Ethnically Speaking by Larry Meeks

Dear Larry: I am a teacher assigned to a suspension site where kids are sent while on suspension from school. These kids do no work and spend their time abusing the teachers. When there's no teacher to abuse, they get into fights with one another.

I tried to get them to take after-school jobs, but to no avail. They fill out the application but don't bother to apply for the jobs.

They all come from dysfunctional families. They have chronic truancy and terrible report cards. Almost all are black or Hispanic. They will not take instruction from me or anyone else. I have tried bringing in role models who would serve as living examples, but also to no avail.

Some of the kids here are still freshmen at age 18. I don't know if they'll ever get a high school diploma at the rate they're going. Few of these kids can afford college, and most haven't got good enough grades to even attend a community college.

Here's my idea: I want to invite a recruiter from the U.S. Navy or Coast Guard to visit the class and make a presentation. The Navy and Coast Guard are the safest branches of the service and they can teach them skills. I think the Navy might not be a bad career option.

Here's the problem: In 30 years, only three of our alumni have ever entered military service. The last time I suggested the Navy to a senior, I got dirty looks from my colleagues. I think the armed services have a stigma attached to them. Also, the other staff here don't like me and make trouble for me at every turn.

The staff tells students to disregard me and give the kids orders over my head.

I fear that if I invite a Navy recruiter, they're going to give me no end of grief, and might even make trouble for the recruiter when he/she comes. If I tell the other staff a recruiter is coming, they'll tell me I can't do that.

Although they don't outrank me, they can still find ways to block it. If I don't announce that he's coming, I run the risk that they might find ways to sabotage it, not to mention give me a load of crap afterward.

It's a shame that my efforts to get these kids on track are being run off the rails, but professional courtesy means nothing to the staff at our school.

What do you think? — Keep Me Anonymous

Dear K.M.A.: Your letter brings tears to my eyes. You are working for one of those schools where the staff has given up and don't believe the students are even capable of learning. Once a teacher has lost his or her belief in the kids' abilities, the students are doomed to failure.

I am not an expert on the Navy, but I believe your students are not good candidates for the military. Today's military is an all-voluntary force and requires a high school education or its equivalent.

I also believe your students are so undisciplined they will have a very hard time conforming to military life. The days are gone when the military could use extreme measures to force conformity. Unless the person is willing to join and willing to conform, he or she will make a poor soldier.

You are in an almost impossible situation. I cannot give you a good answer on what to do with your students. I will share with you any creative ideas from our readers. In the mean time please do not loose your zeal to make a difference. Our children need more teachers like you.

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