Teaching, Troy Davis and Tomorrow

Who I am: Chris Lehmann

What I do: Principal of the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia, PA (Opening 9/06).

What I did: Technology Coordinator / English Teacher / Girls Basketball Coach / Ultimate Coach at the Beacon School, a fantastic progressive public high school in Manhattan.

Email: chris [at] practicaltheory [dot] org.

Comments

Matt Skurnick about Sustaining the Teaching Life
Mon, 25.03.2013 14:05
Jon Goldman was both my
English Teacher in 9th
grade and Advisory Mentor
for my four years at
[...]

Karen Greenberg about Saving Lives v. Changing Lives
Tue, 14.08.2012 11:13
Perhaps a more apt term
would be "altering
trajectories". Think
physics - two objects in
motion [...]

Amethyst about Saving Lives v. Changing Lives
Mon, 13.08.2012 22:51
I really appreciate this
blog entry. Our roles as
teachers require, at our
best, a deep [...]

Mark Ahlness about The Long Haul
Mon, 13.08.2012 22:33
Chris, thanks. Pete is my
hero, and has been for a
while, but now that I'm
retired, after 31 years
[...]

Gary Stager about Saving Lives v. Changing Lives
Mon, 13.08.2012 22:15
Chris,

No need to worry about
semantic arguments.
Others all around us are
debasing our [...]

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< Taking the Time | Parenting, Fear and the Crook of our Arms >

Wednesday, September 21. 2011

Teaching, Troy Davis and Tomorrow

[Ever since I became a principal, I've blogged much less about my personal politics. I hope folks who read this blog understand why I felt the need to write this and respect that I am asking that the comments do not become a place to argue about the case itself.]

Tomorrow morning, I'll go into our school with its incredibly diverse population of wonderful urban kids.

Tomorrow, I'll have many conversations with kids who are trying to make sense of fact that the state of Georgia executed a man whose guilt was very much in doubt. Sadly, the best I can offer them is that so am I.

Tomorrow the best I will have to offer students is that I don't have any more answers than they do. That I am as confused and angry as they are.

Tomorrow I will be reminded - even more than most days - of how troubled we are as a nation… how far we have to go in the ways we talk about and deal with race…. and I hope, as I often am, that I will be reminded of how this next generation will be more understanding, more honest, more accepting than my generation is.

Tomorrow I will share Chris Emdin's words about how urban kids can learn from what happened to Troy Davis.

Tomorrow I will remind kids to be smart and to be safe in the choices they make and to never put themselves in situations they cannot get out of.

Tomorrow the best I have for kids is that we must try to live our lives with compassion and wisdom.

Tomorrow I will believe that the way we learn at SLA might just give us a pathway to change the world.

Tomorrow I talk about how I believe that changing the world starts when we try to be the best versions of ourselves and move outward from there.

Tomorrow I will listen to kids as deeply and openly as I know how.

Tomorrow I will tell the kids how much I love them.

Tomorrow I walk back into the building that represents my best answer to how to create a more just, more kind world.

Tomorrow I will make sure the kids know that they are my best hope for a solution.

Posted by Chris Lehmann in Politics, General Ed, School 2.0 at 21:54 | Comments (12) | Trackbacks (0)

Comments

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I don't mind adding my "personal politics" to the comments. Regardless of the merits of the case, the death penalty is unjust under any circumstance. Such law is barbaric and those who support such law are barbarians. You protect society from dangerous people by using jails, not by legalizing state murder.

#1 Peter (Link) on 2011-09-21 22:22 (Reply)

I think sometimes the only thing we can hold on to, is the fact that our kids are in a much better position to make this a kinder world than we have. With so much access to injustices that go on around the world at some point there will have to be a decline. Hopeful just the fact that our kids are seeing this kind of behavior will invite us to make changes in how we handle certain situations.

#2 Liza Copeland (Link) on 2011-09-22 03:08 (Reply)

If you live by the sword you will die by the sword. We can not afford to keep everyone in prison for the rest of their lives when they take a life. Our prison population is going too fast and our tax money is being wasted on people who are not providing anything positive toward their time on
Earth. I realize not everyone in prison for murder is guilty but 99% are. Let God watch over those who we execute for murder, if they didn't do it let God send them to where they belong. The tax payers have enough free loader to take care of without having to take care of those who can not live in peace with society.

#3 Michael on 2011-09-22 09:37 (Reply)

Do your job today so tomorrow you can chil and relax..

#4 Ben Hinsdale (Link) on 2011-09-22 13:39 (Reply)

Just wanted to say thanks for posting this Chris. Christina

#5 Christina Cantrill on 2011-09-22 17:44 (Reply)

I think our students should be told these things everyday because they are our future leaders. Generations change so much and it much easier for our students to get into trouble now. It is our job to make sure our students stay focused.

#6 LChaney on 2011-09-22 18:30 (Reply)

If that's what you're going to do tomorrow then you are wonderful. We need more teachers who will be that honest and that caring of the kids.

#7 Tahlia Newland (Link) on 2011-09-22 18:50 (Reply)

I understand the inspiration for this post, but also find that many of the statements made about your job on Thursday are statements we tell each other every day, they are just, perhaps, more difficult at times such as this. In urban schools, such as where you and I teach, inspiring young people to rise above their circumstances when hope is dismal is the most challenging aspect of our job. How do we convince students that an education is important, that it will help them get a job in the future and take care of their family, when they need the money now, when they can't walk down their street feeling safe, or when it seems their state government is working against them? What words of encouragement work to motivate a gang member to read Shakespeare and understand its significance in his world? What about a pregnant 16 year old who already has to support her younger siblings because her mother is working three jobs just to keep the tiny apartment? There must be more than words of hope. As leaders, we need to be mentors, examples, a moral and educational compass for our students so that they be the leaders and examples for the future.

#8 J. Bisti on 2011-09-25 09:48 (Reply)

May you find the words and strength to convey your message in a way that teaches compassion and tolerance. Sometimes I am so grateful we dont have the death penalty where I live

#9 Money Now (Link) on 2011-09-28 01:12 (Reply)

Yeah information is now freely available and kids have more at their disposal than ever before. I am also a DP hater and dont beleive in it whatsoever!

#10 Stuey82 (Link) on 2011-10-04 04:25 (Reply)

You need a better spam filter. Have to unsubscribe from comments.

#11 Peter (Link) on 2011-10-14 02:33 (Reply)

I really like this because he is influencing the next generation to be trustworthy in cases like this. Yes many peole were confused because they excuted a man that did not committ a crime. The nation is racial when it comes to certain situation they should not excuted him because they did not have any physical evidence in the case.

#12 Keshauna on 2011-11-10 11:27 (Reply)

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