I Connick the Terminator

Chapter 34: Giant Snake

If you have never worked in the inner city schools, you have never experience the constant need to be on guard at all times. The possibility of something exploding at any time, is very real. The students in this environment are very explosive and defensive. If someone stairs at you the wrong way (mean mugging), there is going to be a fight. If someone is just looking in your general direction there is going to be a fight. If someone kicks your book bag while walking to his or her desk, there is going to be a fight. If someone says the wrong thing during a playful banter, back and forth, there is going to be a fight. If someone is related to someone, that had a problem with another family member, there is going to be a fight. If someone did not pay up on a bet during dice, cards, a purchase or a competitive basketball game, there is going to be a fight. I hope I have covered all the main catalyst for spontaneous combative events while existing in the inner city schools or alternative schools.

I taught in this environment for 11 years of my teaching career. Mr. Grady Gordon motivated me to pursue my administrative degree, while I was working at the alternative school. I obtained my administrative degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. I was offered an internship at a country school closer to the Mississippi state line. I was able to relax from the constant need to be on high alert and I actually enjoyed the silence. I learned from the students that lived near the woods, just as I learned from the students that live in the hood. I thought I found a home at Mary G. Montgomery High School in Semmes, Alabama, but I was wrong. 

 After my year there, I was offered a full- time position back in the inner city at John L. LeFlore High School in Toulmenville, Alabama. This school was a stone's throw away from the alternative school. I did not want to go back to Vietnam. I was reluctant, but this was the only job available. I read the book Facing Your Giants. I prayed and felt as if the carpet had been slipped right out from under me. It was a tough pill to swallow, as they say.

I appreciate Mrs. D.H. Robinson, at the time, for the offer, but I had enough of the inner city. I finally agreed and went because, you know you have to provide for your family.  I am thankful for this challenging stage of life because I learned this great piece of philosophy: Every day I would walk into this building and face the mascot. It was painted on the wall just inside the main doors. It was a giant rattlesnake, the school's mascot. 

 Because the administration changed so often there, I was not welcomed with open arms. Every day I would enter the front door of this learning environment and face this giant snake. I was the token white administrator. The students, not all, were relentless. I have never had such a hard time connecting with students. The school year ended and the powers of the Mobile County Public School System made and executive decision to move me from this school. I made it through the year and passed the test.

The following year I was transferred to Mobile's oldest school, Murphy High School. My supervising duty was located in the front of the school, in what was known as the horseshoe. It is called this because there are two buildings that flank the main building located in this area. The auditorium is on the right side perpendicular to the main building and the Arts building is on the left side perpendicular to the main building.

On this day, I was watching the sea of students walk to their perspective classrooms when the bell, to start school, rang. A fight circle formed in front of the art building. I ran over to force my way through the crowd to get to the middle, expecting to break up a fight. I found a teacher standing in the middle of the circle, keeping the students back, protecting them from a little snake on the ground in front of her. Because I watched Steve Irwin save so many animals, I tried to pick up the little snake and put it in the bushes next to the door. When I went to pick up the snake, the snake coiled up into a defensive position and looked like it wanted to strike me. I raised my foot about six inches off the ground and with ample force, stomped the snake into the pavement and grind ed it in a back and forth motion, until it was dead. I picked up the dead carcass and threw it into the bushes located on the side of the building.

That is when it hit me, this life-motivating piece of philosophy: In life, sometimes you have to face your giant snake (the serpent is the animal representation of the devil or evil). This giant problem can be overwhelming at times; you may not understand why you are going through it. However, if you hang in there long enough, this giant problem becomes so small that you can raise your foot into the air and bring it down with an ample amount of force and grind your issue, problem, stress or whatever it may be, into the ground and throw it into the bushes. You are welcome, Amen.