Weeks Six and Seven

          It has been two weeks since I did an MTC internship round-up so there is much that I could talk about but there are two meetings especially of note. On June 29 we met with Scott Barretta, a blues expert. With Mr. Barretta, we discussed the legend of Robert Johnson, evolution of blues music, relationship of blues music with the civil rights movement, and revival of blues consumerism. I found Robert Johnson particularly interesting. Dead by the age of 27 under widely disputed circumstances, Robert Johnson was a talented musician who received little fanfare while alive but has since exploded into a blues phenomenon. His legend and musical recognition continues to grow despite (rather probably because of) the fact that only two verified pictures of him exist, his cause of death and gravesite are unknown, and few recordings exist. Most interesting, is the famous “crossroads” myth. Supposedly, his prodigious talent can be attributed to a deal he made with the devil at a crossroads in which he gave up his soul. I had previously thought that the devil had gone down to Georgia, as explained by The Charlie Daniels Band, but apparently he had time to stop in the Delta as well. Meeting with Mr. Barretta was a treat as I have little ability to recognize the finer points of music. Additionally, prior to my time in Mississippi I hardly grasped the true connection between blues music and the black experience in the Delta. Blues music tells the musicians story, but the history of blues music places those stories within a context, fraught with suffering, faith, and talent.  

            This past Wednesday, we met with Tucker Carrington, director of the Mississippi Innocence Project. The Innocence Project fights to obtain justice for wrongfully convicted individuals, exposing blatant negligence within Mississippi’s criminal justice system. In speaking with we focused on two cases. The cases involved Kennedy Brewer and Levon Brooks, both of whom had been wrongfully convicted of kidnapping, rape, and murder within a span of a couple years in the same town. In each case, the guilty party was exonerated and a confession from a third party was elicited, linking the same person to both crimes. Also in each case, an medical examiner and bite-mark specialist had been employed by the district attorney to testify in the prosecutions favor. The medical examiner, as has been widely publicized yet disregarded by Mississippi officials, has and continues to perform well over four times the recommended number of autopsies each year, has been found to produce fraudulent results and has insufficient credentials. The bite-mark specialist, who has even less formal training and appears to simply benefit from his friendship with the medical examiner. Both Brooks and Brewer were convicted, more or less simply because they were in town at the time. The supposed bite-marks were not even bite-marks, refuting any possible matches. With the help of the Innocence Project and newly developed DNA analysis, both were eventually freed, but only after their lives were shattered by false convictions. Worst of all, they are not alone. Irresponsible investigating, lackluster defense litigation, poverty, twisted testimony, and government indifference plague our justice systems. Surely not every verdict is accurate, not every perpetrator can be caught, and not every lawyer is Atticus Finch, but simple laziness and blatant negligence is an attack upon the fundamental right to a just and fair trial.

            On a lighter note, the interns had this past weekend off and I returned home to Bethesda, Maryland. While there I watched the Fourth of July fireworks on the National Mall, spent time with family and friends, and had the pleasure of watching Washington’s 126 million dollar man strike out against the Pirates.

Oxford School Board Meeting

          On June 27, 2011, the MTC interns attended a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of Oxford School District at Oxford High School. Now, prior to attending this meeting, my experience of school boards and their many procedures was very limited. In fact, that experience was almost entirely derived from scenes in the movies Hoosiers, Field of Dreams and Footloose. As far as I knew a school board meeting consisted of irate parents, powerfully self-invested students, and either Gene Hackman or Kevin Bacon. At the Oxford meeting I did observe unsatisfied parents, but neither basketball nor dancing was discussed, no books were banned, and no one was dubbed a “fascist cow.” But despite this lack of Hollywood fanaticism, the meeting itself was absolutely fascinating and clearly highlighted the structural limitations of school systems and frustrations of those involved.

            To describe the scene, I will say this: there were fewer than forty people in the entire room, board members accompanied by the district superintendent sat in front, a podium for speaking was placed to the side of them, a man was filming an the entire process, and the lecture hall had swivel chairs worthy of a defunct Roy Rogers restaurant. After I got over the travesty that was the swivel chairs, I was given the meeting’s agenda and things got under way.

