1. LOCATION
-The greatest thing about this internship is Mississippi itself. Being here made me realize how little culture and history I know about Amherst and even my hometown. I've learned so much about Oxford, the Delta, and the entire state in general. It felt like more of a vacation than a job at many points during the summer because there is so much to experience--the food, the small towns, the historical monuments, the different fun places.
2. STRUCTURE
-Another nice thing about the internship was how it was set up this year. I liked the rotation schedule because it kept things interesting. We were able to learn a lot about the Teacher Corps from the School of Ed, about how to lesson plan with Dave, and about the administration side of a school with Joe. We also got to interact with the kids themselves, which is extremely important, and listen to some incredible speakers. The two months went by extremely fast because of this. The experience was very rich.
3. PROJECT
-Although the project was somewhat difficult to accomplish without a car and with little knowledge of the area or contacts, I truly enjoyed doing it. It allowed us the chance to take something we're interested in, and may possible do theses on, and produce something for others to enjoy and learn from. Plus, it gave us something to do in our downtime at the summer school :)
1. TIME
-Although I loved how dynamic the internship was, the rotation schedule was kind of hard the second month. We had to get up by 6, go to summer school until 3, and then most of the time we had a meeting that would like until 4 or 5. This got extremely tiring and I found myself not wanting to pay attention to speakers, etc. as closely. I'm not sure how this could change--maybe have the interns drive a van down to the school so they can leave before role plays?
2. ONLINE STUFF
-Blogging I understand. There needs to be some sort of evaluation/reflection. However, I would just make up blog topics in the beginning and have the interns choose like 6 or 8 that they want to do by the end. You could say you need to blog by certain dates, but at least everyone could do it on whatever they desire. I would definitely get rid of twitter and del.icio.us though. Maybe introduce them, but don't make the necessary.
3. THE OTHER INTERNS
-JK :0)
As for advice for next years interns, I would say come into the internship with an open mind and be willing to do anything. I think the reason I had such a great time was because I truly got to know the first (and second year) teachers. I made sure to be involved in whatever activities they had planned (volleyball, bbqs, etc.) Everyone has something unique and interesting to offer and they are what made the time here pass by so quickly. The future interns should also make the trip to the Delta and make it a point to see towns other than just Oxford. I'd say, just make the most of your experience.
The topic of our second story circle with Dave Molina was: "In your time here so far, when did you realize that race is still a barrier in the classroom?" I won't share anyone's story, for each person's story is his/her own, but one of the common threads we discussed was relationships. We found that in many of the stories there was a struggle to form relationships, and within those relationships to be accepted, not to stereotype, not to homogenize. We talked about natural relationships that form and why they form that way. One of the main things that was brought up was race and how easy it is to fall into a rhythm with who you surround yourself with.
Toward the end of the story circle Dave asked us all how we could begin to build the bridge toward the future--how to take what we've talked about in our circle and apply to our own lives. There was silence in the beginning, and I thought, how perfect for the situation. See, we are trying to make something natural. It seems a little paradoxical. We want these natural relationships to be formed--relationships where a person doesn't have to explain why although he may appear white, he is actually half latino, or black, in order to relate. However, to get to this point, this point of naturalness, or unconsciousness one might say, we have to be conscious. We have to have discussions like the story circle. We have to bring the problem to the forefront. We have to notice things. We have to be aware.
I find this funny, but I also think it's what makes the change so difficult. We have to stand up and face something that we want to be invisible. We have to acknowledge something that is kind of awkward to acknowledge, because we know it shouldn't need to be acknowledged, if that makes any sense.
ellen meacham: When Mrs. Meacham showed the documentary about Kennedy's trip through the Delta, I noticed that she was very touched. She was almost moved to tears as we watched Kennedy kneel down to each child and ask what s/he had eaten for lunch. Many replied nothing. Kennedy joined Meacham in utter dismay at the sight. As I watched, I wondered if the Delta would bring about the same feelings in me. After all, poverty at that level is an extremely powerful thing. Well, I had my chance to find out exactly how I'd feel, as we traveled to Greenwood, Indianola, and Money on Saturday.
To my surprise, I was not nearly as shocked as I thought I would be after hearing and seeing all that we have in the past month and a half. We took a driving tour through the town, while Ashley explained how each neighborhood was set up, which streets should not be taken at night, the different places where shootings had happened, etc. I sat in the back next to Philip and Tish and stared out the window. I didn't feel much of anything. I wasn't overtaken with sadness when I laid eyes on the decrepit houses and stores. I didn't have the urge to cry. I just watched, quietly, and snapped a few photos. Maybe it didn't seem that unreal because there were people all around. Or maybe because I've seen similar neighborhoods before. I'm not really sure.
