by Donna Swagerty Shreve
Being a classroom teacher, for thirty-seven years, provided me with a different experience every day. This particular day happened twenty-one years ago in 1994 when I taught seventh graders at Morada Middle School in Lodi Unified School District. I had twenty-six years of experience at this point in my career and this day was definitely a first for me.
In 1994, Morada Middle School boasted a population of over 1,000 students with seventeen different languages spoken in the homes. I taught a diverse group of math students. I started my class lesson with a few warm-ups and then I gave some instruction for the day’s activities. Using a variety of hands on tools plus the use of working in groups, I tried to make math come alive. This day’s activities were keeping the students quite engaged. I was free to walk around the room and give help where needed.
During my walking around the room, Jamal stopped me. He wanted to let me know that Bobby had a big knife in his backpack and what was I going to do about it. Jamal had become well known around school for his ability to riffle through backpacks and take what he wanted. Jamal usually didn’t get caught but circumstantial evidence almost always pointed his way. I didn’t doubt Jamal.
Bobby became a contrast as the kind of kid who was a loner and usually oblivious to those around him. He was an easy target. Bobby had never been in trouble but I suspected he could have been the object of jokes by bullies
As Jamal confronted me, I remained calm and told him I would take care of it. I thanked him for telling me and told him to return to his work. He seemed disappointed he wasn’t going to get some entertainment at Bobby’s expense.
I walked over to Bobby and asked if he could please bring his backpack to my desk at the back of the room. He complied willingly and was curious why I would be inviting him back to my desk.
When we were at the back of the class, I pulled open my top desk drawer and stood next to the desk. I then asked Bobby if there possibly could be a knife in his backpack. He paused, thought a bit, and replied, “Sure, I must have left it in there after my fishing trip with my uncle this weekend.” The knife turned out to have a nine-inch blade with a thick handle that could be used for most kitchen cutting jobs.
I remained calm and said very slowly to Bobby, ”Please place your knife in my top desk drawer.”
Bobby: “But it is mine!”
Me: “Yes, it is Bobby but it is so important that you put it in my desk now.”
Bobby: “Will I get it back?”
Me: “Right now the most important thing you can do is to put that knife in my desk. I can’t make any promises but what you do now will determine what happens in the future.”
Of course, all during this interchange, Jamal watched our every move. I motioned to Jamal to turn around. Fortunately Bobby complied with my request and then returned with his backpack to his desk.
I now needed the Vice-Principal to come to my room for the next step. At this time, Morada did not have classroom phones. I had to go to the front of the room and buzz the office by pushing a button under a big speaker. The office responded to my signal asking what I wanted. I requested the Vice Principal to come to my room at once.
Office: (In a very annoyed voice) “I am sorry. He is very busy at this moment.”
Me: “It is really important that he come now.”
Office: (Even more annoyed voice)”I am sorry. He is unavailable and will come when he can.”
The class is now deadly silent trying to figure out why the dreaded Vice Principal had been summoned to our room. I told them to carry on and started walking around the room keeping an eye on Jamal.
The class period ended and off went the students to their next class. My next class had begun and I conducted my warm-ups and instructions when the Vice Principal walked in. He looked quite stressed and rather bothered that I wanted him in my classroom. He marched right up to me and wanted to know what was the emergency. To stall for time and some privacy, I asked him, in a whisper, to go to the back of the room and open my top desk drawer. I got the students involved with their project and joined him at the back of the room. I wish I could have taken a picture of his face when he completed my directions. I gave him a brief summary of the events, including where he could find the students involved. I then emphasized that Bobby had done all that I had requested willingly. I also mentioned that at no time did I feel any of us were ever in any danger.
During this time, Lodi Unified had a zero tolerance for weapons of any kind and I strongly believed no good would come from expelling Bobby. Fortunately the Vice Principal agreed and Bobby was given a week’s suspension instead. Yes, Bobby even got his prize knife back when his parents come in for the conference. This started my first involvement with a new era in classroom discipline but unfortunately not my last.
930 words
6/15/2015
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