FIRST DAY OF CLASSES

I have started my 39th year in the BISD. Hired at Brownsville High and realizing that I was the worst teacher at the school at the end of my second year, I started a three-year stint as a journalist. I worked at several newspapers, but I found myself reporting at the Brownsville Times in the summer of 1980. The publisher fired me in August and I needed a job. I found a job at Porter and I've been employed in the BISD since that date.

It has been a satisfying experience. I spent ten years at Porter, seven at Vela and now I'm commencing my 20th year at Rivera. At Brownsville I was the youngest teacher on campus. At Rivera I'm vying for one of the oldest, but I have much more enthusiasm for the job as a veteran than as a rookie. As a lone adult standing before 30 students every hour, you have to convince them that you can make a difference in their lives if they will only listen.

This year, as in the past several years, I have four senior classes of British Literature and two classes of ESL, the latter recent arrivals from south of the border, the vast majority from Matamoros with fascinating tales about a violent world. They know no English. The seniors are a motley collection of ex-ESL students, students who haven't passed their state tests, special ed students, middle-of-the-road scholars and a large number of athletes.

I talk to them about a variety of subjects in order to assure an orderly, disciplined and learning experience. I tell them that everyone is passing and that there will be no homework. Many of my colleagues give me a queer look when I explain to them my strategy; they conclude that I am lazy. I operate in this manner because I assume from my many years of experience that most students will not do homework and that I will have no support from home. Neither case is always true, but there is sufficient evidence to support my findings.

As a result of my own generosity to them, I have certain expectations. Initially, they must follow the rules. I am their boss at McDonald's and there will be zero toleration for anyone who doesn't do his job. There will be no electronics. This year I have bought two shoe holders. Upon entering the class, they will deposit their devices in the pockets. There will be no eating, drinking, sleeping or putting on cosmetics in class. During the year I will draw attention to incidents that incur my disgust.

For my own sanity: THERE MUST BE ORDER!!!

When I'm questioned about my no-homework/everyone-passing approach, I answer, "I play guitar. If I had an instructor who took 45 minutes each day for 180 days to improve my skills, I would be a much better musician by the beginning of June."

If my students pay attention during the same period of time, they will write, speak, pronounce and have a deeper appreciation for English and literature at the conclusion of the year. They might even pass their state tests and graduate.

During the year among the seniors we cover the entire 1300-page textbook from Beowulf to Shakespeare to contemporary writers and poets. Like I once did with my boys, the students read to me. They read some of the best literature that one could hope to hear.

As an individual who learned foreign languages based on grammar, I'm a staunch advocate of mastering grammar in order to improve writing. As to writing, I build on a series of steps that improves their ability to put pen to paper. I don't consider myself among the greats in my profession, but I create a positive environment and my charges respond.

We are required to issue five minor grades and three major grades. The minor grades are writing assignments, short in length in order to correct them during class, and the three major grades are subjective. If they participate and follow the rules, their marks will vary between 85 and 95.

Too many teachers commit the error of giving students 50 and below in order to spur them into action. It's a self-defeating tactic. Many students throw in the towel and the teachers in their bullying tactics don't realize the reason for the sudden discipline problems. Give a kid a 80 who deserves a 50 and you will have him in the palm of your hand for the rest of the year. It is a tactic that has seldom failed me.

Don't deduce that my time in the classes is a bed of roses although some days are nothing less than an amble through a field of flowers. Beginning with personality conflicts, stubborn attitudes and deficient skills, I face many challenges, but I have been successful in overcoming the obstacles that an average load of 160 students presents.

I don't mention my ESL students because I've been teaching them my entire career and they are a slam-dunk. I play the guitar to improve their pronunciation skills and impress the pedestrians passing my class into believing that something revolutionary is taking place with the music. I have my ESL classes at the beginning and the end of the day. If I'm not in the mood for teaching, I pull out the guitar and play to find my momentum for the seniors; if I arrive at the end of the day exhausted, I can once again pull out the guitar and cruise through the final period.

Thus day one of 180 days of instruction comes to an end. As a former coach I keep a close eye on the clock and the calendar. I use both to my advantage mentally. I make it through this period and it's lunch; I make it through Friday and it's the weekend; I make it through several weeks and it's Thanksgiving. The busier I keep the students, the faster time flies.

In all honesty I don't love my job, but I appreciate my job. Besides the energy one derives interacting with young people, I respond to the discipline of a schedule. I generally don't abuse myself the night before; I am invigorated by showering and shaving in the morning before I attire myself properly for my profession. I'm exposed to literature. Though the names are familiar, I'm not well acquainted with their works. Exposure to famous authors can only improve my writing. At the conclusion of 9th period, I am able to face the remainder of the day with the fulfillment of a small accomplishment.

Don't get me wrong: There are boring days when we spend the period reading. Just like if I were their boss at McDonald's, I tell them to suck it up. They are seniors and they need to have knowledge of the written word that transcends all written words. This is part of their academic education. But in the background there is jazz playing and if the students are dreaming, at least they are dreaming with eyes open.

I have no complaints about my previous 38 years. Many of my former colleagues have died and the vast majority have retired. I hope that I don't have any complaints at the end of my 39th. If I don't, I may do a 40th. As long as the district doesn't make me work, I'll keep working.