There are two more weeks left in the hole and I can’t believe that I have survived…however it seems as though the REAL test will be surviving the last week of school! Apparently, the students at this school have a tradition of waging war by use of “weapons of mass destruction”…Clorox-filled water guns, paint-filled balloons, and water balloons…they are also planning to fight, fight, fight!
According to Upperclassmen, this day is real and this day should be taken seriously! A few concerned seniors have told me that they plan on wearing hobo-esque clothes, plastic bags over THOSE clothes, shower caps over their hair, and goggles over their eyes…WOW! They said that last year’s principal ate a “paint-balloon sandwich” and was WEARING the paint that one of the student culprits threw. OMG!
“Were these students reprimanded?” I asked.
The seniors laughed, “Ms. Friendly, please! Remember where we are? NOBODY is EVER reprimanded! The principal just went home and changed his clothes.
“So…nobody stopped the children from destroying the school?”
“Yeah, they turned the water off to the school and banned students from going to the bathroom so that they would not be able to put anymore water in the balloons or guns…but some parents called and complained and they had to turn the water back on.”
HA! Parents called and complained about the water but completely ignored the fact that their kids were fucking up the school! …Typical…Ignoring the more poignant issue at hand. And the school…why weren’t the campus police notified? Why were students allowed to create total anarchy on campus?
…So, needless to say, I am REALLY looking forward to the upcoming last week of school. However, most students say to me, “Ms. Friendly, you ain’t got to worry cuz you cool…but Mr. Bite-Sized Teacher (he’s REALLY short)…yeah…we gone git dat ass so he best not come to work.”
…So this should make me feel better…right…?
Ms.Friendly's Comprehensive Guide to Inner-City Teaching 
The Red Pill
May 11, 2008 at 5:45 am
There’s nothing like ganging up on a short man to reaffirm one’s self esteme.
/sarcasm
Stay low, Ms. Friendly!
msfriendly
May 11, 2008 at 4:42 pm
LOL! That’s good advice 🙂 …And you should see the trouble the kids give him! They (the girls) push him into lockers, steal his car keys, curse him out on a daily basis, and threaten him with bodily harm…it’s a wonder he comes to work! The “kids” have told me that they have WARNED him to not come to work on the ENTIRE last week of school, but he said that he is not going to allow any teen-agers to scare him out of work…okay! (lol)…I will keep you posted.
Adam
May 13, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Your posts are incredible. I’m actually finding it hard to say anything more than that right now. You’re writing from a different world. I just read through all of your posts and am astounded.
Would it be possible to take pictures of the conditions of the school facilities, buildings, textbooks?
I spent two years teaching in the developing world in a classroom without electricity or books. But it was nothing compared to the daily assault you put up with.
Good luck next week and have a much deserved summer break. How can anyone teach in these conditions without burning out in a few years?
msfriendly
May 13, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Adam…yes, it is pretty unbelievable to me as well! As far as the pictures are concerned…I am trying to maintain anonymity until the end of my contract with this school system…after that, I plan on releasing more specific information.
Thank you for reading…exposure of the situation is what matters most because my inner-city school is ANY inner-city school…do not let the outer facade fool you!
Ms. Friendly
Kevin
May 14, 2008 at 4:28 am
Wow I agree with Adam, this is a fascinating blog.
You should write a book — you’re a good writer and you obviously have something that needs to be expressed!
And … sounds like you should wear scuba gear on your D-Day!
msfriendly
May 14, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Thank you SOOOOOO much!!! As for the book…maybe. Originally my intentions were only to blow off steam, but now I am beginning to envision a larger picture due to response. Thank you for your support 🙂
…And yes…scuba gear may be a viable option for me on my D-Day!
Arekusu
May 19, 2008 at 12:24 am
Uh, I would not write the book until:
1. You get tenure at a school where you get along with the admin or at least the faculty where the union will back you up if the a-hole admin starts harassing you for exposing the crap that goes on in the city.
2. Make sure you write about the root causes of these schools- no funding, no taxing the rich and the corporations, genocide against Black workers, as well as a general culture of alienation, selfishness, consumerism, arrogance. Sure, a lot of these kids need a beat-down, but…
The Red Pill
May 20, 2008 at 5:39 am
“genocide against Black workers”
I’m sorry, but you can’t seriously believe this.
I can’t argue with the issues of funding and general culture, but at what point are these kids and their parents held accountable for themselves?
It’s this idea of victimization and blaming others for ones actions that is also a root cause. And my guess it’s a big one.
msfriendly
May 20, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Oh wow…new comments 🙂
Arekusu – I do not plan on furthering my profession as a public school teacher much longer…I will be beginning a Ph.D. in January and college level teaching will be my focus. I have thought about the reaction of my administrative faculty IF I were to author a book of this nature while under its employ (freak-out).
Red Pill and Arekusu – “genocide against Black workers” …I’m not really sure HOW you mean that Arekusu…I would be interested in hearing your reasoning concerning that particular issue because that’s where I don’t agree…ESPECIALLY after working here!
I totally agree with the funding and culture bit, but I gotta go with Red Pill on this one…there’s way too much “GIMMIE GIMMIE” going on in this environment. My students and their parents make all of the efforts of the Civil Rights Movement seem for naught! Even WITHOUT money, their are things (i.e. determination, pride, respect, ethics, perserverance, etc.) that one my attain without money or funding.
Accountability for one’s actions…that’s so key I can’t even begin to expound on HOW important of an ingrediant I believe it is…and it’s missing!!!!!!
Today, Black people are the ones killing themselves and each other.