            Two things caught my attention during the meeting: the rigidity of the procedural process and dysfunctional public participation. Clearly, for the sake of transparency and consistency certain regulations are needed to ensure that meetings are on point and legitimate. But, when time is precious, spending ten minutes determining the date and length of a board retreat (I timed it on my watch) seems wholly avoidable and irresponsible. To be fair, I do not blame this on the board members themselves. Rather, this is a minor grievance against the larger inefficiency of the systematic procedures which must be followed. Why the board cannot have such frivolous discussions behind closed doors baffles me. Which leads me to my next point: more back and forth should be allowed between the board and audience. For, even if they discuss every single detail and have complete transparency what is the purpose if public reaction is stifled, or disallowed? I know this invites meetings to become marathon disagreements but ideally a reasonable middle ground can be found. During the meeting, a disgruntled mother shared a complaint regarding test scores for minorities and disabled students. Her intentions were commendable but her delivery was abrasive and personal in nature so she was quickly silenced. From my perspective, it appeared that the board was simply being self-defensive and refusing to grant her a pulpit out of self-preservation. I say this because they were not allowed, or maybe unwilling, to address her complaints. I would have liked very much to hear their opinions.

            Two days after the meeting the interns met with Marian Barksdale, a member of the school board. We had met with Mrs. Barksdale a month before and knew her to be genuinely concerned and dedicated to improving the education of all students. Speaking with her I grew to understand how frustrating it must be to sit before the public unable to fully educate them concerning the board’s efforts. Clearly, there is much that the board does, and is trying desperately to do, which goes unseen. Being a board member must feel like a full time job and I wonder how far good intentions can go in a system crippled by budgetary limitations, wealth disparity, and self-interest.

Week Five

           Much has happened in the first five weeks of my MTC internship. However, when I reflect upon my time here and all that I have seen, one theme appears throughout: the failures of our education system (and their origins) must be confronted honestly and by those most qualified. It does not take much research to realize that many decisions which define our school systems are made by the wrong people. Additionally, those most capable of making positive contributions far too often flee the challenge. Our failing education system was born of personal interests and will surely die by them too. You can’t clean up a mess without getting dirty. This is not to say that all involved with education are unqualified and do not have our best interests at heart or that we should forcefully siphon talented individuals from other critical professions, but those calling for changes must be willing to be involved. That is the true value of programs like the Mississippi Teacher Corps and organizations like the Southern Education Foundation. Rather than shirk their duties to others and opt for corporate benefits, they place themselves in the middle of things.

            It was with this in mind that I read an article in yesterday’s Washington Post. The article, written by Bill Turque, was about Bill Kerlina, a former Washington D.C. principal who recently quit his job (link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/young-dc-principal-quits-and-tells-why/2011/06/19/AGfcP6kH_story.html). Kerlina had been the principal of Phoebe Hearst Elementary, located in Northwest Washington, since 2009. The school was not struggling nor in a poor neighborhood. Yet, without having previously aired his complaints, Kerlina quit his job and left the field of education in an unusually public manner. When asked why he was leaving his position, Kerlina cited the overall ineptitude rampant throughout the school system, stress, and ineffective methods of assessing school success.

            It is not unreasonable for someone to decide that teaching, or running a school, is not for them. In fact, one might even commend those who recognize they are unhappy, ineffective, or both, and move onto other things. But, as the article indicates, Kerlina was not an unsuccessful educator and simply grew fed up and disinterested. Oh, and what new field did he pursue: the gourmet cupcake business. Kerlina now runs his own cupcake business called Cooks ‘n Cakes. Really Bill, cupcakes? The last thing the D.C. area needs is more cupcakes. His willingness to speak up and call attention to the systematic inadequacies of the D.C. public schools is admirable but his desire to slink off into the world of self-centered confectionary profit is simply embarrassing. So too is the Post’s willingness to paint him as the martyr unwillingly forced from his field of dreams.

            I have remarked before on this blog about the interwoven existence of race, education, poverty, and other defining aspects of our daily lives. The more time I spend here in Oxford, and specifically working for MTC, the more I begin to recognize this. Simultaneously, I am becoming more aware that as more of us leave the heavy lifting for others, we are only hurting ourselves. This post is not even about Bill Kerlina, it is about our willingness to give up and take care of ourselves. This logic is severely flawed, as our education system is increasingly defining our collective future and intimately impacting our personal lives. It is for that reason that the highlights of this internship have been the people. For they have traveled to the area of greatest need, unafraid to fail and resilient against structural limitations, but determined to help.

