From the Secret Files of Kelly Tellis-Warren

Goodbye Oxford

2009-07-20T09:37:00.000-07:00

This summer has definitely been an eye-opening experience. I learned so much about the history of Mississippi and the United States while also learning more about the Mississippi Teacher Corp and education, poverty, and race in the state. But the best part of this summer, by far, was getting to know so many great people all of whom are providing a great service to Mississippi. This summer would not have been the same without the many people that I grew to love over such a short period of time and I'm really grateful for the friendships I've made here.

At this point I'd like to copy Shanika and give a shout out to some of the people who made this summer what it was. If i forget you, or you weren't mentioned, no worries, I love you nonetheless!

Second-Years

Patrick aka P-money: You're pretty much my favorite person ever!
Abe aka Coach: Racial reconciliation is a must!
Tomas: Mmm sweatshops. We should've been friends at Amherst.
Parks: Thanks for just being yourself and having fun with us all summer.
Justin Sealand: Thanks for trying to teach me sports that black people don't really play.
Basile: One word: MAGNANIMOUS
Mike Warner: Thanks for seeing us through the tornado...although we did lose you for a sec.
Kopanke: I really like Canada now!
Ryan: Stay cool, man.

First-years

The Amherst Crew (Dan, Sara, Conor, Annah, Carson, Justin): You all rock my socks!
Stacy Filoco: You're pretty much the flyest thing I've ever seen.
Jeral Self: Best co-social chair MTC has ever seen.
Christine Breaux: I like your lingerie.
Thomas: I both fear and admire your ultimate frisbee abilities.
Junior: You're one of the nicest people ever.
Trevor: You're one of the funniest people ever.
Jillian: Have fun in Vegas, girl!

And to the dozen or so engaged couples: Best of luck!

Some other notables include...

The INCREDIBLE Sweeney family: summer school was one of the highlights of my experience here because of all of you.

Buck Cooper and family: Thanks for helping us out with out projects!

And a special shout out to Mullins, McConnell, and Ms. Carol!

And last but not least...James Benjamin Guest VII: It's been a wacky summer and I know we all made fun of you a lot. Let's face it, you asked for it. But it was all out of love. And even though you're one of the most annoying bosses ever, you're still a pretty cool person and I'm almost glad I met you.

Oxford, this is Kelly. I'm signing off.

Ben's Angels aka the Fab 4 aka "The Interns"

2009-07-17T08:20:00.000-07:00

As my summer winds down, I thought I'd take some time to talk about my 3 fellow interns and some qualities that I admire in each of them. Actually...Ben's making us blog about this because he's corny. lol. But I'll do it anyway because i guess I love them and what not...

Asia aka ROOMIE!: Despite the fact that she's the youngest intern EVER (lol), Asia is definitely the mother of the interns. Whenever you need someone to kill one of the larger bugs in your room or give you a disapproving look Asia is always there. I've really enjoyed having her as a roommate and getting to know her better this summer, even if she does give me backwards glances sometimes for generally being a weird person. And whenever you need someone to say what's on everyone's mind, but they refuse to say, Asia is right there to say it. Asia keeps it real, and that's one of the many things i love about her.

Tahina: Although we've had some disputes this summer one thing that I've always really admire about Tahina is her passion. No matter what she's doing, whether it's working on her project or talking about Haiti and her future goals, Tahina always puts a hundred percent of her efforts and emotions into her endeavors. Although this quality caused some conflict at times, l I think its one of her best qualities and one that makes her who she is. I admire her ability to throw herself into a project without hesitancy and to give it her all without fear. Overall, she's a pretty cool chick.

Shanika: Shanika is definitely the jokester of the bunch. Whenever you need a good laugh count on Shanika to make light of both serious and silly occurrences in the intern world. Shanika and I probably have the most similar sense of humors, so it's been really great having her around this summer to make fun of all the ridiculousness that occurs in Mississippi and the in the life of an MTC intern. Not unlike Asia, her humor is often really blunt, which only adds to her comedic timing. Definitely glad she was along for the ride this summer.

But I can't leave without saying some words about myself...

Kelly: Kelly is definitely the prettiest of all the interns. If I could tell her anything it would be how much I ...SIKE. Ha. That was a joke. This post isn't about me. It's about the 3 lovely ladies that I've worked with all summer long and who I've grown to love and appreciate. I am so glad I've gotten to know them all better before my last year at Amherst, and I look forward to spending time with all of them in the fall

Intern Love
-Kelly

#1?

2009-07-10T15:57:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday, Dr. Boyd came to talk to us about education, poverty and race in Mississippi. One of the most interesting things that Dr. Boyd showed was the list of statistics comparing median household income, % poverty and NAEP reading scores by state. Not surprisingly, Mississippi ranked last or second to last for every category, but I was also interested in where my own homestate (Massachusetts) ranked on the list. I was surprised to find that Massachusetts was #1 for both the NAEP Scale Score and for NAEP Proficient and Advanced Scores. These results weren't completely shocking, but they were deceptive in that they failed to show the educational disparities which do exist in Massachusetts. As someone who actually lives in the city of Boston, I can safely say that Boston Public standards are not always up to par (they only made a hit TV show cleverly named Boston Public which details the grittiness of Boston public education). The stats may accurately depict the statewide scoring, but the difference between what kids learn in Boston Public Schools and Belmont or Wellesley Public is as clear as night and day. From what I've learned here in MS, I have now doubt that Boston public is still miles ahead of public schools in Mississippi and other parts of the nation where education is a serious problem; nonetheless, the disparities that exist in MS in terms of education are the same ones that exist in Boston. Although Massachusetts is predominately white, many parts of Boston are predominately black and minority communities, not surprisingly many of these areas are also low-income areas. The intersection of poverty, race and education which is paramount throughout Mississippi is also apparent in these ares of Boston where black students experience the lowest quality of education in the state.

