I am in the Teacher Education Program at Northeastern Illinois University. During the Fall '07 semester, I had the opportunity to observe and to do school service for a high school in the Chicago Public School system. I live in Chicago currently and decided to serve in a high school close to where my wife and I live. One day, I was sitting in class and the teacher needed some help. I had to leave class for a moment. When I came back, I noticed that my backpack and coat were on the floor and someone else was sitting in "my" chair. I asked the student who was sitting in my seat why my things were on the floor. The student, Pat, said that he was sorry and didn't know whose stuff that was. So, me in my pre-service, wide-eyed, hoping-to-enlighten attitude said, "Does it matter whose stuff that is? You should respect other people's belongings," but he got upset.
The teacher told me afterwards that Pat wasn't a bad kid. "Pat is very bright when Pat wants to be-- it's just with no home and no family makes it difficult for anybody." When I went home I felt terrible. I found out that Pat was a product of Lawrence Hall, a school for disadvantaged youth with a long history. I thought about Pat and how he acted toward me. He was kind and he did say sorry right from the start. I guess I pushed him when I should have been more in tune with the kids in the same community I want to teach in.
I thought about how someone with no upbringing and no familial structure would know about respecting property, let alone other people's property. I thought about how he could become exposed to things to stimulate his interest, as opposed to just surviving. I talked to Pat days later to tell him that I meant no disrespect to him. I also said that if things are on a seat or desk then they shouldn't be moved (also realizing the exceptions that could surface at any time). So, I left it at that.
At the end of class when there was a few minutes,
Pat was talking to a friend of his about jail food. I was sitting close
and I asked what they were talking about. Pat could talk at great
length about juvenile detention centers and jails because it was
something he knew. Unfortunately, If I was his parent, I'd let him know
that that talk is looked down upon and certainly not a good
conversation starter. But what do I know? That's why, as teachers in training, we must learn to be able to reflect in order to make our own learning experiences better for others.
What they are trying to do is change lives and they have a multi-tiered program that also offers other benefits. They are trying to build secure and safe individuals which we all eventually learn at some point either child, pet, or plant). But they teach those lifeforces so the children can learn it too. That's why I chose Lawrence Hall. It gives chances to people born without choices and has been doing so for 140 years. Over 1,100 children every year pass through Lawrence Hall's doors in the hopes of changing their future. In order to see the makeup of Lawrence Hall (which combined with Bartelme Homes & Services in 1988) please click on my Demographics page.