Week Four

This past weekend the interns ventured to Memphis, Tennessee and the National Civil Rights Museum. Built into the Lorraine Motel, the museum is a powerful tribute to the past, and continuing, civil rights movement, dominated by the life and death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The museum contained three parts: a tribute to the entire civil rights movement in American history, a tribute to Dr. King, and a confrontation with and discussion of his death. This was all preceded by a short film featuring Rev. Samuel "Billy" Kyles, the man standing next to Dr. King just before the assassination.

           In the film, Kyles grapples with his role as the "witness," coming to the conclusion that his presence was necessary (by God's will) to preserve Dr. King's story and ensure the continuing fight for his dream. The film is well-done, addressing both the significance and causes of Dr. King's death while also considering the legacy. 

Room 306 





          

          Of the museum's many features, the one I found most interesting, and exciting, was the glimpse into Dr. King's personal life. Basic historical representations and national celebrations reconstruct him into an infallible man immune to the struggles of everyday life. But that is misleading. If we are to bestow perfection on anyone, Dr. King is as deserving as any, but I would argue that that does his accomplishments an injustice. For, Dr. King was vulnerable to the same emotions and guilty of personal vices just as we all are, yet was still able to overcome the constant death threats, periodic depression and crushing pressure. This constant struggle, which wore on him constantly, is reflected in many of his speeches, none more so than the famous mountaintop speech the night before he died. This devotion and unfailing determination, as much as anything, is indicative of how far we have come, and have yet to go. In his book April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Death and How it Changed America, Georgetown Sociology Professor Michael Eric Dyson confronts this issue, saying: “Whites want him clawless; blacks want him flawless” (pg. 56). In both cases, we forget the struggle that allowed his successes. We forget that before dying an icon, he was just a man swimming against the current. This mistake is serious, for our amnesia limits our ability to muster similar efforts today, as we assume that it takes a saint to initiate change.

Beale Street

         

         While in Memphis, we also stopped by the Blues City Cafe, Gus' Fried Chicken, and spent a couple hours on Beale Street enjoying the live music and upbeat atmosphere. However, despite the prodigious dining options and awesome music, our trip was dominated by the National Civil Rights Museum. For, even though they kicked us out at closing, we remained there the rest of the day.



Dr. Boyd

       

This past week the interns met with Dr. Richard Boyd, Mississippi's first appointed state superintendent of education. In speaking with Dr. Boyd, the massive overhaul needed to improve public education, not just in Mississippi, was quite apparent. For, as Dr. Boyd pointed out, school reforms have all been focused on the inside of the schoolhouse, a small portion of the student’s life. Reform, whatever form it may be in, needs to address the forces which enter the classroom at the heels of students, none more powerful than poverty.

          In a 2009 NAEP study, Mississippi ranked dead last and third from last in family income and parent education. Mississippi also ranked third from last and dead last in 4th grade reading proficiency and 8th grade math proficiency. That is no coincidence. Students coming from poverty, especially when lacking sufficient pre-kindergarten education (which is almost always), are absent more, learn less, and are far more likely to drop out, go to jail, and have unhealthy, unhappy lives. This is not disputed. But, as Steven Reinberg pointed out in his recent HealthDay article posted June 9th, 2011, "there is a gap between what we know and what we fund." Bill Gates et al. can pour as much money into new educational methods as they want, but until the larger issues are addressed, the problems will persist. For, as Dr. Boyd explained, it doesn't simply take a village, it is about the village itself that we must be concerned.
           
            The increasing chasm between those who receive a quality education and those who do not is quickly redefining our country’s global standing. Dr. Boyd shared with us a recent study of the twenty four member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The countries were ranked on the material well-being, educational well-being, and health well-being of their children. Out of twenty-four countries, the United States finished second to last. The only country worse than us was Slovakia. Our students are poor, poorly educated, and extremely unhealthy. The United States has the largest poverty class of any industrialized nation and it is quickly growing. If measures are not taken to address this issue, which is not limited to matters of education, the soon-to-be majority minority population will be relegated to an uneducated lower class with few prospects for escape. This path is not nationally beneficial, economically, politically, socially, or morally and those who claim to be real patriots ought to be concerned. This divergence of opportunity will increasingly define what it means to be an American: rich or (for the vast majority) poor. When the original GI Bill was signed, it was hailed as a landmark achievement. Education was truly believed to be the great equalizer. Not it has become the great separator, knocking people down rather than helping them up.