Overall Dr. Boyd's statistics and presentation on race, education, and poverty in Mississippi taught me something which many of our speakers have conveyed this summer, which is that the problems in Mississippi are problems people face everywhere. Even though Massachusetts ranks #7 for median household income and #10 for %poverty compared to Mississippi's #50 ranking for both categories, it's clear that race, poverty, and education interact similarly throughout the nation.

2-1 !

2009-07-08T11:32:00.000-07:00

At 11:50 PM On Tuesday, July 7 I was sitting in Two Stick Trivia, awaiting my 21st birthday. If I had been in my hometown of Boston, I would've been "legal" for 50 minutes already, able to buy my own drinks from Midnight until the 2 or 3 am close of most bars in Boston; but in Oxford, things are different. For one, bars rarely stay open after 12 AM on weekdays, let alone sell drinks. They also don't card, so the thrill of buying my own drink was surpassed by the fact that I had bought my own in drinks in the bar the previous week as well. So, you might ask, what made last night special?

Well I'll tell you. As I sat in the bar, answering random facts and watching my birthday cake shot (which I had to take at 11:50 PM because not only do they stop serving after midnight but they also clear all drinks by 12) I realized that this birthday was special for a number of reasons. And not just because I can now freely enter any drinking establishment of my choice anywhere in the world. Although I had dreaded the idea of having my 21st birthday in Mississippi of all places, I realized that my experience here has overall been a pretty good one, and I appreciate a lot of the people I've met here so far. When I turned 21, everyone around me, with the exception of my best friend Ameerah C. Phillips, was someone whom I met within the last 6 weeks. Many of them I had just met that night, or within the last several days. Despite this fact I was surrounded by people who had become fast friends, and were thoroughly invested in making sure that I had the best time possible on my birthday. They even brought cupcakes into the bar!
At summer school on the morning of my birthday Principal Joe Sweeney made me cupcakes Vice Principal Connor Sweeney gave me a crown. One of the highlights of my new found adulthood was sitting in summer school with a burger king crown on my head, surrounded by a puzzle of the USA reading and coloring with a 3 year old boy. Sounds kinda crazy/lame but I had fun, which is exactly what birthdays are all about.

Later that night, I had a more traditional 21st birthday celebration complete with bar hopping, bean bag tossing, vampire-themed dance parties and late night fountain trips. I had a great birthday, mostly because of the great people that I've met here in Mississippi, and I'm happy to have spent my birthday here surrounded by some of the coolest people I've met in my 21 years of life.

Successes and Failures of Coach Schewel

2009-07-01T13:41:00.000-07:00

Abe's blog about his successes and failures during his first year teaching offered the good and bad of teaching in Mississippi. In his blog about failure during the year, Abe talked about Odis, a student who he thought he could have done more for. Abe described Odis as a student whose appetite for learning dwindled as the year progressed. When Abe first met Odis during his fall semester Odis had a confrontation with another student, which caused Abe to intervene; however, Abe's handling of the situation earned Odis' trust, and he worked hard in the class from that point forward. But 4 weeks into the semester Odis learned that he had been in the wrong class and transferred out of Abe's class to attend the correct class. In the spring, Odis returned to Abe's class but his attitude towards learning was not the same. Sometime between Abe's encounters with him in the fall and the beginning of spring semester, Odis had given up on succeeding in school. Although Abe still tried to reach out to him, offering him extra help after school and rides home, Odis never took up Abe's offer and eventually stopped going to school. In the end, Abe described Odis' "spirit and attitude" towards school as "broken".

Although Abe described his relationship with Odis as a failure, I'm not sure how he could've done more for him. Odis' story is unfortunate and disheartening, but it seems like Abe took the time to figure out what was happening in his life and attempt to get him back on the right track. Maybe Abe felt like he could've done more, but overall one person can only do so much (especially when they have a hundred other students) and the bad circumstances in Odis' life undoubtedly outweighed any good that Abe tried to do. Ben has discussed with us on numerous occasion the heartache that a teacher feels when they see a student with potential who succumbs to the (excuse my french, but...) fucked up conditions that they have to deal with outside of school. I think Abe's "failure" story, is simply another one of the difficulties faced by Teacher Corps teachers during their 2-year experience. Overall, I don't really see this story as a failure. Not because everyone goes through it, but because I really do feel like Abe tried to do what was right for the student. Sometimes its just not enough.

In other news...

