For the Lives of Prison Wives

School To Prison Pipeline

The Teaching Prison Wife: Both Sides of the Game…The School to Prison Pipeline

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If you think the school to prison pipeline doesn’t exist think again.  The pipeline often starts in low income schools and and ends at the country’s prison system. When I first entered the classroom as a teacher, the Mister was in prison.  I had no idea what I was walking in to.  I was nervous about teaching because I didn’t major in education and had no experience as a teacher.

My major was biology and I honestly hadn’t picked up a biology book, or anything biology related, since I graduated  five years earlier.  I remember walking into the classroom not knowing what to expect and what to really do.  So I did what I knew, I taught my students the way I was taught in college since that’s where they would be soon.  As I started asking questions, I realized we just weren’t connecting.  But it wasn’t that we weren’t connecting because of my biology hiatus.  We weren’t connecting because too many, not all, but many of my students were struggling academically.

Now in no way, shape, form or fashion am I putting my students down.  I can honestly say, I love each and everyone that I’ve come across.  And yes, some of us had quite a few run-ins but the love was always there.  My issue was I didn’t understand what went on from the time I graduated high school in 1996 to 2005.  I was so surprised and hurt at the number of my high school students that couldn’t read fluently;  I was surprised and hurt at the number of kids that didn’t want to learn; I was surprised and hurt that too many students didn’t see the importance of an education.  What happened?  Well, you can check out some of what I think happened in Graduation Rate Increases, Knowledge Decreases.

It was quite obvious that students were being socially promoted if they made it to the high school without being able to perform the basics.  What I learned from my family members that are teachers from different states, as well as, teachers I met during the years from across the country at workshops, is that this was the norm not just in my school district but nationwide for schools in low income areas.  So there we have it, mass miseducation is the feeder to mass incarceration.  No rocket science.  No major research needed to come to that conclusion.  It simply is what it is!  The public school system is one of Jim Crow’s accomplices.

My students would often say to me, “school is just like prison!” I would assure them that it was nothing like prison and even ask them have you been to a prison to know what prison’s like?  Well, it wasn’t until I was at school one day, leading my students in a single file line (let me add, I was a secondary teacher, not elementary), making them be quiet and stand on the wall, that I began to feel like the Correctional Officers that I watched in action when visiting the Mister.  I hate when visit is over, because I hate to see grown men lined up on a wall being told what to do.  I literally turn my back to that dehumanization.

I began to despise leading those lines but that’s the way several schools were and are run.  When students were in trouble, they were sent to a room (In School Suspension) to finish work they more than likely didn’t understand, but no form of rehabilitation was taking place.  Now that I think about it, administrators were the Wardens and the teachers were the Correctional Officers.  Sad but true.  When students were disciplined the teachers kept documentation in order to build a “case”.  Sound familiar?

Now not all schools are operated like this.  But again, teachers talk from district to district.  And many schools in low-income areas function in this manner.  If students are graduating not being able to read, what are their chances of success after graduating?  Well, they’re going to continue to live life, start families, and attempt to provide for their families.  But unfortunately, they will soon realize that minimum wage won’t be enough.  So what do they do?  They do what they can to survive and a lot of times that survival method is to do whatever they can by any means necessary.  If that means breaking the law, then they will take that chance.

So now, you have children without their mother or father who didn’t receive the best education raising children that are traveling through the same pipeline as their parents.  The cycle continues.  So why not put preventative measures in place?  Simple…America has prisons to fill!

 

 

Graduation Rate Increasing, Knowledge Decreasing!

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My gag order is lifted

I no longer have to live in the conspiracy theory that I blindly entered into seven years ago after making the difficult decision to resign. When I entered the education system as an educator, I didn’t know I had to conceal the truth. Did anyone tell me that directly? Of course not, but I soon learned that teachers that speak the truth, and truly want the best for their children, are indirectly reminded that they must “play the game”. For those that have never been a part of the public education system, you may be wondering what the game consists of? Well, let’s just start by saying you may not know the components of the game, but you are definitely seeing the aftermath of this game.  The graduation rate may be increasing, but the knowledge of too many of our public school graduates is decreasing.   The many mishaps that our society endures on a daily basis at the hands of our youth is a true indication that school systems are failing.  We’ve seen the countless videos of student and teacher confrontations, student-on-student confrontations, student -principal – parent confrontations, an increase in crimes committed by youth, the incompetence and lack of respect received as a customer in business establishments…must I continue?

