My year of terror and abuse teaching at a NYC high school

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

(laughing)

For such a bastion of civil rights I am wondering if you ever actually read MLK's speeches. I guess you can start with the "I have a dream" one and work from there. Lemme help ya out!

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition. In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check.

I would dam sure say that the dream of coming to Washington for checks to cash has pretty much been fulfilled. Not sure if it was the best thing for the black community in America, but that's not really my business is it.

Ominous. Thinking it's time to batten down the hatches and prepare for the storm.

True

So you're saying that kids today go around saying Negro? I had no idea! Thanks for the info.

Never claimed to be a bastion of civil rights. I keep forgetting, you know more about my struggle than I do. Gotta love that WP.

http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2014/01/20-rap-songs-reference-martin-luther-king-jr/

I really like "Steady Mobbin'" don't you? Maybe #BLM could, I dunno, sort of make that one their theme song

I'm more of a PE NO 1 kind of guy, but I'm guessing when you're in your car and no one's around, you turn it up and sing it loudly. Amirite?

[Expat1 971]

it was brought up so you could take a jab at mlk. you know full well that word was used regularly, officially even, in mlks day.

further, mlk has zero to do with this article.

what i found interesting about this article is this:

also interesting, how his loathing of his students over time was so emphasized. i know teachers that work with very difficult kids and they thrive. not saying this guy is a bad teacher - but the entire premise of his book is he was out of his element.

public education needs reform - we need to value public educators much more and this country's ongoing sweeping of public education under the rug as well as the long term effects of poverty which we refuse to address instead throwing more and more money at our military, spreading ourselves thinner and thinner across every country possible imo it's time we remember charity begins at home.

I hope you are not attributing the everyday speech and behavior of these students to one old middle-aged white dude who tried teaching them.

[Expat1 971]

So you're saying that kids today go around saying Negro? I had no idea! Thanks for the info.

Never claimed to be a bastion of civil rights. I keep forgetting, you know more about my struggle than I do. Gotta love that WP.

I'm more of a PE NO 1 kind of guy, but I'm guessing when you're in your car and no one's around, you turn it up and sing it loudly. Amirite?

I have no idea what kids go around saying. Don't live there, glad I don't.

I'd NEVER admit to what I do or do not turn up and listen to when nobody's around No way I'm giving out freebies to exploit

[smilesammich 10,727]

I hope you are not attributing the everyday speech and behavior of these students to one old middle-aged white dude who tried teaching them.

i don't see how anything i said could be construed as such. the quote i posted was in the op, i didn't write the article dear..

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

I have no idea what kids go around saying. Don't live there, glad I don't.

I'd NEVER admit to what I do or do not turn up and listen to when nobody's around No way I'm giving out freebies to exploit

But you just said "They use the N word in inner city schools about as much as MLK did".

So which is it?

And glad you don't, there are some mental pictures I DON"T need this early in the morning.

[Expat1 971]

But you just said "They use the N word in inner city schools about as much as MLK did".

So which is it?

Based on the OP yes, it appears they do. I personally however do not know one way or the other.

If the term is so offensive that it triggers lawsuits and personal ruin I would guess that at least in school the "other" teachers, you know, the heroes that val mentioned, would maybe teach that, or even better not allow it, at least in the public school system.

[Expat1 971]

i don't see how anything i said could be construed as such. the quote i posted was in the op, i didn't write the article dear..

I'll take that as a no. Wonder where language like that comes from. Kinda looks like, it's a stretch here, these kids are picking it up around the house. Wonder why they aren't taught not to use it at home.

[smilesammich 10,727]

again, trying to pretend you don't know the difference between usage of the word negro in the 60s and the usage of the n word today..

just, pitiful.

[smilesammich 10,727]

I'll take that as a no. Wonder where language like that comes from. Kinda looks like, it's a stretch here, these kids are picking it up around the house. Wonder why they aren't taught not to use it at home.

what is your point? you think offensive language is the main barrier to educating impoverished youth? my goodness, sounds like you suffer from the same exact naivete the op did..

[Expat1 971]

again, trying to pretend you don't know the difference between usage of the word negro in the 60s and the usage of the n word today..

just, pitiful.

Seems, based on the OP, to be used in the same context and mean the same thing.

[smilesammich 10,727]

Seems, based on the OP, to be used in the same context and mean the same thing.

deliberate ignorance on your part. not chomping your bit on this one anymore, you're not even making sense.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Based on the OP yes, it appears they do. I personally however do not know one way or the other.

If the term is so offensive that it triggers lawsuits and personal ruin I would guess that at least in school the "other" teachers, you know, the heroes that val mentioned, would maybe teach that, or even better not allow it, at least in the public school system.

There's difference between Negro and the N-word that's currently circulating. But I'm thinking you knew that already.

Personally, that word should not be said by anyone, no matter the color or gender. Folks just don't know how much blood and death is attached to it, no one will ever be able to clean it all off and OWN the word.

[Expat1 971]

There's difference between Negro and the N-word that's currently circulating. But I'm thinking you knew that already.

Personally, that word should not be said by anyone, no matter the color or gender. Folks just don't know how much blood and death is attached to it, no one will ever be able to clean it all off and OWN the word.

I hope you aren't pretending that somehow the word "negro" is OK today either. As to the other, this is a lesson that maybe we should add to the basic curriculum of our public schools since that seems to be where it has been brushed off and "owned" as you put it.

[Expat1 971]

what is your point? you think offensive language is the main barrier to educating impoverished youth? my goodness, sounds like you suffer from the same exact naivete the op did..

No I know all about impoverished youth and education. You just have to take a flight to any number of places. Canada and the US are not two of those places so I do understand where you are coming from however I am hoping that you someday get the opportunity to get out a little more.

The most silliest of the naïve rabbits convince themselves that this behavior is tied to poverty and that kids can magically "be educated" without attending class and working for it or worse that there is a magical sum of money that "educates" them and that sum is all that is missing.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

I hope you aren't pretending that somehow the word "negro" is OK today either. As to the other, this is a lesson that maybe we should add to the basic curriculum of our public schools since that seems to be where it has been brushed off and "owned" as you put it.

Nope. Just saying that the n word is used, negro not so much. And it won't be added to the curriculum because as long as we keep saying it to each other the people in charge are happy.