Abe's success blog, showed how good classroom management can result in a better classroom experience for the teachers and students. Abe said that his classroom management skills improved greatly between first and second semesters, thus leading to a more effective teaching style during his second semester. Abe found that being more strict from the beginning of the semester, establishing a routine to his classroom, and having well thought-out lesson plans helped him teach more effectively while also giving him more free time and allowing the students to learn more. One of the things that he found helpful during his second semester was having a set structure for the beginning of class which every student knew that they had to adhere to everyday. the more structured classroom setting led to, in Abe's words, "a more peaceful learning environment" second semester. In addition, many of Abe's students reported that his class was the one they had learned the most in all year.

I think Abe's success story points out the importance of having a highly structured classroom. Although, I've previously condemned the imposition of obedience within schools, I think Abe's success story points out the ways in which order is a necessary part of learning especially for kids in Mississippi. Structure, when not oppressive, is calming and allows students to feel safe or at least in control of their own actions in the classroom,. I think this structure becomes even more important in Mississippi where many of the kids are "high-risk" or come from relatively chaotic neighborhoods and homes. If school is just as chaotic as home life than kids aren't going to be willing or able to learn. But by making school a safe, structured space, Abe was able to have a good second semester and become a better teacher. One year down, one (or more) to go.

Jerry Mitchell

2009-06-30T07:04:00.000-07:00

During our trip to Jackson we visited Jerry Mitchell, a reporter for the Clarion Ledger. One of the first things that we learned about Jerry Mitchell was that he is a master at Wii tennis. This fact alone would have made me like Mr. Mitchell, but when he started talking about his work as a reporter my liking for him grew exponentially. Mr. Mitchell talked to us about the work he did reopening the Medgar Evers murder trial and his experience interviewing the man who was eventually convicted of the murder. It was amazing listening to the things that he's experienced while investigating cases like this one, including death threats and hate mail which he often receives from racists who condemn his work. When Mitchell talked about his conversation with Beckwith (Evers' killer) in Beckwith's own home it made me think about the failures of the justice system today and in the past and how little has changed. Mr. Mitchell said that when he talked to Beckwith, Beckwith wasn't even frightened by the idea of going to jail for Evers' murder. He had no doubt that he would remain free, and thus his interview with Mitchell seemed inconsequential.

Although Mr. Mitchell's investigation did eventually end up landing Beckwith in jail, the fact remains that Beckwith's security in his own safety came from the inequalities which he knew existed in the our legal system. He had been acquitted once, and he believed that he would be again, because in his mind little had changed in the world. He still held the same views as he had 40 years before and the same injustices that existed then and still existed today and would continue to work in his favor. Although Beckwith was wrong when it came to his own trial, I think his sense of security was not completely unfounded. Talking to Tucker Carrington about the Innocence Project and also Father Lincoln Dall during our trip to Jackson, we have learned more about the systemic injustices which still work against poor people and minorities. The same disregard present in the first investigation of Evers' murder is still present in the cases of hundreds of "criminals" who have overworked lawyers or have been awaiting trial for years
behind bars. Truth is, there's still a general lack of concern when it comes to legal matters involving minorities and poor people. Even in the Evers case the change in Evers' status overtime has meaning. At the time of his death, Medgars Evers was just another civil rights worker who was murdered. It wasn't until years later, after his death, that he became a national leader( not just a black leader). His prestige at the time of the second investigation of his murder had to have influenced the decision to reopen the case and eventually re-try Beckwith. But what about the people who aren't famous and whose cases have yet to be properly investigated?

My point is that the legal system in our country is highly biased still today. We may not have as many sheriffs pocketing information or as much intimidation of witnesses as there was in the 50s, but we still have a les affaires attitude when it comes to matters involving certain communities in the nation. The fact that Jerry Mitchell, a reporter (not a lawyer) is responsible for the re-opening of Evers' case speaks volumes of the "justice" system today. I guess this is just a reiteration of the flaws in the system.

ENFJ

2009-06-24T18:11:00.000-07:00

"ENFJs are the benevolent 'pedagogues' of humanity. They have tremendous charisma by which many are drawn into their nurturant tutelage and/or grand schemes."

Yes. People are naturally drawn to me...I didn't need a personality test to tell me that. LOL. Just kidding. But really this test was pretty accurate. It said that ENFJ's are organized and able to handle multiple tasks at once. It also said that we are sensitive and often put others before ourselves sometimes at detriment to ourselves. I think that these are all qualities that I possess. Sometimes, I get so caught up in helping others that I forget to do what's right for me and I see this as both a positive attribute and something that I need to work on in my life in order to find a healthy balance.

My personality test also said that I should be teacher. I personally think that Ben rigged this because I know that it's his goal to have us all apply for MTC. (I'm kind of joking but not really). But I'm not so sure I can be a teacher at this point in my life. Ben says he thinks I should be an elementary school teacher, and I think that If I do teach at some point in my life that's definitely the grade level that I would do best at. I guess we'll see what the future holds.

My favorite famous ENFJ's:

Barack Obama
David, King of Israel

Greenwood, MS

2009-06-24T17:10:00.000-07:00

I just wrote a serious essay as a comment on Asia's blog ( I had to post in two parts because I was over the 5,000 character limit) so I'm gonna make this one short and sweet.

