january 26

Finals were over long ago. Christmas came and went, and the New Year introduced me to more people and places than I can tell you about. It seems like tonight has been my first opportunity to put my interim experience to paper. It began here at stolaf on January 4th. I’m taking an education course this month called “Schools and Urban Communities.” It’s the only education class available to first year students. It’s an off campus program that pairs stolaf students with host teachers at Andersen Elementary in Minneapolis. There are seventeen of us in the program (mostly freshmen). Stephen and I worked with one of two second grade classes. In preparation for our off-campus experience, we spent our first week reading essays about voice and identity, oppression, and multicultural education, watching films about racism, and discussing Jonathan Kozol’s book, “Savage Inequalities”, which describes the extreme wealth and poverty in America’s public schools. From there, we packed our bags and rode the bus to the urban retreat center on 11th and Lake.
I’ve seen very little daylight these last two weeks. After a rough first night’s sleep, I got up at 5:45 on Monday morning so I could shower, pack a lunch, and have something to eat before waking four blocks north to Andersen Elementary. On Mondays and Thursdays, I attended faculty meetings with my host teacher, Ms. Rogers, which meant leaving the center by 6:45. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, we could leave as late as 7 and still make it to school before the kids arrived. One thing I noticed about Andersen was that the kids trickled in one by one–it took 20+ minutes for all of them to arrive.
The first 2nd grader I met was Javier. Javier is lovely. All the kids were lovely, but Javier was one of my favorites. When Stephen and I got to the classroom, Ms. Rogers told us that the kids would be coming in soon, and that they were making Martin Luther King Jr. mobiles for “morning work.” I sat down with Javier that morning and taught him how to tie knots. He was such a sweet kid. He was one of only a few who I noticed got along with everyone.
After morning work, the class met on the carpet in the corner of the room. It was during this time that Ms. Rogers introduced us to the class. We were well received. Even then I knew that second graders weren’t as intimidating as I’d feared. We didn’t have to do anything but smile to get these kids to like us. They were so excited to have some new faces in the classroom. Stephan and Otoniel became quick friends–Oto only speaks Spanish, but Stephan spent his junior year of high school in Ecuador. Oto was obviously excited to have an adult in the classroom to communicate with.
During language arts, 13 of the 22 kids in our class went to ELL (English Language Learning), where they learn to read and write in Spanish. The idea is that they’ll be reintroduced to English in 3rd grade, but that it makes more sense for them to learn how to read and write in a language they understand and have been around all their lives. It makes a lot of sense to me–except that they’re still expected to complete math problems (word problems) written in English. Anyway, Stephen went to ELL with the Spanish speaking kids, and I stayed and worked with the “advanced” reading group (those near, at, or above grade level). There were seven advanced readers in the two 2nd grade classes combined. The others went next door to work with Ms. Hanson, the other 2nd grade teacher.
Though the groups were supposed to be based on reading ability, there was a huge range even within my group. I worked a lot with a girl named Angelica. She’d been in ELL in Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade but was held back at the end of the year. Because she’s already been in ELL for 3 years, she was placed with the English speaking 2nd graders this year, and she is really struggling. She’s an incredible girl–she’s the most beautiful eight year old I’ve ever seen. A friend of mine was talking about kindness one night, and he talked about the way kindness just pours out of some people. Angelica was one of those people. Kindness just pours out of her deep, dark eyes. She’s so small. So fragile. She doesn’t have the power to stop it from flowing…and that’s a beautiful kind of weakness.
Sometimes Stephen and I would accompany the kids to gym, music, and computer class. It was interesting to see the kids behave differently depending on who was standing in front of them. The computer teacher told us that our class is the most difficult to teach behavior-wise. The music teacher had the most difficulty controlling them. There were a few boys in our class on “behavior contracts,” but their pushing and shoving went without consequence in her music class.
Gym was lots of fun. Every year, the school gets to borrow several pairs of roller skates from a nearby rink. After tying several pairs of skates two sizes too big, Stephen and I joined our second graders as they skated around the gym floor without helmets or pads, many of them falling down every few feet. Even though many of them left class with a bruise or two, they were thrilled. I remember writing something in my journal about it afterwards:
“…I see these kids in a different way here in the gym–there are no language barriers. Everyone is excited here…they’re finally all on level ground…they’re finally all playing on the same game board. These kids are amazing. Nothing keeps them down…”
After school, most of the stolafers headed over to Wait House to volunteer. The other six of us stayed at Andersen to tutor fifth and sixth graders. My favorite part of tutoring was learning about the incredible lives these kids led. I helped José with math a few times…he has to get all his homework done between the time school ends (1:40) and 4:00, because afterwards he goes straight to his cousins’ house to babysit until midnight. At midnight, he walks home. Then he wakes up and does it all over again. What responsibility for a 10 year old. I see kids yawn all the time at Andersen, and you can bet it’s not AIM keeping them up until 2am. Some of these kids are growing up awfully fast.
We’d leave school between 4 and 4:30. We usually had enough time to go back to the retreat center and change into jeans before taking the bus to House of Charity for dinner. The guys who make and serve the food at House of Charity are in a program called Day by Day. Day by Day is a chemical dependency halfway house for men. Participants in the program live together, work at House of Charity, and agree to attend meetings and counseling sessions. Eating with and getting to know these guys meant more to them–and to me–than I ever thought it would.
At night, we often had speakers back at the retreat center. We had three free nights, and one night we went to see “Crowns” at the Guthrie. Though we were usually done with our day by 9, few of us had the energy to stay out much longer. It takes far more energy to work with kids all day than it does to sit through class.
Over the weekend, we left the retreat center to stay with families in Minneapolis. Emily and I stayed with a guy named Dan Jackson in North Minneapolis. He and two of his siblings live in the house they grew up in near Wirth Park. I say Wirth Park because it’s my only reference point in North Minneapolis. I had a few snow tubing birthday parties there in elementary school. The home stay was great. I had some wonderful conversations with Dan’s brother, Joseph. Dan showed us around the North side, and then we went to church with him at the First Church of God and Christ and to the 21st annual cookie bake at his friend’s house in Northeast Minneapolis. This cookie bake was the greatest idea in the world. You don’t actually bring any cookies…you just stand around the kitchen counter waiting for the next pan to come out of the oven. It’s just milk, cookies, and lots of people standing around laughing and talking. Great fun.
Phew. I think I’ve covered most of it. If any of you would like to hear more, let me know. I’d be happy to talk about it. I’ve learned a lot this month–about schools, racism, people, and Minneapolis. I’ve redefined diversity. I’ve grown, and I’ve met people I’ll never forget. On our last day at Andersen, Angelica told Stephen that I’m her best friend. We all just need a bit of love.
I ought to make that girl some mittens.
Goodnight, all.
love anna