Why Are You Being So Negative
So she said, “Why are you being so negative.” I could tell her that I work there and she doesn’t, and because of that she simply doesn’t know any better, but I’d be lying. She knows me better than I know myself, and if there is anyone like that in your own life – you can understand how much that can piss someone off.
She’s right though – there are moments when you’re helping someone [as a teacher] and then they get it, they understand. It’s a good feeling to be present during their epiphany. It’s probably a greater joy than teaching at college, not that there is anything wrong with university educators, but there are a number of college students that come in thinking that their smart, too smart to learn that is thus thinking that their shit doesn’t stink, and each day with them becomes a battle of wits with a retard that mistake’s intellect for an Autistic child’s ability to memorize large amounts of facts. How can I learn something from you? It’s what they think if they believe they’re smarter than you. And then you ask yourself, how do I function as a teacher against the massive ego created by Academic Challenge Bowls, National Honor Society, AP results, IOWA Test Scores, and the nurturing of a mother who is three kisses and two hugs away from being labeled a kid toucher. I say “fine, be brilliant, you don't need my help. That will leave me more time to concentrate on someone who actually needs my help.”
But there are a few moments, non-academic, like she said that I don’t talk about. For instance, the guy who stole 140 plus cars taught me “his handshake in his hood.” I can now probably rep W. 25. He refers to me as “fam.” And to add, a number of Puerto Ricans and African Americans refer to me as “Their nigga.” I’d like to believe that this is my way of enhancing Asian Race Relations with the community as a whole. I might be the first Vietnamese man they've met that has neither served them food nor manicured their nails. Score one for me.
I’ll leave you with this moment: We’re talking about the importance of Rosa Parks, and how integration is now part of their life, and how it is a great thing. They agreed, and then I asked this question to a half Black, half Puerto Rican male student, and that’s why it’s all right for you to bring home a white girl, right? Caught off guard, he said no, smiled and understood that we haven’t moved as far as we think we have. Then another student, female and half Black, half Puerto Rican said, well, sometimes you date who you want to date. That’s why I don’t date Black men. Then another Black student said, “Ain’t that always the bitch, one nigga fucking it up for the rest of us. Damn. Oops, sorry Mr. Tran.”
She’s right though – there are moments when you’re helping someone [as a teacher] and then they get it, they understand. It’s a good feeling to be present during their epiphany. It’s probably a greater joy than teaching at college, not that there is anything wrong with university educators, but there are a number of college students that come in thinking that their smart, too smart to learn that is thus thinking that their shit doesn’t stink, and each day with them becomes a battle of wits with a retard that mistake’s intellect for an Autistic child’s ability to memorize large amounts of facts. How can I learn something from you? It’s what they think if they believe they’re smarter than you. And then you ask yourself, how do I function as a teacher against the massive ego created by Academic Challenge Bowls, National Honor Society, AP results, IOWA Test Scores, and the nurturing of a mother who is three kisses and two hugs away from being labeled a kid toucher. I say “fine, be brilliant, you don't need my help. That will leave me more time to concentrate on someone who actually needs my help.”
But there are a few moments, non-academic, like she said that I don’t talk about. For instance, the guy who stole 140 plus cars taught me “his handshake in his hood.” I can now probably rep W. 25. He refers to me as “fam.” And to add, a number of Puerto Ricans and African Americans refer to me as “Their nigga.” I’d like to believe that this is my way of enhancing Asian Race Relations with the community as a whole. I might be the first Vietnamese man they've met that has neither served them food nor manicured their nails. Score one for me.
I’ll leave you with this moment: We’re talking about the importance of Rosa Parks, and how integration is now part of their life, and how it is a great thing. They agreed, and then I asked this question to a half Black, half Puerto Rican male student, and that’s why it’s all right for you to bring home a white girl, right? Caught off guard, he said no, smiled and understood that we haven’t moved as far as we think we have. Then another student, female and half Black, half Puerto Rican said, well, sometimes you date who you want to date. That’s why I don’t date Black men. Then another Black student said, “Ain’t that always the bitch, one nigga fucking it up for the rest of us. Damn. Oops, sorry Mr. Tran.”
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on Tuesday, November 15 at 9:10 AM.
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11:47 AMI love this post. I want to see more of them. Too much of high school culture today is seen through the eyes of the students and not from the teachers. Plus, there is a good story about life here in all this. I'm not sure what it is yet, but it will come out if you're brave enough to keep posting like this.
Have you told your students about your blog yet?
And you gave the best pedicure that I've ever gotten--beahtch!
5:06 AM
thought-provoking, mootable pv. just my thoughts, well anyways gl & be chipper is what i say
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