A chance to teach in Oakland

[topdawg]

Hi everyone. I have recently graduated from college and got into a credential program that allows me to teach full time right now. I have just had an interview with the Oakland Unified School District and it seems that I have a big chance of landing the teaching job.

Now a little bit about myself: I am 23 years old, English major. I've coached a college boxing team for three years, and that's where I got most of my teaching experience. I really want to teach in Oakland because, first, I grew up in Oakland. There's always the desire for me to "give back". I know it sounds kind of naive, but I feel that I can connect with the inner city kids more. And having been the coach of a boxing team for three years, I really know how to assert myself and be respected by the team. I had a pretty successful run with the team, and the team ended up developing a lot and the guys really love me in the end.

I can't really say for sure how my coaching experience will translate to a inner city high school classroom. I have been through a pretty bad high school, and I know how some kids can drive teachers crazy. But mostly I've noticed the "bad teachers" all made themselves the enemies of the students. Everyday becomes a power struggle and nothing productive ever happens in class. Now I am not that confident as to say that I will just come in and become the best teacher in their lives. But I know that I am quite a "people" person and I never believe in intimidation. I know that ultimately you have to prove to the kids that you are "on their side", and most of them probably grew up mistrusting adults because of their problems in life.

On the other hand, I also had a pretty successful interview with San Leandro School District. It is considerably better than Oakland, to say the least. But part of me does not want to take the easy way out, despite my family's advice for me to go with the better district. I wonder, given my experience or lack thereof, am I better off going to the "easier" district? Am I going to regret later if I put off the chance of teaching in Oakland?

[Pat the Great]

homie you gon get stabbed. <3 oakland's low graduation rates.

good boxing in oakland though.

[jaehwan]

I don't have any answer to your question--but let me just say, congratulations on deciding to become a teacher! It's great to see people deciding to take that route.

[topdawg]

homie you gon get stabbed. <3 oakland's low graduation rates.

good boxing in oakland though.

Lol. I know it's tongue in cheek but man, it gets scarily real in Oakland. Trust me, I grew up there and I KNOW.

Hopefully within this week I will get to tour the schools and choose my pick.

jaehwan, thanks! I know it is not going to be an easy route, but what the heck, life ain't never been easy!

[nskripchun]

Speaking as a fellow teacher and an Oakland-born, it's a pretty personal decision where to be for your first job. I got into teaching for some of the same reasons - the desire to work with at-risk youth and "give back" to the community. Most teachers burn out with the first 5 years of the job, so definitely expect that no matter where you work, there's going to be good times and tough times.

But yeah... boxing! Awesome. Ever thought of coaching an afterschool club / team? Kids nowadays could use the discipline and the activity. Anything to keep them off the street doing stupid ish.

BTW, most of my extended family who used to live in Oakland have moved out to San Leandro, Castro Valley, and other places. I guess Oakland got too ghetto...

[topdawg]

Speaking as a fellow teacher and an Oakland-born, it's a pretty personal decision where to be for your first job. I got into teaching for some of the same reasons - the desire to work with at-risk youth and "give back" to the community. Most teachers burn out with the first 5 years of the job, so definitely expect that no matter where you work, there's going to be good times and tough times.

But yeah... boxing! Awesome. Ever thought of coaching an afterschool club / team? Kids nowadays could use the discipline and the activity. Anything to keep them off the street doing stupid ish.

BTW, most of my extended family who used to live in Oakland have moved out to San Leandro, Castro Valley, and other places. I guess Oakland got too ghetto...

nskripchun, wow, I didn't know you are from Oakland too. I was raised in Oakland, and I know exactly what I am getting into by choosing to teach there. The current situation with the district is pretty abysmal. I know that a few years back the district went bankrupt. I am not sure whether the state eventually took over or not. But regardless, the API is still fairly low. It would take nothing short of miracules to turn this around.

As for starting a boxing team in the school, I know for sure that I will face a lot of administrative red tape. Long time ago, when boxing was as popular as baseball and football, kids actually had boxing in highschool. But I guess nowadays there are too many public misconceptions about the sport's safety for it to happen. Interesting, I found some stats from the USA boxing website that basically finds that amateur boxing is safer than softball... go figure.

But I completely agree with you about the need for after school programs/clubs for the students. I know personally that boxing completely transformed me from a wheezy little guy to someone that is confident and sure of himself. I wonder if I can volunteer to drive some of my students to local boxing gyms? Would this be against district policy?

[aelward]

Oakland represent... OK, I didn't grow up there, but I lived in Oakland Chinatown for 4 years in the early 2000s. But I'm surprised there are so many people with Oakland ties on the 44s.

