Skoolaid: My "Lazy" Student has Dropped Out of High School. My "Bad" Kid is Saving His Own Life.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

My "Lazy" Student has Dropped Out of High School. My "Bad" Kid is Saving His Own Life.

The student I called "Joey" in this post has dropped out of high school. I'm devastated. I wish he would choose what's right for his future, but I'm worried that he won't.

The student I called "Mike" in this post is doing "One Goal," formerly known as "US Empowered." He's taking school seriously and he's working hard this year. I couldn't be prouder.

Who am I?

I'm Melissa Barton. I taught English in CPS for 2.333 years before opting for early retirement. I was also a delegate to the Chicago Teachers Union for just under nine months. I trained to become a CPS teacher in the AUSL teacher residency program.

Before my stint in CPS, I was a full-time graduate student at the University of Chicago, where I finally earned my doctorate this past December. My doctorate is in English Language and Literature, which should not be confused with English Education. Before I moved to Chicago, I taught for two years at Westtown School, a Quaker boarding school near Philadelphia.

I started this blog in June 2010, the week I started the AUSL residency. I found that I needed a place to collect my thoughts about my experiences in the AUSL network, and to voice my opinions on education and education policy, because I realized very quickly that I wouldn't be able to give them a hearing anywhere else.

I disagree with many of CPS's policies as well as some of AUSL's. But I believe fervently in the mission of both: we all want to help the children of Chicago succeed.