gardens Junior Council attended the 41st Annual Legislative Council in Washington, D.C. The Junior Council is comprised of students from Miami Norland Senior High and Miami Carol City Senior High who participate in S.G.A.
On Friday 9/23 the students attended a session entitled “The High School Class of 2012” hosted by Congresswoman Frederica Wilson. The panel featured Florida Memorial University President, Dr. Henry Lewis, III; United Teachers of Dade President, Karen Aronowitz; Florida International University’s Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Isaiah Thomas; and the Miami Gardens Junior Council Mayor and Vice-Mayor. This very important session was moderated by Rev. Al Sharpton. The discussion centered on the state of education and what awaits the high school graduating class of 2012.
The students had the wonderful opportunity to attend a reception in honor of former Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek where they had the opportunity to meet Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY), Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) and a host of other prominent figures.
The students had an opportunity to see a few of the many sights the nation’s capital has to offer. The students were given an in-depth tour of the U.S. Capitol and met Rep John Lewis (D-GA) and Democratic Party Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL).
As a chaperone for the trip, I was pleased to see all of the compliments the students got. Everywhere we went heads turned to see who this group of well mannered [colored] and great looking students were and what our secret was. I was truly proud.
Class of 2012 Top 50
A list of the Top 50 students in the graduating class of 2012 was recently disseminated. I am pleased to announce that 14 of the Top 50 are in the magnet. The law magnet makes up less than 10% of school’s total population and 28% of the Top 50. It’s hard being a “Law Chief” but it sure does pay off!
The Word is Out!
On Thursday, 9/29 I had the pleasure of attending a meeting for Magnet Lead Teachers. It was an opportunity to get some tips on how to improve our magnet and an opportunity to see the improvement we’ve made since we’ve been under the I Choose Grant.
In 2009 the magnet received just 84 applications. In 2010 applications doubled to 165. In 2011, we received 225 applications (online only). Add the more than 50 paper applications we took in 2011 as well and we surpassed the combined 2009 and 2010 numbers. This upcoming season we’re looking to take in well over 300 applications.
Grisham Book Trial
Last year, our magnet program was selected by Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Schools of Choice/I Choose Program to take part in a wonderful and innovative project. The project featured John Grisham’s book “Theodore Boone Kid Lawyer.” At the time, it was the only book the international best-selling author had written for a young adult audience. I and a team of some of our best faculty took the book and implemented it in the English/Language Arts curriculum in conjunction with the magnet curriculum.
On February 1st we conducted a mock trial based on the book. The facts were supplied by the students who read the book, the jurors from another teacher’s class, and the attorneys for the case, coached by myself and a good friend Attorney Adres Jackson, were students in the magnet. Attorney Scott Mager, a well respected attorney and motivational speaker, served as our judge for the trial. The trial was professionally filmed and broadcasted on the company’s website and will be going up on our website soon. http://www.meryshinguel.com/sme/index.html The trial was a success and something the students and I both look forwarding to doing again.
Dates to Remember
We have a slew of events planned for the upcoming school year, which we would love to invite you to and which you will be receiving more information about shortly.
Wednesday, 10/26 6:30 p.m.-Law Magnet Parent Night
Tuesday, 12/13-Thursday 12/15 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.-Law Magnet Winter Recruitment Fair
Tuesday, 2/7 and Wednesday 2/8 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. -Mock Trial
All dates are tentative and subject to change, however invitations and additional information is forthcoming.
For those of you who have come out to speak to my students, wished me well, provided materials, insight, advice, a contact, an ear to listen, or a shoulder to lean on THANK YOU! You’re just as much a part of this success. It can be overwhelming at times running a program with over 200 students, and no secretary, intern, or indentured servant. But thanks to many of you it happens. Thank you! Until next time, Stay Up and Be Blessed!
Extra bright I want ya’ll to see this
Turn up the lights in here baby
You know what I need
Want you to see everything
Want you to see all of the lights.
-“All of the Lights” Kanye West
Greetings folks! The number one question I’ve been asked since I left Chicago is “why did you leave practicing law to teach?” There are many reasons I can give for why I decided to leave Chicago and teach at Miami Carol City Senior High, but I’ve done that post before (see What The Hell Am I Doing? 8/24/10).
