Looking to Be a Teacher

    Hopefully tomorrow will bring about great news. I'm awaiting a response from a Dallas high school for a potential English/Journalism position. I've prayed about it repeatedly... now I'm leaving it in God's hands. My confidence is beyond measure and I'm very eager to know if I'll be introducing myself to students on the morning of August 25, 2008.

    My mother is just as nervous as I am, but I know whatever is meant to be will be. If God has this career in his will for me, it will happen. If it's not apart of his will, then I don't want it! 

   Teaching has always been a dream of mine. And not just because of the idea of summer time off. I love the idea of molding young minds and preparing them for life after the school bells. It's been great watching my mother be a successful educator, now I'd like to do the same. 

   Lord, while you are working please help me to be still!!! 

Black Mothers and Their Boys (Part I)

     A couple of weeks ago I was watching "Black in America," and a certain statement resounded loudly with me. I believe it was something to this effect: "black mothers tend to teach their girls to be independent and not lower their standards for undeserving men." Let me first say that I totally agree with this logic, but I'm feeling a bit uneasy now because I'm starting to see a similar pattern in my own family. 

    Of course I'm an only child, and thank the good Lord that my mother has raised me to be independent and strong with very high values and standards. She doesn't have a son, so I can't say that I've witnessed a difference in treatment. In recent discussions my mother has shared with me how she would've raised a son if she'd had one. I'm inclined to believe that she would demand of him the things she's demanded of me.

   There is a certain household in my family in which my aunt and uncle are raising two boys, one a recent high school grad and the other a 7th grader. My issue is not with the younger of the two... he's as sweet as pie and tries to please his family at all costs. The reason I blog on this subject is because of the older son. I won't say his name, because he may actually start navigating the web one day to something more that MySpace, and this is not a family drama I want right now. In his heart he knows how I feel about his laziness; he knows that he brings some truth to the stereotypes about young black males... but let's just say he's in denial. Let me tell you a little bit about him:

   At an early age he was told he was smart, and he just ran with this idea. He just finished high school, and he's never bothered to get a job. Instead of looking for work, like so many black boys he took interest in a sport (baseball) which he's rather mediocre in. Once some desperate girls took interest in him, he's interest in doing what's right disappeared. Throughout high school he never did his work, but always demanded that he be passed. He never studied, yet exclaims that high school is beneath him. He couldn't even get in his materials for college on time, but in his mind they'd be lucky to have him.

   Ok, ok enough background. The college semester begins in about two weeks. For the last three months he's laid around the house all day, everyday. He's watched his mother go to work, pay bills, buy he and his brother unnecessary Jordan gear, cook and clean for a house with three males. "I LOVE MY MAMA," is all over his Facebook and MySpace pages. I'm sure he does love her, but why? Is it because she gives him all he wants and doesn't deserve? Is it because she allows him to focus on the things that are important to him: girls, sex, baseball, etc? 

    I love my aunt very much, but I hurt for her. I hurt for any woman that will allow herself to be used and drained emotionally by the men (husband and children) in her life. Again, school is about to start and this boy has yet to save a penny for college. Trust me I know how much UT-Austin costs...

 

   If he'd bothered to get a job over the summer he could've easily saved a few thousand (especially with no bills to his name). Instead he ate, slept and pissed in the daytime, and drove out her unleaded gasoline with his friends in the nighttime. Now my aunt is feeling pressured to make sure he gets a new laptop for school, since his downloading habits has caused the home computer to crash...

TOOOO MUCH... I need a breather (be back in a bit for Part II)

West Coast NBA Teams in Trouble

OK, so what the heck is going on with the NBA teams out West??? 

    Baron Davis to the Clippers to pair up with Elton Brand. A few days later Elton Brand ditches Baron, the Clips and Dunleavy for the Sixers, after the Warriors tried to lure him away from Baron and the Clips, and Dunleavy. So a few hours later the Warriors sign Corey Magette. But what really hurt my heart was the energetic Ronnie Turiaf leaving the Lakers to head to Oakland and play with the Warriors.

