5 posts from 2009

Dear Incoming First-years,

    Congratulations!!  I’m glad you’re coming to Mississippi!  It’s a beautiful state with beautiful paradoxes.  Come ready to learn.
    I think I only have two or three pieces of advice.  First, have confidence in yourself.  Your students will not run you out of town or kill you.  They will probably really like and respect you after the first few months, even though they will constantly challenge your authority.  Don’t waste time evaluating if you are up to the challenge (especially in the morning).  You are.  Now get moving.
    The two years will pass.  This means that (a) your hellish days that seem to go on forever won’t, and the endless weeks will pass; and (b) don’t put things off.  Don’t put off going to school functions, talking casually with your students, parents and community members.  Jump at the chance to talk with a neighbor or join in on Mississippi culture and events.  There’s a lot more to do than there seems to be, and it’s tempting to schedule these experiences for “after my grading is done.”
    Related to that is something I’ve learned only recently: organize your physical classroom, bedroom, car, closet, space, whatever.  There is so much potential for chaos in the classroom—papers, behavior, missing assignments, etc—that it helps for your surroundings to be in order.  Just last week I cleaned my desk off completely (first time I’ve ever had a completely empty desk top) and it feels great.  It’s such a silly little thing, but I feel more peaceful because of it.
    I guess that’s really all I have to say.  Fun and beautiful things will happen, and I’m excited for you to come.  Best of luck!
 

Give love to your 3rd years this summer!
A

I wonder if I'll ever feel awake and alert all day without caffeine.

I should call my grandmom and Diane.

I get frustrated at my students when they don't understand simple things, but I try not to show it.

I think I have laundry to do but I'm not sure.

Kelsey's wedding will be very beautiful.

Outside it is a gorgeous day.

My mom and step-dad will come to Mississippi for the first time in may.  I know my mom will like it a bunch.  I hope she doesn't try to organize some of my things.  I haven't ever cleaned up this side sun room.  She'll understand if I never do, but we'll have to talk about why I never cleaned it up.

Tomorrow morning I will hear my first alarm at 6:00.  I wonder how many times I'll hit snooze.  It was nice to wake up this morning and feel rested and happy.  Gopher is always happy in the mornings, too.  here is one of my favorite pictures of Gopher.

From the Executive Summary:

What will it take to improve MS’s Human Development rankings?

Ensure that working families can make ends meet.
Reduce infant mortality by improving the well-being of girls and women.
Improve the health of African American men.
Improve the quality of public education in Mississippi.
Connect at-risk boys to school.

I agree, but HOW??  Let’s take one specific issue-- keeping boys in school.  Why would a boy stay in school without encouragement from home?  sports and activities?  An engaging curriculum?  a sense of purpose and meaning to school?  Our school systems are already overburdened, understaffed, and underfunded.  All of our districts struggle to do the minimum of busing, feeding, and babysitting students.  To do more than the minimum-- to have multiple sports and inspiring teachers-- requires more than the minimum in staff and funds. 

Bullet point solutions like these frustrate me.  It’s like telling me that I need to have a designer wardrobe to improve my fashion.  Um... okay.  Where do I get the money and access to buy a designer wardrobe?

I know this Executive Summary was meant to be exactly that: a summary, not a solution.  I think it did a great job of clearly displaying what is going on-- white vs black, male vs female, county vs county.   It would be nice, though, to someday read a colorful and well-researched report proposing how to improve, instead of what to improve.

Maps to learn more about Mississippi: click here!