Today’s post is to highlight some of the progress made since I arrived in August 2009. Teaching, even high achieving students, is stressful, physically, mentally, and emotionally draining, and often times thankless. At times it down right sucks. But when it came time for me to prepare a report for my administration on our progress and I saw our accomplishments on paper, it made me realize that the 10-12 hour days, the stress, the worrying, is all worth it. So below are the highlights of that report. Enjoy!
41st Annual Legislative Conference
On September 23-25, students from the Miami Gardens Junior Council attended the 41st Annual Legislative Council in Washington, D.C. The Junior Council is comprised of students from Miami Norland Senior High and Miami Carol City Senior High who participate in S.G.A.
On Friday 9/23 the students attended a session entitled “The High School Class of 2012” hosted by Congresswoman Frederica Wilson. The panel featured Florida Memorial University President, Dr. Henry Lewis, III; United Teachers of Dade President, Karen Aronowitz; Florida International University’s Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Isaiah Thomas; and the Miami Gardens Junior Council Mayor and Vice-Mayor. This very important session was moderated by Rev. Al Sharpton. The discussion centered on the state of education and what awaits the high school graduating class of 2012.
The students had the wonderful opportunity to attend a reception in honor of former Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek where they had the opportunity to meet Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY), Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) and a host of other prominent figures.
The students had an opportunity to see a few of the many sights the nation’s capital has to offer. The students were given an in-depth tour of the U.S. Capitol and met Rep John Lewis (D-GA) and Democratic Party Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL).
As a chaperone for the trip, I was pleased to see all of the compliments the students got. Everywhere we went heads turned to see who this group of well mannered [colored] and great looking students were and what our secret was. I was truly proud.
Class of 2012 Top 50
A list of the Top 50 students in the graduating class of 2012 was recently disseminated. I am pleased to announce that 14 of the Top 50 are in the magnet. The law magnet makes up less than 10% of school’s total population and 28% of the Top 50. It’s hard being a “Law Chief” but it sure does pay off!
The Word is Out!
On Thursday, 9/29 I had the pleasure of attending a meeting for Magnet Lead Teachers. It was an opportunity to get some tips on how to improve our magnet and an opportunity to see the improvement we’ve made since we’ve been under the I Choose Grant.
In 2009 the magnet received just 84 applications. In 2010 applications doubled to 165. In 2011, we received 225 applications (online only). Add the more than 50 paper applications we took in 2011 as well and we surpassed the combined 2009 and 2010 numbers. This upcoming season we’re looking to take in well over 300 applications.
Grisham Book Trial
Last year, our magnet program was selected by Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Schools of Choice/I Choose Program to take part in a wonderful and innovative project. The project featured John Grisham’s book “Theodore Boone Kid Lawyer.” At the time, it was the only book the international best-selling author had written for a young adult audience. I and a team of some of our best faculty took the book and implemented it in the English/Language Arts curriculum in conjunction with the magnet curriculum.
On February 1st we conducted a mock trial based on the book. The facts were supplied by the students who read the book, the jurors from another teacher’s class, and the attorneys for the case, coached by myself and a good friend Attorney Adres Jackson, were students in the magnet. Attorney Scott Mager, a well respected attorney and motivational speaker, served as our judge for the trial. The trial was professionally filmed and broadcasted on the company’s website and will be going up on our website soon. http://www.meryshinguel.com/sme/index.html The trial was a success and something the students and I both look forwarding to doing again.
Dates to Remember
We have a slew of events planned for the upcoming school year, which we would love to invite you to and which you will be receiving more information about shortly.
Wednesday, 10/26 6:30 p.m.-Law Magnet Parent Night
Tuesday, 12/13-Thursday 12/15 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.-Law Magnet Winter Recruitment Fair
Tuesday, 2/7 and Wednesday 2/8 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. -Mock Trial
All dates are tentative and subject to change, however invitations and additional information is forthcoming.
For those of you who have come out to speak to my students, wished me well, provided materials, insight, advice, a contact, an ear to listen, or a shoulder to lean on THANK YOU! You’re just as much a part of this success. It can be overwhelming at times running a program with over 200 students, and no secretary, intern, or indentured servant. But thanks to many of you it happens. Thank you! Until next time, Stay Up and Be Blessed!
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