Week Three

          My third week interning with the Mississippi Teachers Corps was equally as eventful as the first two.  I spent three days in Atlanta for the Southern Education Foundation's leadership initiative, saw B.B. King perform live in Indianola, MS, met Hank Aaron and continued my journey towards understanding the interconnectedness of race, education, and poverty in this country and their subsequent ramifications.

          The most valuable aspect of the SEF orientation, in my opinion, was the remarkable diversity of individuals both presenting and interning. Presentations were given by representatives of the ACLU, NAACP, MTC, UNC Civil Rights Legal group, KIPP Strive School, SEF, and many more (I apologize to those of you not into the whole brevity thing). Topics ranged from community organizing and non-profits to Brown v. Board and civil rights law. Paramount was the understanding that directionless passion is ineffective and a comprehensive understanding of the structures involved is necessary. Ironically, the more answers I received the more questions I had. The SEF orientation was a truly special opportunity to emerge myself in these topics and benefit from many intelligent and good-hearted people. Also, Billye Aaron spoke and I met her husband, so I've got that going for me.

          Seeing B.B. King's performance was a great time, although his age was clearly weighing on him. But blues music certainly is the music of hope and no one's story indicates that more than B.B.'s.

          One final note, while driving to Atlanta we stumbled across an entire neighborhood that had been utterly demolished by this spring's tornadoes. Entire houses were gone, leaving nothing but the foundation (if they had one) and a pile of rubble. I was reminded of how easily we dismiss the struggles of others. The nature of a tornado, much like education, is uniquely personal in that it touches down locally and with concentrated force, shattering the lives of a few at a time. Those whose property is left unscathed, along with those who have greater means to protect themselves against the destruction, might easily detach themselves from those suffering. But at the end of the day, wanton disregard for the safety, or education, of others will surely endanger us all, as tornadoes and a crumbling education system strike viciously and destroy lives.

Southern Education Foundation

          This past week the interns journeyed to Atlanta for the Southern Education Foundation’s leadership initiative conference. From Wednesday until Friday, we had the good fortune of hearing many interesting and informative panels discuss various topics related to education and race. We also had free run of the hotel buffet, which is always nice.

          Among the panels, one that I think merits further thought was “School Discipline, Push outs and Drop Outs: Dismantling Policies that Generate the School to Prison Pipeline.” This discussion, led by Damon Hewitt (Director of Education Practice, NAACP Legal Defense Fund), Dennis Parker (Director, Racial Justice Program, ACLU), and Marlyn Tillman (Co-Chair, Gwinnett Parent Coalition to Dismantle the School to Prison Pipeline), was a crucial window into the failures of the education system.

          The presence of police officers and school resource officers in public schools has dramatically increased in recent decades, criminalizing the classroom environments of our children and indicting them for crimes not yet committed. This evolving prison atmosphere, only worsened by political backlash after tragedies at Columbine, Virginia Tech, and elsewhere, has shifted from protecting the students to incarcerating them. Required to walk in single-file lines, constantly monitored, void of the freedom to speak, and utterly demonized, our students are literally trained to be repulsed by education and trust only themselves. After all, at any moment the SRO might arrest them, or worse.

         That is beyond unreasonable. If I had been in such an environment I surely would have been expelled for disobedience. Sure, our students are there to learn, but not at the cost of their basic freedoms to move freely, without fear, and display their full personalities. In the current environment, the ideal student never runs, rarely speaks, has little if any healthy self-esteem, and is woefully unprepared for any career aside from “paying their debt to society.”  

         So what can be done? Clearly, there is a connection between a school’s performance and security presence. In New York City, 73 percent of schools have libraries. But, of the schools with metal detectors, only 53 percent have libraries. Similar correlations are seen with county expenditures. Additionally, this trend is not simply a function of school performance or poverty, race matters. However, as Damon Hewitt pointed out, it is a “blue on black issue.” Simply put, blacks are suffering at the hands of the legal system and police force, whatever color its employers may be.  

          But taking security out of schools is not a solution; schools and administrators need that security buffer. Frankly put, they are complicit and cannot do anything about it. This infiltration of academic life (I refuse to call it an epidemic) speaks to larger, systemic injustices which breed at atmosphere in which such measures are either necessary, or more importantly, perceived to be necessary. Our indictment of children of color is indicative of larger abuses, a failure to support them as we support our own. More on this to come...