This weekend we went to visit Greenwood and Money, MS. One of the most eye-opening things about our trip to Greenwood was the stark contrast between the "black-side" of the tracks and the "white-side" of the tracks. I've never seen such a blatant contrast in living conditions in such close proximity; and with such a clear delineation--the train tracks. Driving through the Black part of Greenwood we saw small one-floor houses, many in poor conditions and various dilapidated buildings and parks. Some of the houses were boarded up, although you could tell people still lived there. And the parks consisted of a couple of swings and a rusty basketball hoop. Most people had overgrown yards with more weeds than grass and there didn't seem to be much "playing" outside, but rather people simply gathered on porches or sidewalks talking.

The minute we drove over the tracks to the White side it was like entering an alternate universe. Multi-level houses with expansive front (and most likely back) yards greeted us on either side of the road. The lawns were perfectly manicured, adorned with various flowers and vegetation and in some houses a hammock or swing hung from a million-dollar tree. The houses were in PERFECT condition, not a missing shingle and I almost felt like I had stepped into a modern Pleasantville. Unlike on the black-side of the tracks, there weren't that many people outside in this part of Greenwood. Perhaps, because they were escaping the 100 degree weather in favor of the central air conditioning in their homes.

This was Greenwood in 2009. With the same blatant segregation its had for the last century. Growing up in Boston, I've seen segregated communities, but I've never seen a place which was entirely black or white and where there was no middle ground for living conditions. A theme of my blogs has been the presence of tradition throughout MS, and our trip to Greenwood was yet another example of how tradition lingers and manifests within the state.

9:35 AM (First- years' First Day)

2009-06-17T11:17:00.000-07:00

Fear and anticipation consume them
What is a teacher?
Why are they here?
They hang on the words of the one who decided their fate
hoping for relief
calm
assurance
they are met with empty, hollow sounds
Questions? They have many
but there are no answers to the riddles in their minds
What is a teacher?
Why are they here?
The day begins

I wrote this poem a couple of weeks back during the First- years' first day. I guess it's about what I pictured going through their heads when they started the first day of the rest of their lives. The "empty, hollow sounds" part was in reference to Ben's long-winded, repetitive speeches. lol.

Is that a Hurricane or a Tornado??

2009-06-17T09:34:00.000-07:00

So last Friday I survived my first Mississippi tornado. it started off as a quiet afternoon. Three of us we hanging out with Mike Warner i our common room about to go to volleyball when all of a sudden we hear a piercing noise throughout campus. We sat there, curious and a little scared for about 10 minutes as the sirens continued to sound...then we looked outside.

The sky looked it does in a film when they create a fake storm with special effects or when they show the passing of time by showing the clouds moving through the sky really fast as if days have passed. The only differences were that this was real-life and I thought that the apocalypse was about to happen. But, being the savvy Amherst student that I am, I went straight to the door which had emergency guidelines on it. Now in Boston, we have hurricanes, so that's what I initially thought the storm was; however, when I took out the emergency guide and did not see hurricane but instead saw TORNADO...i knew what was up.

I've lived through one other tornado before. Last year in Chicago my friend and I were driving when a Tornado touched down in the Chicago area. That experience was somewhat scarier then this one. I mean, when you see waves of water sloshing against your car and then realize that your friend is no longer driving but the car is actually floating down the road, you get a little scared to say the least. Especially when you're crossing a bridge and you can't dial out on your cellphone to say goodbye to your mother. That was scary.

This tornado was scary too, but i had the comfort of being inside my apartment with a bunch of people to pass the time. The only disconcerting thing was that no one seemed as concerned as I did with the fact that a tornado was upon us. As I rushed around the apartment turning off lights, closing doors, and instructing people to sit in the hallway, everyone just kinda laughed at me and said i was over reacting. Mike wanted to go out and get pizza! In my opinion, better safe than sorry, but Mike wanted to go out and get a pizza! Anyway, everything turned out fine...except for Mike's car which had a tree fall on it. There was also an emotional tornado which occurred at the same time, but no need to go there. I'll just say that in the end, I survived more than one storm that day...

Letters from Mississippi/ Reflections on Mississippi Today

2009-06-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

In "At Home in a Black World" participants in the 1964 Freedom summer describe their experiences living and interacting with the black populations in Mississippi. One of the most interesting excerpts was one which detailed the barrier which he felt existed between himself and the black people he was there to help. While many of the letters express relief and comradery with the black community in Mississippi, this letter written by a man working in Batesville expresses his inability to get close to black people because of the racial divide. In his letter he says,

"Sometimes you feel you've crossed the color line when a woman tells us about her fears and how she lies to the white folks but secretly hates them. She has probably never talked lie this to a white man before; for a moment you believe you're turning black. Yet there are still long silences and the incomprehensible phrases. Women still call me Mr. Geoff instead of Geoff, and old men offer their chairs. That doesn't disappear when they start to talk about their fear. And neither does your secret belief--which the old men and women encourage--that you are, after all, superior." (67)

This quote stood out to me because it somewhat captures what I believe is still the problem with racism in the South today: tradition. As Geoff said in is letter, even black people reinforced the tradition of racism and white superiority in Mississippi. Still today, it is evident, even on Ole Miss campus, that the legacy of racism and slavery still exist here. All of the maintenance and cleaning staff at Ole Miss are black, while the majority of higher-up positions are held by white people. I think that tradition is so hard to escape in the South specifically because so many people here are directly tied to the land and the tradition. Unlike in northern and western regions of the U.S. where immigration has in someways disrupted tradition, the South and southern people are still grounded in tradition. Some of the traditions like the food and pride in one's town or state aren't bad, but they're inextricably tied to racist tradition. I think Southerners struggle to erase racism without erasing what makes them Southern.