Yes, the graduation rate is increasing but is the knowledge of our graduates decreasing?

It appears that our youth are becoming educated due to the claim that the graduation rate is increasing. Yes, the graduation rate is increasing but is the knowledge of our graduates decreasing? No longer do the days exist where the teacher teaches the student and the student is given that ONE opportunity to provide evidence of his/her learning through an assessment or assignment. Why should I study if I know I’m going to get a retake…duh! No longer does the student have to take full responsibility for his/her learning. No longer does a zero mean just that a zero. No longer do students that are suspended receive zeros for the work they received while they were suspended. No longer are there reading classes that focus on reading. There are students graduating that are on elementary grade reading levels. And several are students that do not receive special services. No longer do students wait to fight after school or in the hallway. Students will “d-up” (fight) right there in the classroom.  No longer is it the student’s fault for failing, most blame is placed on the teachers.

Hear Our Teachers’ Cry

Teachers must reteach until the students comprehend what’s taught. Now, maybe it’s me… but I could have sworn the purpose of school was to educate and prepare students for the forthcoming working world.  Since when do employers give employees so many opportunities to get it right?   No longer can a teacher fail a student without having to write an entire “biography” (Response To Intervention -documented evidence of implemented strategies, assignments, behavior assessments, parental correspondence, team meetings etc.).  So imagine having several struggling students while teaching, writing a “biography”  about each struggling student that must be constantly edited, replanning previously taught lessons, and dealing with behavior.  Most of the behavior issues are a result of students being behind and/or a call to action for attention that’s not being received at home in addition to the prison modeled schools.

 

And the Mis-Education Continues Dr. Carter G. Woodson

Now, is this miseducation happening in all schools?  Of course not, but it’s happening in way too many schools and particularly our low-income schools which are majority Black and Hispanic students.  Teachers see it and live it every day.  Teachers that have a genuine concern for students are probably most stressed because they know that the redundant renamed programs (with a tweak here and there) are not going to answer the problems that our children face.  However,  many teachers don’t say anything because they need their jobs to sustain their livelihood.  For the teachers that do speak, they must be prepared to receive their pink slips. Too many administrators and superintendents aren’t supportive of their teachers. Often, teachers go into teaching hopeful that they will and can make a difference in a child’s life making teaching their profession.  But to their dismay, they become overwhelmed and burned out before they can even make it past the first three years.  Teacher turnover rate is ridiculously high in inner city schools.   According to Alliance for  Excellent Education, New Alliance Report says Teacher Attrition Costs United States Up to $2.2 Billion Annually.

Just a Piece of the Puzzle

Until real problems are addressed, teacher turnover rate will remain at an all-time high, students will continue to graduate with decreased knowledge, and society will continue to …well, i have no words for society right now.   However, in order for our society to improve, our systems must change.  No Child Left Behind left too many behind, while Common Core was ahead of its time increasing rigor for the already left behind children.  More than likely, those children that fall in the “left behind” achievement gap are children that lack parental support. For whatever reasons not all parents are actively involved in their child’s lives.  Can the school system fill that void?  Of course not, but programs can be put in place to give students the basic life skills they need to succeed in life. Students spend most of their time at school, so schools must take a different approach.   I truly believe life skills (with an emphasis on African American self-awareness) are just as important if not more important than basic core classes.  A student can have all A’s with no life skills and fail at life, while the student that struggles with maintaining good grades yet has great life skills, will be able to succeed in life.  Many believe it’s not the job of the school system to take on “parental” responsibility but if the school system does not assist, society will continue to feel the tremendous impact of those students the school systems have failed.  It’s time for public schools to teach the whole child not just academics!