Sharing The World Of Literature With A New Generation: The First Day Part 2
Charlie was just getting ready to leave for the day when he heard the clack-clacking of women’s heels approaching his office. He cringed a bit remembering the sound associated with them but prepared for what he knew was inevitable. As he did so, in walked the principal in a pink pinstriped power suit.
The principal cleared her throat and spoke in a nasally voice that sounded like nails scraping a chalkboard that said she wasn’t taking no for an answer. “Mr. Baker if I may have a moment of your time.”
“I was just finishing up a few things anyway before heading out, Miss Schmitt. What can I do for you?” Charlie inquired as he sat down behind his desk with his feet up on it.
“I was going over your lesson plans for the year, and I found them both most disturbing and inappropriate for this class. This work is far above their level,” Miss. Schmitt replied grinding on Charlie’s nerves more.
“So, I’m guessing because of who these kids are you are going to attempt to block me from teaching the class how I want to teach it, right?” Charlie asked, twirling his thumbs around.
“No, I am going to block you, and you are damn lucky I’m not firing you,” the principal replied furiously.
“Now, see that is where I’m going to disagree with you. First, I’m going to say fuck you. Then I’m going to remind you that my contract is with the superintendent’s office. Next, I’m going to appeal your decision directly to the superintendent,” Charlie replied smugly knowing that the superintendent was his mentor.
“Bucking the system just like always!” fumed Schmitt, whose voice went higher.
“No, it’s not that. It’s the fact I was brought here to make sure these kids learn, and I’m not about to let anyone get in the way of that. Not even you. You are stuck on old ideas that don’t work in this age. So, either get with the program or get out of the way of new teachers with new ideas,” returned Charlie.
The principal stormed out of the room furious with being disrespected. Charlie just smiled at having spoken his mind to the principal like he had wanted so many years ago. He slipped into his trench coat and grabbed his work bag and headed out the door while at the same time calling the superintendent’s office to make an appointment for the next day after school. He was having a hell of a first day and loving it more and more.
The superintendent said to forget the appointment and meet him at the library where they had hung out years ago. So, Charlie drove over to the library and found a parking spot as close to it as he could. He just as easily could have walked since it was so close, but he wanted to head straight home from there. He had some personal projects to work on that night.
As Charlie walked into the library he found his mentor, Clark, sitting at the same table they had met at for 12 years to discuss everything from school to writing to politics. It was worn with age from use, but still sturdy as ever. Clark was a bit bigger than he had been when he mentored Charlie but was still in pretty good shape and had most of his hair still. Charlie sat down across from his mentor who handed him a cup of coffee.
“Rough day at the office?” Clark asked
“The kids were great. It was the principal who pissed me off,” Clark answered bluntly.
“I figured as much, she always did rub you the wrong way. But still, you told her to go fuck herself?” Clark pressed further
“No, I said, “fuck you,” to her after she refused to let me teach my class my way. The way you and I had discussed before the year started,” Charlie clarified.
Clark chuckled before replying, “That sounds about like you, but still be careful with her. She hasn’t lasted this long without having tricks up her sleeve. As for the curriculum, go ahead with it. I’ll send her over my overruling in the morning.”
Charlie nodded, saying, “I’ll push her but not too far, and thank you for the overruling. I know my kids can do this and go as far as you pushed me to go.”
“You give me too much credit. It was you who did all the work and made the choice,” Clark replied smiling.
“True, but I couldn’t have if you hadn’t opened the door for me. Thank you again,” Charlie countered.
“There is plenty of time to debate it, but I was more inclined to have you come here to ask you if you knew how long it had been since we first sat here,” Clark replied.
“I think it’s been close to 12 years almost, sir,” Charlie answered.
“You were just a rebellious kid then with no focus and now look at you. Still with the wild side, but more focused,” Clark analogized.
“It wouldn’t have happened without you believing in me, sir, you showed me the way,” Charlie said graciously.
“True but you did the hard work,” Clark countered.
As they were talking Charlie noticed the kid who had taken a swing at him earlier working on his homework a table down from them. Though it appeared the kid hadn’t noticed them. The kid was growing frustrated with his homework just like Charlie had when he was the kid’s age when Clark had walked in and put a hand on his shoulder, starting the mentorship that helped him get to where he was today.
“Sir, as much as I’m enjoying reminiscing with you. I think I see one of my students who could use a hand,” Charlie said indicating the kid at the table down from them.
Clark smiled and replied, “I understand, let me know if you need anything.”
With that, the two shook hands and parted ways. Clark walked out of the library to head home. Charlie, on the other hand, walked over to his student and put a hand on his shoulder.
“I never did catch your name, and you look like you could use some help,” he said sitting down across from the kid.
The kid’s jaw dropped to the floor, and he fumbled for words as he worked to pick it up. Even more, as he tried to apologize for earlier in the day.
“Let’s start with your name and go from there,” Charlie said, extending his hand.
“I’m Jamal, Mr. Baker,” Jamal said shaking Charlie’s hand.
“Nice to meet you outside the classroom, Jamal. 12 years ago, I met my mentor in that chair over that,” Charlie explained pointing to where he had been sitting.
“Who was he?” Jamal asked without thinking.
“He’s the superintendent,” Charlie answered. “I was just meeting with him and saw you having some trouble and thought I might be of some help.”
“It just this essay, I can’t figure out how to bring all the ideas together from the board,” Jamal explained.
“I understand. Let me explain it a bit better then. Take the ideas from the brainstorm that apply to you and books personally, and write an essay about how books and reading apply to you personally. Does that help?” Charlie tried
“I don’t really like to read much of anything, so it is hard to relate to books,” Jamal replied, trying to think of something to write.
“Instead of simply looking at it as books look at it as what you do like to read, and when you read how that affects you on a personal level. Does that make it any easier?” Charlie tried
“Actually, it makes it a bit easier since I do like a couple of magazines and some comics,” Jamal answered, starting to write as he thought of superheroes and wrestlers.
Charlie sipped his coffee as Jamal wrote, replying when Jamal would bounce an idea off of him then quickly go back to writing. Charlie smiled when he had finished seeing that he had six pages written out.
“I know you said two pages, but I just couldn’t stop,” Jamal said.
“Relax two pages was the minimum I wanted, you did great,” Charlie replied. “I think there may be a writer in you. Do you need help with any of your other work?”
“No Mr. Baker but thanks for asking. I better get home,” Jamal answered.
“Same time tomorrow?” Charlie asked
“I’d like that and thanks for giving me a second chance,” Jamal replied.
“Truth be told I took a swing at the superintendent when he was a teacher, and he gave me a second chance,” Charlie confided.
Jamal chuckled as they both got up and exited the library. Jamal headed for the east end of Portland and Charlie headed for his car. Charlie knew this was going to be an interesting year as he drove off into the sunset.