Dinner and Some Good Conversation...

2009-06-14T15:57:00.000-07:00

This week was really fun. On Thursday we (the interns) made dinner for the whole MTC crew and a lot of people showed up. The menu included BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, plantains, pasta salad, rolls and an assortment of Tropicana drinks (they were on sale at Krogers!). I was super nervous because I don't really cook, but I was pleasantly surprised at how many people complimented us on the food, especially the chicken made by yours truly and my lovely roommate Asia-Sierra Tanisha Millette. Overall it was a really fun night: good people, good food...what else could I ask for?

Another thing that stood out to me this week happened on the bus ride back from school on Friday. I was sitting next to Parks and Christina having a random conversation which somehow turned to the subject of using the term black or African-American to identify people and later grew into a greater discussion of systematic racism. Parks asked me how I feel about the term African-American, and I told him that I though it was an incorrect term considering the lack of African culture and influence in the lives of black Americans. I also disagree with the term because it perpetuates the idea of an "other" different from white Americans, when in fact black Americans have been here for just as long, and are just as American as whites, who are never referred to as European-Americans. Parks then agreed with me and further explained why he thought that any hyphenated categorization was racist in America.

Parks' response to my views was surprising; not because he agreed with me, but because he explained racism in a way that actually felt experiential, despite the fact that he's white. Something that I've noticed about white people in the north is that even if they recognize something as racist, its hard for them to actually relate to it, because racism is so subtle up north. Their views on racism seem more theoretical than experiential. Parks on the other hand, having grown up in the South, seemed to actually have experienced racism because of the fact that its so tangible here. I appreciated Parks' perspective because I felt like he had true conviction about what he was saying, a conviction that only comes by experiencing or witnessing racism and truly seeing how it effects people. Talking with him helped me realize that in an effort to combat racism nationwide, white southerners are the biggest allies, because they see racism everyday, unlike whites in the North who have en easier time ignoring racism.

The more time I spend here, the more I realize that stereotypes of Southerners are sometimes true but mostly just convenient. Yes, they like their guns. But they also have thoughts and views which may differ from Northerners in a good way, and their affinity for hunting shouldn't outweigh the importance of Southern perspectives. I might also add that I shot a gun for the first time yesterday, and it was actually pretty fun. I think everyone should do it at least once, just to see how it feels. At first I had my reservations about Southern culture, but I'm liking it more and more everyday, gaining an appreciation for the people and customs that exist here and really letting the South sink in.

My experiences in Mississippi so far...

2009-06-14T14:31:00.000-07:00

So far I'm still having a blast in Mississippi. Last week I worked at the school and it was pretty cool to see the first-years experiencing their first few days as teachers. Although I could do without the 5:45 AM wake-up times, working at the school was fun. Principle Joe Sweeney is the man. Possibly the most chill person ever and he still gets things done. He's actually really funny too, so it was great getting to work with him. It was interesting for me to work in a public school since I've been in private schools all my life. The class structure of the school and the way that the students are treated is so different from what i experience growing up. For instance, when I was at the school one of the things that was stressed to the students and the new teachers was that discipline and authority were huge components of maintaining a working classroom. The kids were told to be quiet and walk in straight lines to and from their classroom. They were also escorted to and from class and lunch, and in-between class periods teachers monitored the halls. Maybe this is common in most public schools, but it was really surprising to me how little freedom the students had within school. When I was in middle school and high school we were pretty much allowed to do whatever we wanted outside of the classroom as long as we weren't making too much noise in the hallways, and teachers never escorted us anywhere or monitored the halls. I don't think that its necessarily bad that the students don't have much freedom in school, but I think its interesting that this is not the case (at least in my experience) in predominately white private schools. I wouldn't go as far as to say that the discipline I observed at schools perpetuates negative stereotypes of black youth; but I think the fact that rich white students are put in institutions where they are allowed to do pretty much whatever they want whereas poor black students are not is reflective of society's view of these two communities. In general, in life, rich white people can do whatever they want, they have opportunities that other groups do not. Black students on the other hand, especially poor blacks, are expected to grow up and work within a national system which works against them, without ever questioning the system or their place in it; they're expected to behave. Ken talked about obedience when he came to talk to us, and I saw exactly what he was talking about when i was at the school last week.

I don't really know if there's a solution to what I see as a flaw in the educational and social structure of the nation. It's one of those things that you see and you just say "Damn" and shake your head and move on to doing something else, because its a moment when you realize how big so many of the issues in this country really are, and how they effect people daily and shape the way that children grow up and what they think and feel about themselves and others. I guess its juts something else to keep in mind in case I ever want to save the world some day...

