tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4998523633976630092.post3637326487789328312..comments2023-11-02T03:18:26.727-06:00Comments on NCTE Conference on English Leadership: School LockdownsNCTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12254024796847309329noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4998523633976630092.post-13637061712767098342007-06-22T15:20:00.000-06:002007-06-22T15:20:00.000-06:00Jim, your experience is all too real in many inner...Jim, your experience is all too real in many inner-city schools. It reminded me of an incident that happened while I was at a school in Chicago. At the ripe old age of 30, I laid my eyes on a sawed-off shotgun while in the main office of an elementary school. It was being toted around by a young man no taller than 4'7". His face still carried the remnants of an innocent preteen. But what a scary sight it was. There was no anger in his tone when he spoke. "I need it for protection in case my father comes to take me away" he said as he smiled and attempted to walk away.<BR/><BR/>I can't help but to wonder when and where did things begin to go wrong in his life and how do we as educators spot these kinds of troubled students before they bring the guns into the schools. It's an age-old question, I know.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4998523633976630092.post-77741465112086386452007-06-12T07:01:00.000-06:002007-06-12T07:01:00.000-06:00Coming from a variety of middle and high school te...Coming from a variety of middle and high school teaching experiences in both urban and suburban settings, I have a few responses to this post. First, we cannot underestimate the value of the outside world, if there is such a distinct climate, from the culture of the school. We try to separate these two existences, but more often students cannot help but bring their issues into a school and, even if the most trouble represent a numerical minority, can severely disrupt school life. The debate about whether or not a disruptive minority has the right to be disruptive of society is a issue we all face now. Secondly, I would add that lockdown is a term used in prisons that has come into use in schools since Columbine, the D.C. sniper, and possible 9/11. My question is this: if we put our students in a prison, should we wonder why they act like convicts? They often can, and the good work of your student teacher is an exceptional exception. Finally, it is not just teachers but all adults who fail their children by not allowing them some real form of childhood. Parenting and teaching should be serious, purposeful persuits, but often they are not today. We value speed and convenience in all things, including our interactions with our children. This should not be the case.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com