As for teaching-- I treat a lot of school teachers in my practice, and most of them have said that the interest of students really dictates your job satisfaction and durability. The ones teaching elementary school enjoy it the most, since it is when students are the most enthusiastic; then it goes downhill from there-- varying from school district to school district.

Would you consider working in San Leandro; but on the side, start a boxing program for kids in Oakland? Once my kids are a little older and life is a littlemore settled, I'm going to be doing something similar (martial arts for inner city kids, where they pay for classes with their grades).

[Pat the Great]

dang hella oakland heads up in here. nickle dime represent!

i lived in SF until high school, lived in oakland for high school, and went to a nameless expensive private prep school that was scared by all the brown people in the public school system.

[xian]

Well, you probably know my take before I begin typing, but here goes:

There's no point in martyring yourself for the kids. If you suck at inner-city teaching or will be unhappy, you don't do anyone a favor by subjecting the kids to you.

That having been said: you sound like the perfect candidate for inner-city teaching. You have experience in the environment, so you won't be all "white saviory" on everyone until they WANT to stab you. You can take a punch--which to really help the kids, you probably will have to at some point.

As far as teaching skills, why would you want to teach anywhere EXCEPT the place which is most challenging? Anyone can teach in a "better" district. Running through lesson plans and teaching establishment ideology to the rich kids does NOTHING to improve the society. Don't get me wrong--empowered thoughtful teaching in an individualized setting where you have power over your curriculum like through tutoring, etc. is very worthwhile.

But as all these "good" teachers run out to the suburbs and "good" teaching environments, it's not like the city kids disappear.

Finally, don't be resigned to things that suck. Feeling bad or whining accomplishes nothing. I'm just a random dude, but I've been able to push change in the Chicago Public School system which often sucks in many of the same ways you describe. I've been punched, put my foot through a window, helped the kids avoid gunfire, etc. and the biggest obstacle has been poor board administration.

However, we are doing big things and I hope someday my students can schedule a trip to Oakland to do community work with your students and your kids can come here.

If you ever want to discuss anything, please email me and I'd be happy to give you my number. I've helped develop progressive English curriculum, so I'd be happy to share.

peace.

[topdawg]

Xian, thanks a lot for your thoughtful reply!! Man it is reassuring to hear from more and more experienced teachers that are willing to go right where the problems are and try to make a difference. While most of my family all goes "if you have a choice, DON'T teach in Oakland. Save yourself, etc", I can't help but to think how much more it would be for myself and the kids if I can make the sacrifice.

I also appreciate your candor to advise me not to get into inner city schools if I am not capable. Well, how should I say this: I grew up with "ghetto" kids. Now I am not a thuggish ganster type. Don't get my wrong. But I understand poor people's need of respect. What I see wrong with many teachers is that they fail to align themselves with the students. And I don't mean to be buddy-buddy with the students, because that mentality has many flaws within itself. But I mean the teacher's attitude. People can sense a person's "real" or not. Over the three years of my coaching the team, I know that the surest way to get guys to come to practice and be committed is to be committed and passionate YOURSELF. Passion is contagious. What I want my students to learn is that education is the best way of empowerment. Unfortunately, many of these city kids turn to their friends for recognition and respect, because they don't feel respected by the teachers and the school.

And maybe I am a little bit shocked that you actually got physical with the students before, Xian! I don't look forward to have to defend myself one day against my students. But I guess things are not as easy is what I believe it is. But regardless, thanks a lot again for sharing your view with me. It really helps with my decision!

[xian]

To clarify, I have NEVER, ever, had to defend myself against the students. As you say, if you are real and not antagonistic with the kids, that works out great.

I have often have to defend the students from each other, and I always say, "Ok, I'm sticking my head in between your fists, if you continue swinging, you will hit me!" and miraculously they ALMOST always stop.

But occasionally they don't :)

[topdawg]

Haha, Xian. That's reassuring! I am no stranger to school fights. But now being the one to mediate it would be very different. By the way, what grade level do you teach? Do you submit to the idea that kids at higher grades have less chance of changing themselves?

[nskripchun]

To clarify, I have NEVER, ever, had to defend myself against the students. As you say, if you are real and not antagonistic with the kids, that works out great.

I have often have to defend the students from each other, and I always say, "Ok, I'm sticking my head in between your fists, if you continue swinging, you will hit me!" and miraculously they ALMOST always stop.

But occasionally they don't :)

Oh yes, the dangers of teaching.

I've had hyperactive kids run into and smash into my groin while playing tag, football, etc. That's the hazard that comes with elementary school life, where some of the kids only come up waist high.

But yeah, I won't complain. It beats dodging bullets any day... though because my school is in "the hood" we had a couple of incidents of emergency lockdowns. Armed felons loose in the area with Five-O in pursuit.