Today was another day of professional development. We will have one more week before the students arrive at the school and we get started. Woo! Hoo!
Today’s main point was a history lesson. A look at the individual who was named for the school. Honoring our history is just as important as dealing with the present.
In addition to receiving information on the
writing program we will be using, the daughter of the school’s name sake came to speak to us. It was interesting because she also had been the school’s principal for eight years. The school is located in the far north-east section of the school’s district. Most of the school’s in this area have been named by individuals who have significantly impacted the educational cultural in addition to being a leader in the community.
The name sake for school was all of that, in addition to being an officer in the Tuskegee Airman Unit. In addition, to reading about his accomplishments we watched videos of the individuals in his family. I will write more about him tomorrow because I want to do him justice.
The other point is that I have taught in this district for 10 years, I left (unplanned, more later) for a year. Now I am back for my eleventh year and I am wearing two hats (K-2 Multi Intensive Teacher and K-8 Special Education Coordinator). I taught at three other schools, two which were named for community leaders.
The first school was named for a community leader, she was still alive. It was cool because the principal designed a professional development that illustrated our namesakes contributions to the community, her passion for education and her general character. Throughout the school year, our namesake, would come in a read to the students and talk with the teachers. She is currently 103 years old and just as active.
After my program and I were sent to another school because the school that I was at was closed and turned into a charter school. The new school was named for a prominent member of the district. He was born a slave and promoted education among other things in the school district. This school had severe issues with racism, however, none of the principals ever held a professional development where they introduced the namesake or provided a history of the man.
My point is that racism is alive and well. All of the community leaders would be very upset with the current situation in society. The death of the black lives and police officers in the various parts of the United States. They would have done something, they would have come into the schools and spoke with the students. We need to honor our past, respect our leaders and promote the growth that they promoted in the community.
