I need you to think about this... "Hypothetical Situation"

[wolven7]

Suicidal Tendencies - [Institutionalized]--- I'm going to ask you the following [hypothetical] question, and I need you to Really think about this, okay? I need you to think about it, and I need a few responses:

Knowing me, and what you know of and about me, do you think that I, Damien Williams, should be placed in charge of several dozen highschool aged kids, at a small private school, in the middle of the FreakTown Part of Atlanta?

Now, I know what you're thinkin'. (A Clockwork Orange - [I Want to Marry a Lighthouse Keeper]). You're thinkin', "But Damien: What the fuck? Isn't that your stated goal, your purpose, and long term plan for your life? To be a major part of the educational procedure of children of all ages?" (Razed In Black - [Nightmare]). And the Answer is yes, Peanut Gallery, now that you ask, instead of answering the fucking question, like I asked you, I do want that. I want that very much, all the time, such that it is the thought that makes me warm and happy at night, because the thought of teaching children, and creating an army of thinking, feeling, discerning, Individual Human Beings to MARCH ACROSS THIS PLANET AND CREATE IT AS THEY GO is probably a really good summation of everything I am and wish to be. But let's take a step back, shall we?

Was it not Two or Three Days Ago, that I wrote something about looking toward the future, rather than continually turning back toward the past? (Chimaira - [Sphere]). Keeping a firm grasp of the past, at your back, to make your walking forward that much easier, and not letting the persistence of memory become an obsessive Nostalgia Trap (People from your "Good Old Days" may not think them so good, nor Day-like, as much as bad and benighted; they lost touch with you, and that may make them happy. Accept that.).

Danger Doom - [Perfect Hair]--- That being said, Yesterday, I, hypothetically, get this offer regarding teaching somewhere intrinsic to my past, to my being who I am. Very hard to put it behind you, when it's in your face, daily. I think, on some level, that that is exactly the point.

Shit.

And then, last night, I dream about wandering around Grady, in some adminstrative capacity. (mc chris - [robotdog]). How fucked up is that?

I need to go eat something, and drink a Lot of coffee. Only 6 hours' sleep, last night, and then I'm awake, for some reason. Tired ad awake.

Comments

"it would be a fine place to start" - ryam

[raoin.livejournal.com]

(ryam was talking to me about this as i wrote)

you seem to be at loose ends (from my vantage point) with regards to your future path. you're finishing your master's sooner or later, but have not yet determined where you will go from there; to another MA or to a PhD or whom you would work with &ct.

so, given that, and given that more teaching experience is always a good thing, why not take the job in the interim? you graduate, and then teach for a year while you suss out what to do next, and perhaps in doing so you make some more connections to people or places that will lead you where you want to go. ne?

i also happen to feel as though i am heading towards the same cross-roads, and as such i'm trying to decide what to do with myself after i get the MA while i wait for ryam to finish his BA, and while i try to find some person in academia who will take me.

so in some sense i am, yes, directing you where i wish i could go, i did once try to get a job at same said institution, and i have recently examined job openings in the field, but i am finding myself woefully uncertified and these jobs seem to either require it, or the connections and inside help to get there.

some part of me almost wishes for you to take the job so that i could have an insider to help me get into the job market... at any rate.

really only you can make this decision, i'm merely presenting a facet.

Re: "it would be a fine place to start" - ryam

[wolven.livejournal.com]

There are several loose ends, and this is only one potential thread. I know that I'm taking a year off. I need a job, in that year, and this hypothetically happens. This is a potentially wonderful thing. My only reticence is that it hypotheically puts me square in the past, in my hypothetical highschool.

Beneficial or not is the main question. I'm thinking it will be more than not.

[sadistic-apollo.livejournal.com]

ok so you could work in a highschool and maybe get an eighties movie remade after you miraculously turn around one kids life.


oooooor

you could shoot for elementary school.

and plant that seed deep!

erm.. in an alternative educational not pedo-rapey way.

[wolven.livejournal.com]

Hypothetically, it's a very small private school with a dedicated student body.

[sadistic-apollo.livejournal.com]

soooo

more like dead poets society then?

[wolven.livejournal.com]

Not quite. See below.

It's yo thang.

[karishi.livejournal.com]

You have the training and means to make an enormous difference where you put yourself. Given your answer to the peanut gallery, I think your decision should hinge on whether you're seeking to work by reaching as many people as possible or by rippley effects, or both.
If you believe the ripples sufficient to your purposes, take the job. If you want to do it short-term, get some ripples going, and move to larger crowds, take the job. If you feel you'll make more impact by hitting more people as quickly as possible, don't take it. Get a bit more training.