   Tell me, did any of the three California NBA teams get any better? Heck no! 

    Yeah Baron Davis embarrassed the crap out of my Mavs a couple of years back, and yes he can still get those impossible shots to go, but come on people Baron Davis has another two years left in him at best. And now he's in an environment where the two best players have decided to go elsewhere. 

    As far as the Warriors, I guess they weren't convinced that they had a good team when they eliminated the Mavericks as an 8th seed. They went on to trade Jason Richardson, and now Baron Davis and Pietrus are gone. I suppose Monte Ellis and a whiney Maggette are supposed to get them through the West... NEGATIVE!!!

    I won't bother to get started on the Lakers. The team getting to the finals as it is constructed, was a fluke in the first place, but now they send away Turiaf, one of the few energizers on the bench. Phil might very well decide to check out as coach before the season starts, when he sits back in his high-chair and sees what a lacking team he has.

   Wow, never thought I'd say "lacking-team" when Kobe is the captain. But I no longer believe Kobe is the answer to all basketball match-ups. His unenthusiasm in the finals let me down needless to say.

   Anyway, the NBA fans in Cali are in for at least two-thirds disappointment this upcoming season. I'll be back after the trade deadline with some controversial predictions, of course... 

Lakers Headed Back to the Finals

Boston or Detroit? I don't give a crap. Kobe is on a roll, and he's destined to win that title without Shaq. Tonight's game was pretty intense at certain moments, and I'm just really glad the Lakers were able to overcome the early deficit to beat those old Spurts. I'm still wearing my old #8 Kobe jersey, but I'll be more than happy to invest in the #24 if my Lakers go get that title!!! 

Scenario One: If the Pistons win at home Friday, that means another seven game series for the "best team in the league this year." That means if in fact the Celtics pull off a game 7 victory, they're bound to be physically tired, and mentally questioning their status as "leagues' best." ADVANTAGE... LAKERS!!!

Scenario Two: If for some strange reason the Pistons win two straight... let me go on and put it out there ADVANTAGE... LAKERS!!! Rasheed is due for another technical, which would mean an automatic one-game suspension. Rip's elbow is all jacked, and Chauncey Billups is looking a little sluggish these days. Sorry Detroit, but you're just not as intimidating as you once were.

Let's GO Lakers!!!! 

"I Just Wanted to Teach"

It was a couple of Thursdays ago...

There I was in my $300 pinstriped black business suit, walking confidently into my old high school. No backpack this time- filled with calculus homework and articles. This time I walked in with my portfolio and resume. Instead of being sent to the office for causing a disruption on the last day of school- I had a scheduled appointment. Here I was interviewing for a teaching position at the place where I became one of Dallas' stellar high school students; at the place where many of my accomplishments are still praised by my former teachers/my mother's coworkers. 

Not only am I a successful alum to this place, I'm beyond qualified for the position. I knew it; the dozen people who remembered my face as I walked from my car to the front doors knew it; and even my interviewers knew it. So, you think the job would be mine, right?

  

Well you couldn't be more wrong. Let me tell you- Politics are more in play in the school district, than they are between Obama and Clinton. I was so excited at the opportunity to teach my beloved journalism, that I almost forgot the hatred and slighting I endured at this place for being intelligent. Apparently young women are just not supposed to be this way...

Perhaps the powers that be don't want to hire anyone that challenges their incompetencies. Or maybe the district has really just bought into this trend of promoting the undeserving and unqualified into authoritative positions.

Back to the so-called interview... Before my butt could even hit the leather I was being grilled about printing methods for school publications and discipline. What do you know about tabloid? How will you deal with unruly students? "You're very young, how do you plan to have a sense of authority over teenagers?" Basically I got a lot of **** about being 23 years of age. 

So after I apologized for not taking residence on earth until 1985, I went on to explain my belief that students respect adults who stand before them knowledgeable of the subject matter. I truly believe that students cause problems in class when a teacher doesn't keep them busy, and is not confident in his/her presentation.  