John T. Edge

2009-06-07T20:52:00.000-07:00

Ever since we came to Mississippi all we've been doing is eating, so when John T. Edge came to talk to us about food it was only slightly unexpected. John talked about the importance of food in the South and the way that one can trace Southern culture by following the practices of chefs and cooks throughout the south. I thought that John's profiles of various types of cooks in the South and the history of how they make their specialties and where it came from was a really interesting approach to exploring the history of the South. John's talk also confronted some of the stereotypes of Southern food and Southern people by showing the precision and skill that goes into creating Southern dishes. When he described the innovative practices at one Southern restaurant which included using wood from trees that had fallen due to storms and using cardboard as floor mats in the restaurant we saw how much care people put into their food in the South and how they make do with what they have. Having experienced lost of Southern food during my time here, it's become clear to me that food really is a way of life here. Not only does food have great historical significance and meaning in the South but the types of foods that are served in the South, large dishes made to feed multiple people, also bring people together here. I think that John's study of Southern food is overall really interesting and really pertinent to the South.

Dr. McConnell

2009-06-07T20:01:00.000-07:00

Dr. McConnell talked us about his experiences growing up in the Delta. I thought it was really great to get a first-hand perspective of what it was like growing up in extreme poverty but still growing up to be successful and eventually breaking the cycle of poverty that exists in the Delta. One of the most interesting things about Dr. McConnell's talk was his explanation of why he was able to get out of poverty. Many of the speakers we've had have discussed the downside that comes with having a single-parent family in the Delta and the manner in which the educational level of one's family members often indicate the level of education an individual in the family will reach.

Although Dr. McConnell grew up in a single-parent home and his mom never went to college he was able to overcome the stereotypes of the Delta by having a wide family support system and because his mother realized the value of education. Dr. McConnell discussed the 3 women in his life who helped make him the man he is today, namely his mother, and his two grandmothers: Madea (maternal) and Big Momma (paternal). One of the most interesting things about the influence that Big Momma had on Dr. McConnell's life was the fact that she remained in his life despite the fact that his father was not around. Dr. McConnell noted that Big Momma never deserted his family in the same way that his father had because she knew that her son was at fault and she still wanted to be a part of his and his brother's lives. Dr. McConnell also described a wide network of aunts and uncles who often took care of him and his brother when his mom had to work. I think that Dr. McConnell's description of his family confounds the stereotype that the Delta is controlled by the presence of broken homes. Despite the fact that his mother was a single parent, Dr. McConnell's family was far from broken and the presence of a large loving family has been one of the keys to his success.

Another point that Dr. McConnell made was that although his mother never went farther than high school in her own education she was very cognizant of the importance of education and instilled this in her sons. He said that his mother told them that after high school they had to do something, either go to college or join the military, and she wouldn't except grades lower than B's. In this sense, the boys were never allowed to be complacent with their education and always saw the purpose of their education as a stepping stone to something else.

I think Dr. McConnell's success story challenges stories of people who grow up in the Delta. In many ways the conditions that Dr. McConnell grew up under are very similar to many in the Delta, but he was able to overcome this by having a strong family network and a mother who cared about her sons' education.

Ken Estling

2009-06-03T19:41:00.000-07:00

Ken’s discussion of obedience in schools was both enlightening and controversial. I really appreciated Ken’s point about public school education, especially in high-risk areas being focused more on obedience than true education. There is no doubt that the flaws in the educational system are inextricably linked to the rise of the prison system; and I thought his point about following orders and teaching students to listen to rather than question what is happening around them is very similar to the way prisoners are treated.

However, despite the fact that obedience is often a negative aspect in many schools, Ken also pointed out that it is necessary in order to maintain order in the classroom. I have a trouble reconciling myself with the idea of something that is harmful yet necessary. I understood Ken’s point about needing to have control over the classroom in order to create a safe environment for the students, but in my opinion the classroom should be more than just a safe place, and if someone lacks the ability to think for themselves or question their surroundings, how safe are they? I think that one of the biggest challenges of all school systems is to create a safe environment for students while also allowing students to express themselves and say what’s on their mind. Within failing school systems this is an even larger issue for the simple fact that physical safety for students is often a large concern. When children come from places of extreme poverty and deal with the consequences of poverty in a regular basis at home, schools have to be a place where the students feel comfortable going. However, I don’t think that making them obedient is necessarily making them safer. For a lot of these kids a large issue is the fact that they can’t express their experiences and trauma in a meaningful manner, and further constraining them mentally by telling them to listen and read and not giving them room to question only increases their trauma, and increases the chances that they will never stand up for themselves or feel that they have a place in their own community. I don’t think that Ken would disagree with this point, but I disagreed with him when he said that sometimes obedience is the only way to accomplish anything in a classroom.

In my opinion free-thinking is the only way to accomplish anything in a classroom, whether it is in a prestigious private school in Jackson or a Level 1 public school in the Delta. Clearly, a struggling school will have more difficulty attaining free-thinking in a classroom especially when students are not an a comprehension level which will allow them to ask questions, but in my opinion free-thinking should always be the goal.

Mr. Winkle

2009-06-03T18:50:00.000-07:00

Mr. Winkle gave us a great history of Brown vs. Board and the process of desegregation in Mississippi. One of the things that i found interesting about the Brown vs. Board decisions was the certainty and uncertainty of various aspects of the ruling. For instance, although the supreme court judges were adamant about having a unanimous decision to outlaw segregation, they failed to establish any timeline under which desegregation was enacted. This failure, resulted in the continuance of segregated schools for another 14 years in Mississippi. The fact that the supreme court was adamant about ruling in favor of desegregation yet extremely lenient in following through shows a stark contradiction on the part of the Supreme court justices.

