A Brief Face-to-face talk with a Kid on Skid Row

Lunch at the Union Rescue Mission (URM) is served in three batches. First serve is at 11a.m., exclusively for men, who are in URM's Recovery, Apprenticeship, and Transitional Living Programs. Second serve is at 12p.m., exclusively for women and women with children. This includes women, who lives in the street. Third serve is at 2p.m., exclusively for men, who are not in the URM program;hence, every homeless men is welcome. A slice of meat, a scoop of rice or mashed potato, a half-cup of cooked vegetables, a bowl of green salad (sometimes a scoop of fruit) and a slice of bread comprise lunch. Besides serving the food, we also have to clean the tables before the next batch of people comes in.

It was during the second serve last Friday, May 8th, when I got the chance to talk face-to-face with a 4-year old girl on Skid Row. Her mom and her three sisters regularly eat at URM. Almost all the women have left the dining hall. I was cleaning one of the tables near the water fountain, when she was trying to get her drink. The mom was about 15 yards away feeding the youngest daughter. She tried to reach for the paper cup, but she was a little short. I went near her and asked if she would like my help. Instead of answering, she just stood motionless, staring at me. That few seconds of silence tore me apart. Her eyes was calm, yet sharp. She did not call her mom, but she seemed to size me up whether I was a good or a bad guy. Then, after she realized that I was one of those who served them food, her facial expression changed in an instant. I saw in her eyes a helpless child, who have been harboring pain and exhaustion, sleepy yet awake, trying to grow up fast. She smiled wryly and said, "Yes, please."

I know that these children have no other choice, but to live on Skid Row. They were collateral victims of poverty, unemployment, lack of affordable housing, substance abuse, domestic violence, changes and cuts in public assistance (welfare) program, and job loss. Statistics on families with children who are homeless each night in Los Angeles County is 29% of 84,000 homeless people.

Without help from non-profit organizations, such as Union Rescue Mission, Los Angeles Mission, The Midnight Mission, etc., these children will literally be out sleeping in tents, on cardboards, or in plastic tarps.

Yes, education in the U.S. is mandatory. Every school age child is required to be in school on weekdays, except if a child has health issue or family emergency. That 4-year old girl should had been in pre-school. However, some homeless moms just do not have the means to take their kids to school even if education is free. I probably have to be at Skid Row before 6 a.m. one of these days to check if there are orange (school) buses picking up the kids for school.

After lunch service was over, I decided to walk around to do more observation. I saw a little place called School-On-Wheels. Compared to the buildings of other non-profit organizations on Skid Row, School-On-Wheels is just a molehill. It has been run by a retired nun. It's window has been decorated with cut-up paper arts. It's facade is so modest that my heart falls for it. I hope to stop by in one of these days to check its program. If its mission suits me, especially on the spiritual aspect of its program, I probably would be giving to School-On-Wheels one day of my two days beginning next month. If not, then, I would be sticking both of my days with URM's kitchen and, later, in it's Learning Center.

The American Middle School

During my teaching stint in Texas in the 90s, all the teachers were given t-shirts that says, "I'm in the middle and loving it!" In January, my fellow teacher, whose homeroom was across mine, came to me just before we left for the day. She showed her shirt. It says, "I'm in the middle and hating it!" A month before the end of the school year, she came to me again and showed me the same t-shirt. However, this time it says, "I'm in the middle and I'm quitting it!" That was it. She did not come back the following school year. She got tired "policing" these middle school kids.

Then,in 2004, I read, "Focus on the Wonder Years: Challenges Facing the American Middle School", a study done under the auspices of RAND Education (Juvonen,J., Augustine,C., et.al, 2004). The objectives of the study: To assess the state of the middle schools, particularly on its effectiveness in bringing about academic achievement, and to identify the school's major challenges to effectuate its function. It was a good study; however, most of its recommendations were vague and (for me) very weak.

Three recommendations of RAND study were the following: Offer intervention for the lowest performing students, possibly including summer programs...; adopt comprehensive disciplinary models that focus on preventing discipline problem and changing social norms or peer culture that fosters antisocial behavior, and offer parents information about the academic and instructional goals and methods used in middle grades and suggests activities to facilitate learning at home.

Since I once a participant in and an observer of the American Middle School education, I would like to comment and suggest.

Indeed, there is a great need to intervene, to come up with disciplinary models, and to suggests some learning activities at home and inform parents with what is going on at school. And indeed, these were not new. I taught the middle school kids in 1993 and my school have been implementing actions similar to RAND recommendations. Nevertheless, many fellow teachers were still not very effective in teaching these kids. Main problem were the lack of DISCIPLINE and RESPECT among these kids. So, why can't the educational system zero in on these problems? We all know that without discipline and respect, no education can take place. Without discipline and respect, no class is conducive to learning. Without discipline and respect, infightings and bullying among kids will be the common sight of the day. That is why middle school teachers would say that they are paid to "police" these kids.

Definitely, we were acting as police officers, during my middle school teaching stint. Teachers were in the school ground just before class, not to socialize with the kids, but to avoid fights and be ready to break a fight between these kids. Then, in between class periods, we were on our feet standing by the hallway for the same reason. In class, we always were in the look out of possible bullying and unruly behavior, which usually happened even before the completion of a 5-minute language drill. Ironically, we were strictly required to follow (and complete) the prescribed lessons of the day, which often times unexplained well (because many kids, who have attention deficit disorder (ADHD) do not want to listen anymore); hence, teacher ended up giving seat works for them to sit still. The school copying room was always busy. The resources alloted for ink cartridges and copying papers were depleted before spring break.

Hopefully, the incoming president of the USofA would push the educational system to a reform that could response to the disciplinary problem in the middle school. Frankly, US has no problem with the elementary schools. Effective instruction have been taking place from Head Start to 5th grade. Colleges and universities are still top-notch, still the best in the world. It is the middle school (6th to 8th grades) that American educational system is problematic. And middle school education is crucial. It is the period when kids undergo multiple physical, social, and psychological changes. It is the period when testosterone and progesterone are activated and jumping, trying to get loose like crazy. It is the period of experimentation and assertion of self. It is the period when kids try to challenge leadership both at home and at school. Incorporating a "military" program in the curriculum could be a solution to the problem. Why not try it?