"That's not true Ariawna- I have friends with a Ph.D. who can't command an audience," one of the four interrogators (excuse me, interviewers) interjected. Well excuse the he** out of me because you have moronic friends. People listen to me with a Bachelor's and they would sure as heck listen to my Ph.D.-having @**.

Of course I didn't say that... I'm too classy to stoop to that level. That's what they wanted me to do. I truly believe that they knew before I even entered the building that they weren't going to offer me the job. The interview was just a ploy to appease my mother, since they have to pass her classroom on a daily basis. 

Again, here I was applying for a journalism teaching position. The table was completely covered with my articles, photographs, references, internship work, layout designs and even a proposed curriculum I devised just for revamping the journalism program at _ _ _ _ _ _ _ High School. 

None of that mattered. All they saw was 23, confident, qualified, and intelligent. Now a group of administrators that really care about the development of their student body would jump at a candidate with such features. But, no- not at this place. Young, confident, qualified and intelligent tends to rub people the wrong way when they aren't sure of themselves. When they think of how they got to their six-figure position, they start to get a little antsy. Young, confident, qualified and intelligent means I know too much, and I pose a threat to their comfortable positions.

Thoroughly disgusted best describes how I felt when I walked away from that interview. There I was- offering my utmost sincerity, laying out a plan that was innovative and advanced, yet very attainable. "I think a 12-page magazine is very attainable for _ _ _ _ _ _," I offered.

"HOW YOU GOIN PAY FOR THAT?," was the response. I wanted to tell her, "don't worry, I wouldn't dream of actually using the budgeted money allocated for the journalism department. NEVER. I know you must use that for other things." But again I took the high road.

My only wish is that the best interest of the students was the focal point. Never before had I heard a group of adults soooooo negative about the students they're supposed to mentor. Discipline, discipline, discipline is all they could preach. It was as if I applied for a freaking boot camp. 

It was at some point during this poor excuse for an interview that I realized just how little things have changed at the old high school. These poor souls simply think the students are bad and unruly. That's not the case... they just don't respect many of the adults around them because they know what goes on behind closed doors. Heck, a lot of immorality takes place right there in front of them between 8:45a.m. and 3:45p.m. The adults parading around like horny teenagers. The extra-marital affairs. The laziness. The undeserving advancement into higher positions. The politics. They see it all.  The students aren't just bad- they just don't respect a lot of the individuals touting authority over them. 

Of course I know the problem is not all authority figures in the Dallas Independent School District.  There are still some really outstanding leaders in the district, and I applaud their decision to be professionals when clearly you no longer have to be to get that pay grade. Just get the kids to pass Taks, and you can keep your job, right?

I was really close to letting the interview panel know what I thought of them... but I didn't. Time will take care of them. Sitting before me was a man slouching in his chair for the entire 45 minutes; two sorority sisters - ((one of whom has NO affiliation with the school, but a former relationship with the HFIC 'head fool in charge')); and then there was one sweet face that maybe said two words the entire meeting (don't ask me why).  How do I know all of this? Well, I told you: students aren't fools. They know what's going on around them, and they definitely talk amongst themselves. 

It's safe to say that I didn't get the job. That's okay... I'm not bitter. Perhaps the good Lord wants me to go to a place where I will have a better support group. A place where I won't be ridiculed for being successful, but appreciated for my sure desire to make a difference.

I know a lot of information that maybe I shouldn't. I'm too classy to tell her coworkers that she slept her way into that position. I'm too classy to go to the school board and file a complaint that candidates were interviewed for a position that was never posted for the public (a clear infraction). I'm too classy to tell her she's in no position to tell me what kind of example I should be (when she came in August a single, expectant mother, and left in the same predicament two May's later). Oops did I say that? 

Like I said, I know a lot of information that maybe I shouldn't. But hey, I'm a journalist- I will continue to use my resources.