Another interesting topic was the manner in which southern states responded to Brown vs. Board. The fact that Mississippi went as far as to eliminate compulsory attendance in public schools for a period of time shows the strong racism that was present in the state. This institutional racism is still one of the largest issues in Mississippi as shown by the differences in education provided for blacks and whites. Although no longer legally segregated, de facto segregation still causes educational disparities between blacks and whites which aren't very different from those suffered during legal segregation. Although Mississippi has come a long way since the Brown vs. Board years, speakers like Mr. Barksdale and Dr. Mullins have shown that change is slow to come.

Brown vs. Board was a moumental case in the history of the United States, but it was not a miracle decision. The problems that came with segregation still linger in Mississippi 45 years later, and a vast amount of change needs to occur before there is true educational equality in Mississippi and across the nation.

Claiborne Barksdale

2009-06-03T17:49:00.000-07:00

When Mr. Barksdale came to talk to us about literacy in Mississippi on Monday I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from him. From previous talks with speakers and MTC second-years I knew that a great portion of the children in Mississippi were illiterate, and that illiteracy was a major deterrent of progress in the classroom at the high school level. Thus, I was curious as to what Mr. Barksdale would add to our previous knowledge of literacy in the state. I was pleasantly surprised to learn about the Reading Institute and the strides that they're making to improve literacy early on. Mr. Barksdale informed us that if a child is not at the correct reading level by 3rd grade their chances of reaching the correct reading level for their grade decreases exponentially as they get older. A child who is not reading at his grade level by 4th grade has an 85% chance of never catching up. The statistics grow even more troublesome as you increase in school year. Statistics like this make me appreciate the Reading Institute's efforts to correct literacy early on so that kids can not only perform more successfully in schools but also don't succumb to the psychological effects of illiteracy.

One thing that Mr. Barksdale told us was that the reason so many kids are struggling with literacy early on is because Mississippi is one of the few states which has yet to adopt a government-run daycare system. The lack of proper daycare facilities which encourage educational activities and early learning rather than simple babysitting is a major flaw with education in Mississippi. The failure to provide great daycare to poorest residents of Mississippi seems like a continuation of the practices used during sharecropping periods in the state, and is yet another way in which the caste system that was developed in Mississippi years ago continues to exist.

One of the things that troubled me about what Mr. Barksdale said was that by the time kids are in high school, its basically too late to improve their reading. This troubles me, because it makes me question the effectiveness of Teacher Corps teachers in the classroom. If a large portion of students are reading at a 4th grade reading level when their in high school is it too late for teachers to make a difference at that point? How can they truly educate students who can barely read their textbooks? I still think that Teacher Corps fills a major gap in the educational crisis in Mississippi but Mr.Barksdale's talk pointed out the fact that no teacher is a savior and that progress is difficult. Overall, I really valued Mr. Barksdale's talk and really appreciate his efforts to improve early education so that by the time students reach Teacher Corps teachers, those people have the best opportunity to educate students and really make a difference.

Civil Rights Museum

2009-06-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

I thought that our visit to the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN was a really powerful experience. The museum itself had an almost overwhelming amount of information about the Civil Rights Museum and its leaders, but it also had really interesting ways of presenting all of the information as well. One of the things that I found most compelling was the video of the sit-ins. It was so moving to see people sit at those counters peacefully and endure the jeers and heckling of whites without ever responding to the comments and sometimes physical abuse which people used against them. Though I feel that I would have been tempted to fight back against the angry mobs of whites that attacked the protesters, the fact that they never did showed their commitment to the movement and their faith in Dr. King.

Similarly, I was really moved by the information on student involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. I saw one article which showed hundreds of black students asking for withdrawal forms from their University as a form of Civil Rights protest. This was especially interesting to me because as a young black student today I question whether I would jeopardize my education for any cause. As head of the Black Student Union at Amherst I was often told by professors at the school that the BSU should be more active and should protest things at the school just as previous BSU's had done in the 70s. To me, the lack of activism amongst students today is reflective of the changes that have been made in our society, and thus show progress. However, I do also think that there is a level of complacency among black students today who are hesitant to deal with everyday issues of inclusion on their college campuses. I think one of the reasons for this complacency is that unlike the students acting during the Civil Rights Movement, students today lack a nation-wide movement to confront the problems currently facing black America.

Reggie Barnes

2009-05-31T23:26:00.001-07:00

Mr. Barnes' discussion of education in the Delta and desegregation during the Civil Rights Movement easily could have been divided into multiple lecture series. One of the things that I found most interesting about Mr. Barnes' talk was the effect that poverty has on one's education. I've always known that the quality of public education is largely dependent on the economy of the society in which a school is located. However it was also really interesting to hear Mr. Barnes' real life stories about the effects that poverty has on a child's ability to perform in school. I thought that Mr. Barnes' discussion of the manner in which society in the Delta has become "backward" as a result of poverty was extremely informative. Mr. Barnes said that in the Delta sex has become a means of recreation because of the lack of public facilities and structured activities for kids. In this way, Mr. Barnes brought attention to the relationship between poverty and destructive social behavior such as promiscuous and often unprotected sex. The saddest thing about Mr. Barnes' stories was the pattern of cyclic behavior embedded in them and the extent to which all of Delta society has been corrupted by property, even authority figures such as teachers and coaches. Mr. Barnes' discussion of the underlying effects of poverty on education and the behavior of students within and outside of school reminded me of Tucker's discussion about education for lawyers. In the same way that all lawyers should be aware of the patterns of crime as a result of poverty along with the injustices of the legal system. Teachers should also be aware of the side effects of poverty and the injustices within the educational system. Mr. Barnes' knowledge of the Delta area and the extreme poverty in his school district is what allowed him to be successful as a superintendent and teachers need the same insight in order to properly educate their students.