The only thing that evoked any type of emotion was the sight I saw once we crossed over the bridge. Within 2 minutes we were in the company of mansions, beautiful lawns, and nice cars. That, to me, was the unbelievable part. That these two worlds, although very unrelated, could not come together under the one thing they have in common--their town. Ben and Ashley explained that when the two "sides" cross paths, it is as though they don't even see each other. Each is invisible to the other. But how can this be? We saw that nice antique shops and 5-star hotels are located on the south side (the poor side), so we know that the two worlds are interacting, at least on some level. So why have they not opened their eyes? Why have they not, like Kennedy and like us, taken a trip through the Delta, even through the other side of their OWN town? This, is unreal to me. They obviously have the resources to do something. I mean, a new mansion was being built the very day we visited. Maybe someday they will make the trip, and hopefully they will be as shocked about their ignorance as I was.
ashley johnson: Passionate. Inspirational. Sweet. If we could have had any "surprise" speaker Monday (after an already incredibly long day) I'm glad it was Ashley. As if I didn't already want to go to the Delta, now I feel like I need to go. Ashley did an amazing job of mapping out Greenwood--both the good and the bad of it--but hearing is not the same as seeing. Yes, it's unbelievable that some people have shower curtains as front doors, but I can't even imagine what I'd feel the minute I laid my eyes on that sight--especially if little kids were running around the area. Seeing is believing. We plan on making the trip this weekend. I really want to see Mississippi.
Another thing I really enjoyed from Ashley's discussion of Greenwood was her discussion about integration into the community. She seemed to really know the town and the people. She was a part of it all. This past semester I took a class on legal theory and one thing we continually discussed was whether or not it is necessary to be an insider--in other words, does a person need to be a part of the very system they are trying to change or describe? In my opinion, it is extremely important that a person integrates because that is where the big change (or at least ideas about what needs to change) will come from. However, it is also important that a person can stand outside of his/her self and look in on what's going on. You need both perspectives. I think Ashley had that. She was from somewhere else entirely and so could see the larger issues, whereas everyone else didn't know. She kept describing how the students would come to school bright-eyed and bushy-tailed because they just didn't know. As Mr. Barnes said, "they don't know what they don't know". However, she also understood the experiences of her students and made the effort to see the little things--the things people don't notice from the outside. This, I believe, put Ashley on both sides of the desk (Barksdale), and it probably why she was such an effective teacher.
reggie barnes: I think it's safe to say that Mr. Barnes is a people person. I doubt that one person walked out of his talk bored, or uninterested. He has a dynamic personality and a lot to share. Plus he's honest: "I'm making you laugh now, so you won't cry later," he boldly stated to cease the laughter after a funny comment about student/teacher relations. He poked fun of the "bad feeling" he got about Basile when he strutted in and Jason's deep voice. He forced me, who he referred to as Miramichi (a 14-year old student of his), to go to the board to make a "ruler" (I had no idea what he was asking) in front of everyone. But yet, each and every one of us laughed; no one was offended. We couldn't help it--we just had to like him. Something about Mr. Barnes grabbed out attention, and our approval. To describe that "something" simply, I would just say:
I've found this idea to be extremely pertinent to summer school. Just last week Joe consulted us about two situations. The first was a student who had "3 absences" (he actually only had 2, but the number was miscalculated). The student said that his previous absence was due to the fact that the school had sent home a letter for pending payment which stated that if the student had not paid, s/he should not attend school. This was true (and a foolish letter not written by anyone here). The student had not paid, and so followed instruction. He explained that he had paid the day of his absence and thus attended summer school the next day. We debated whether or not to expel this student (who we thought had 3 absences). Someone said we should stick to the rules, since other students had been expelled already under the policy. However, this situation was different. He was simply doing what he was told by the letter. I suggested that we first check to see if the student did actually pay--he had. I then suggested that we consult the teachers on the situation. Luckily, before this point, we realized the student only had 2 absences, so it became a non-issue.
The second situation arose with a young female student who had received her second detention for not sitting down during bus club when asked. Now, staying in the seat had never been a rule before. We had never told the students they needed to keep put, and so, as one might assume, they never really did. However, she was asked to do so, and didn't. This second detention would usually lead to a suspension, but yet again, this situation was different. We first looked at the student's previous detention and found that it was only for two tardies. It seemed a little silly to suspend a student for two tardies and breaking a rule that never existed, so we let her off. I feel good about this decision, even though, by policy, she should have received the suspension.
Maybe my approach to things would get me walked all over if I ever become a teacher, but I strongly believe in this method. I think dealing with every situation in a similar manner is the easy way out, and that's just not fair to the students. It's impossible to think up every single situation that might occur and encompass them all into a set of rules that is fair for every person, every time. Therefore, when something comes up that is different, even if only slightly different, take it as it comes--You'll probably feel a lot better about your decision if you do.
