It’s Monday and the week begins. While walking around the class I notice Shawna is lying face down on the floor to the right of her chair. I run to her and shake her shoulders lightly. “Are you okay?” I implore. She turns her head and says, “Yes, I was just looking for a nut that rolled underneath my desk.”
Then Manny comes in saying he has sad news. His sister’s boyfriend stabbed her six times and killed her seven-year-old son. She survived with minor wounds and the other seven children escaped unharmed. This horror story may be unimaginable to us but for my parolee population, it is part of everyday life. I encouraged Manny to find others he could talk to in the community.
Before the day was over Joe told us how he worked at a local dairy farm during the day while still in prison. He explained in detail how he inseminated the cows and delivered calves. He told us how dairies operate around the clock. His favorite part of the job was taking care of the calves, setting up their formula and watching them grow.
My students give me so much to think about. I often think — what do I teach them? I aspire to teach the value of an open mind and heart. I hope I teach them that education is a way out of poverty, drugs and violence.
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