Ethnically Speaking by Larry Meeks

Dear Larry: I am a high school teacher, and I can picture perfectly the scene painted by the "Keep Me Anonymous" teacher who was trying to make a difference with out-of-control kids. I recognize those students.

Many times, what has happened is those kids experienced so many years of being behind, they have given up. This can happen early because the promote kids to the next grade, regardless of the student's level of achievement. If this policy is not changed, it will continue to happen.

Every kid in a class knows who the "dumb" kids are. It is not surprising that they act out and end up in a suspension room. I believe all is not lost. I accidentally made a discovery to reach some of these kids. I was playing the game Magic the Gathering, and many of these low-achieving, but otherwise intelligent kids were hooked. They like it.

This game is a controlled social interaction and can be a cathartic release for their violent tendencies. I have a Magic Club at my school and they really get into it. We have tournaments. I have been helping other teachers work on getting these kids to behave better in their classes. All we have to do is threaten to disallow participation in the Magic Club.

This has worked so well I am now writing an article about this phenomenon.

My reason for this letter is to make contact with "Anonymous." I believe this program will be of great help. Feel free to send the writer my address and e-mail. I really have seen this game touch kids' lives. — Pat

Dear Pat: Based on the number of letters received, there are thousands of teachers desperate for techniques to reach out-of-control kids. I encourage you to write that article, because the time is now.

Here is one more letter reacting to "Keep Me Anonymous."

Dear Larry: If I were "Anonymous," I would be banging down the doors of the school board and the PTA.

When I hear stories like this, I sit here and wonder why people insist on keeping themselves in the gutter when they don't have to stay there.

I know that many Latinos and blacks are moving up into the middle and upper-middle class in record numbers, which is fantastic, but why would others stay put? Why sit in a self-fulfilling prophesy of vicious cycles and no-win situations when opportunities are out there for anyone to take?

This is not an ethnic phenomenon.

There are poor whites sitting in even worse situations. I have no idea what the psychology and sociology is that drives this, because most of them can't honestly claim stupidity or disabilities. If one wants something bad enough, he or she can overcome.

I have a severe learning disability and twice graduated from college. — Stephany

Dear Stephany: This society has glamorized failures and made out-of-control students "cool." There are not enough disincentives for failure in school. Schools have been stripped of their enforcement power for behavior control and no one is held responsible for the fact that little Johnnie can't read. Everyone is pointing fingers, but no one is being held responsible.

Parents are blaming teachers; teachers are blaming parents and society. Both sides are correct. I believe in holding people responsible and expecting results. I also believe in giving teachers the power and authority to do their job. That means giving teachers the power to take over the class, even if it requires removing students. I believe teachers should be rewarded if they change a life and those teachers who have given up should be replaced.

To find out more about Larry Meeks, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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