Another point that I took from Mr. Barnes' talk was the effect that racism and desegregation had on him when he was in high school. I found it interesting that someone from a relatively well-off family with pretty good grades could turn into a bully because of the conditions which he was forced to endure. Mr. Barnes' experience in high school demonstrates the flaws in desegregation which includes the inability of school's to properly deal with and stop the racism whites had towards blacks entering formally all-white schools. It also shows how racism and hatred can turn even the most promising students into "high-risk" students along with demonstrating the stress that inequality puts on students. Now in the Delta, poverty has replaced racism, putting seemingly insurmountable stress on the students there who can barely survive their home-life better yet complete school. Just as racism and hate overwhelmed Mr. Barnes for a period in his life, poverty overwhelms poor black children in the Delta and school becomes inconsequential to them, However, unlike Mr. Barnes, many of these children never escape the hold that poverty has on them.

Mr. Barnes' discussion definitely emphasized the fact that education is the only way to confront poverty and the destructive social behavior that is rampant in the Delta, but I also still wonder how effective any one school system can be amidst such widespread poverty and all of its effects. Education is key in the Delta, but so are economic relief, social work and counseling which are necessary to change the social conditions there and better the Delta itself rather than solely produce individuals who overcome but also outgrow and leave the place they once called home.

Tucker

2009-05-31T09:15:00.000-07:00

The minute Tucker started speaking you could tell that he was an opinionated but genuine person. The Mississippi Innocence Project is an organization which seeks fair trials for current prisoners who claim innocence and false conviction due to the unjust legal system in Mississippi. One of the things that I most enjoyed about Tuckers' talk was his discussion of the linkage between education and the legal system and the discourse surrounding criminals in this nation. I think that the manner in which criminals are discussed and discarded in this nation is one of the biggest problems in the country; and one that is inevitably tied to racism and classicism. I thought Tucker's discussion on the environment under which an investigation is conducted and how certain environments can prevent the truth from being found out was really interesting, especially how it relates to the way criminals are constructed by society. I think that the construction of criminals by the media and by the legal system is one of the many ways in which poor and minority communities are continually dismissed by both the government and the citizens of the nation. Tucker's point about education for lawyers and those involved in the legal system and making them aware of the systemic injustices which face all accused criminals provided a fresh prospective on education in this nation and social reform.

Mississipi so far...

2009-05-31T08:42:00.000-07:00

Before coming to Mississippi I admit that I was a little apprehensive about what this experience would entail. Coming from a relatively large city (Boston) I wasn't sure how I would adjust to rural life; and I also must admit that the history of racism in the South scared me a bit. But having experienced the people and culture here for a few days, I am pleasantly surprised by the warmth and welcoming of the people here. People are a lot friendlier in the South. Everyone seems genuinely interested in learning about one another and opening up to one another, a characteristic which is very different from the coldness people have towards one another in the South. In terms of experiencing racism here, I have yet to encounter it. Occasionally, we get some looks when Ben takes us somewhere and is followed by a trail of 4 young black girls, but overall people are still friendly. I guess when I came here I expected racism and the color divide to be the focus of the people in the Mississippi. I assumed that race and class differences would be so paramount that they would act as an everyday hindrance to progress, but instead I find that the history of racism in Mississippi and the transparency of its lingering effects on society is what pushes many, blacks and white, to work towards equality. People here aren't as complacent with racism as a I thought. In fact, I've experienced more blatant racism in Boston than in Oxford thus far; However, I still sometimes question how we (the interns) would be treated sometimes if we weren't with Ben and travelling in an Ole Miss van...

Despite the fact that many do seem genuinely concerned with the color and class divide in Mississippi, there are some areas in which these aspects of Mississippi culture are still very visible. For every restaurant that we've visited thus far, our group has consisted of some of the only, if not the only, black people there. Also, in some places, such as when we visited the Delta and Memphis, we also saw that most of the waiting staff was black, a stark contrast from the predominately white customers. I'm not sure if this is because of the quality of the places that we've gone (class divide) or the racial diversity of the places we've been (color divide) but I have noticed this as a big difference from restaurants in Boston. If I went to restaurant in Boston where all the customers were white and all the waiters were black I would probably leave, because to me this is a blatant sign of racism and inequality, but in the South, I realize, it may not be racism necessarily but maybe just tradition. Although, it's hard to distinguish sometimes because of the history of the South, I do think that these two hold different places and different roles in society. I guess the difference between tradition and racism in this case would be the difference between having all black staff members who are paid equally and having mostly black staff members and a few white staff members who get paid more.