New Job

So it's been a busy week for me...after nearly two months of unemployment (resulting from our move to La Porte) I finally landed a job, and it's my dream one!!!!

I am the new 8th grade English and Social Studies teacher for School of the Dunes in Gary Indiana. The day of my first interview I drove into Gary off the Interstate and found an adult entertainment (bar, porn shop or "gentleman's" club) on every corner and thought to myself "What the hell am I doing?" But as I pulled into the school (not literally, every school in Gary is surrounded by a wall and sliding gate) the Spirit was totally different and I just felt really good about interviewing there.

The administration was immediately impressed with me and after three questions asked me to come back for the second part. Of all their applicants, they select the best two and have them teach a lesson to see how the kids respond. I was to be the first on Monday.

All weekend I prepared a lesson tying Monopoly, Darts and Halo 3 into the historical perspectives of the changing American culture. I stepped into the classroom and I could hear the kids mutter something about me being white, but I had planned accordingly and before I got midway through the classroom another kid stated "Holy S---- he's some kind of GI Joe M--------F-------" The kids were hooked and as I was leaving the principal looked at me and said "I won't waste the other guys time if you want the job!!!!"

I started Tuesday and things have been going wonderfully. Kids who are normally very confrontational and volatile have not given me a problem. The kids are about as under control as that of a more mainstream school...but that may have something to do with the fact that the slightest infraction of disrespect earns them a square on my floor that they will spend the last thirty minutes of MY workday scrubbing....

Yes, I am very excited about this, the Lord has prepared me all my life thru my trials and tribulations to teach and to reach kids, whether it be these or some in the future. Hopefully I can live up to that!!!