Some of this doesn't answer your question, as asked. The direct answer is: What you should do depends on what you want to happen and how you want it to happen; on what parts of the process are important to you.
Hypothetically speaking.

Re: It's yo thang.

[wolven.livejournal.com]

I believe that, as it is a hypothetically short term prospect, it will serve wonderfully for creating the proper amount and kind of ripples. I hope.

That's not a fair question.

[momentai.livejournal.com]

This particular hypodermic situation has too many varibles to really be answered with any clarity or terseness, but you asked nicely, so I shall try.

You are qualified, you have a fair understanding of what it means to teach, and most importantly, you have an actual desire to do, so sure, you should be placed with the job.

On the other hand, your personality and M.O. leave s/t to be desired as far as the areas of politics and interpersonal relations go, so maybe this would not be ideal for you. These are, afterall, children, and people tend to get rowdy when they feel their children are in danger of subversion. And frankly, most of your thoughts could and would be viewed as such by the majority of Americans, and by Americans, I mean White people. Specifically, well off White people with no understanding of what their children really need to prepare them for "the future". Can you deal with people trying to influence you to change your lessons plans to make them less...robust? can you deal with people trying to discredit your ability b/c they feel you are delusional or believe in the "wrong things"?

If you were willing to promise yourself that you could keep a lid on most your more controversial musings until you reached tenure, then I wouldn't feel remiss in recommending you accept the offer. However, if you plan on planting your feet, sticking to your guns, and imparting these teenagers with as much of your manifesto as possible, than I might be reluctant. It wouldn't be a lack of faith in you, but a lack of faith in Americans.

I don't want your ideas and accomplishments to be overshadowed by a witch hunt led by ignorant masses who don't beleive children are better served by dynamic discussions than by status quo tests and arguments. Of course, this fear springs from years in public school, and perhaps a private school would be different, but maybe not. You would know about the particular school better than me, but since a private school is allowed to operate outside of the public and standarized system, they are also more closed off and filled with more chances for an inconoclast to become a scapegoat. The ability to detect someone who is a "problem" and then discredit him are easier to pull off. That worries me, but maybe that worry is misfounded for this particular school, but I feel that most places of learning are almost the same, no matter how many brave teachers or principals there are.In closing, I will leave it at this.

Basically, my thoughts can be boiled down to this:

...because the thought of teaching children, and creating an army of thinking, feeling, discerning, Individual Human Beings to MARCH ACROSS THIS PLANET AND CREATE IT AS THEY GO is probably a really good summation of everything I am and wish to be.

As long as you never ever write that down anywhere, especially your lesson plan, allow it to be overheard by a parent, or discuss it willy nilly in the staff room, you would probably be okay. Of course, you, Damien Williams, are not exactly prone to hiding your stances and beliefs, so that's when my hesitation comes in.

Re: That's not a fair question.

[wolven.livejournal.com]

Hypothetically, Afeni Shakur gave the address at this school's 2007 commmencement ceremony.

Re: That's not a fair question.

[momentai.livejournal.com]

...so those in charge are a bit more open minded than usual. That's always a plus.

As for the point of you being immeresed in your past while you forge new trails , which seems to be the point I missed, well, how could anyone else really answer that?

I can advise you to be cautious insofar as espousing your ideas in mixed company goes, but how do I advise you on your emotional and mental health? It seems like this could be a hard, daily fight for you considering the way you look at life and interconnectedness(sic), so I guess you would need to determine if this extra stress is worth being a teacher who will influence and motivate students to be pro active and great or perhaps if you are at a point where this type contact with your past won't be that stressful in the first place.

Re: That's not a fair question.

[wolven.livejournal.com]

Because, hypothetically, her two grandchildren attended the school.

All contact is stressful, or it wouldn't be contact. Is it a building stress or a breaking stress. That's the key question.

[cailement.livejournal.com]

I think that the world needs more strong, young, black males in teaching positions. I think it also needs people teaching who can think outside the box, know what some of the kids have gone through, can show focus as well as dream, and is strong enough to throw down if someone threatens the children with sharp pointy things. I think you would be excellent. So long as you don't scare the kids in a bad way. In a "respect me or else" way would be fine, though. :) They see too much scarey realism already.

[wolven.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the confidence.