HBO Documentary Films: Hard Times At Douglass High (HBO)

I have just finished watching this documentary on HBO. Was rather interesting. When I first saw the preview for it, I automatically decided against watching it. I get tired of seeing minority groups being depicted in a negative light on television. I wasn't going to watch it as I do not subscribe to the notion that for some, the life of an African American , is entertaining and should be watched like National Geographic or something.... but that is just me...

So, two very close colleagues of mine spoke bout watching this documentary. They spoke of it with great fervor too, so I decided to watch it. Now the interesting thing about the programme was that it focused on an inner city school and how it has been affected by the "no Child Left Behind" act. Rather interesting, you should watch it if you get a chance.

As my colleagues expressed what they saw and how they felt, they both wondered if what they were seeing was prophetic. They wondered if, in this new day of reform, and this new day of parental "uninvolvement" this would be Bermuda in a few years.

Makes you wonder, it is a sobering view of where we can end up if we as an island do not take hold of the reigns of this horse that appears to be running away fast. Heaven forbid this should be us in a few years.

Our motto is "Quo Fatta Ferunt" "Wherever the fates will lead" but we can't leave this up to fate, sorry, it is too important, our children depend on us, our future depends on us....education is the building blocks for any nation.....LET'S DO THIS, AND DO IT RIGHT!!!!!!!

More shots from the show....

It takes a village

Well, this was a great show. The Talking Teacher is quite pleased to share that this past week's show was rather uplifting and encouraging. Bermuda is a small place, and one person's problem is another person's problem, on the other hand, one person's success is anothers. This is where and how our guests come into play. It takes a village to raise our children, and how great to see how this tiny village of ours is pulling together to help to ensure that our future is in good hands. Once again, there are many who are helping, and to all those groups and individuals that take the time out to assist our young scholars in any way, shape or form, we salute you. We highlighted a few, the Delta Sigma Theta, who are helping by giving out books, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., who take the time out of their busy schedules to help our make scholars to achieve in math, and Youth Net, a program which was the brainchild of Cornell Fubler and has now grown to over 500 participants!! Want to see more on them or want to sign up? Click here to go to their site. Well done to you, well done to all of our groups on the island. We applaud you!!

We also highlighted a new initiative which is being sponsored by the Bermuda Department of Education, called iTeach©, which is an innovative institute, the brainchild of our co-host, Mrs. Garita Coddington. This is the first time that this program will be run and it really sounds as if it is going to be great. Need more info? Email the institute at- iteachbda@gmail.com .

This ignorance must stop!!

I was recently at a place, and was sitting there listening quite hapily as the person was talking about a certain non-government school, when they said..."See, the public schools are not capable of producing leaders......" Now, The Talking Teacher must say that there are very few things that can cause the blood pressure to rise and the heart rate to increase, but upon hearing this ignorant statement, was forced to make a comment to rebuttle such foolishness....

While at the barber shop, the Talking Teacher did not feel like engaging in political or educational conversation, and was quietly reading the newspaper, when this statement was received by his auditory canal...."yeah she used to teach in govment school, but now she is about to teach at ********* (undisclosed non-government school) so if they want her, she must be good. In fact, her family is s exited for her, now that she has stepped up...." The Talking Teacher immediately threw down the paper that was being read, and immediately burst into a cacophony of reasons as to why that statement was so ignorant.


Scenario 3- The Talking Teacher also gets upset at statements such as... "I hear that ******* ******* is a good primary school, or ***** is a bad one" grrrrrrrrr- ignorance abounds!!!! Especially when these types of statements come from our educators- "My children start school in September, which primary school is a good one?" or how about "yeah *****'s children were about to go into ******** primary or ****** middle in September , but I had to tell them that was not a "good" school..."


SUCH IGNORANCE!!!!!!!!!!! ACtually it goes beyond IGNORANCE it is more and I take blogging liberty to use this term.... "IGNANCE" Just plain "IGNANT"!!!!!!!!!!!


Which leads us to a new term. This term was coined just last week, and it perfectly describes all of the hatred and fear that people express towards our government school, are you ready for it? SCHOOLISM!!! You read it right- SCHOOLISM!!!!!!!

What is racism? The ignarant fear or belief about a certain race.

You have sexism, the thought based on ignarance that one sex is better then the other....

There are many more isms, but I introduce to you a new one- SCHOOLISM!! All of the above scenarios fall into the category of schoolism, or schoolist thought. This schoolist thought is viral and is tantamount to nonsense- unmitigated nonsense!!!!

So sometimes you have to waste your time fighting lies, combating schoolists and the weeds of ignarance that spring up in their trail, but be encouraged..as the late Dr. Martin Luther King jr. said.."I have a dream....." one day, we will push and fight equally for all of our young scholars, that they will not be judged by the name of their alma mater, bu tby the content and quality of their work....


Let's work today to stomp out the schoolist thought.

We apologize, but look what we found!!

As you may have noticed, the past show was only a half hour long. The first part was enshrouded in silence. Yes, we believe that in the theatre, "silence is golden", but not for a radio show. We were actually locked out of the studio, and our guests had to leave, the situation was waaay out of our control, but the show had to go on. We thank you, the listeners and the readers so much, and we appreciate you so much, that we had to take the last 30 mins and run with it.


Check the headlines from D.C.-The Answer To Failed Urban Schools?, Washington's School Chancellor Hopes Her Tough Methods Will Yield Results


But, on another note. A fellow teacher of the Talking Teacher, a very fine middle school math teacher, shared this. Apparently, Washington D.C. is a few steps ahead of us. They are in the process of going through massive and major changes. Reading the articles, it is shockingly similar, it looks as though you were gazing through a crystal ball. The new chancellor is only 38 years old, and is cleaning up shop.

This is an interesting read click here.

It takes a village...

I like this quote: “Working together, ordinary people can perform extraordinary feats. They can push things that come into their hands a little higher up, a little further on towards the heights of excellence.”

Bermuda, being the small community that it is, cannot afford to live by the motto that is used ever so much: It takes a village to raise a child...". Our village cannot afford to neglect our children, and it warms the Talking Teacher's heart to see so many different organizations coming together to help our young educators. Epsecially in today's climate, with so many seemingly negative things that can easily snare and trap our children, I am glad to know that there are a few that are out there to help, to nuture and to guide our children, our future, our hope...

So to all those organizations and foundations, we salute you- keep doing what you are doing, it is helping, it is making a difference!

Mr. D. Ray

Our soon to be teachers did a great job in assessing the potential threats to success in the classroom, listen as Mr. Ray explains.

Mr. T. Bean breaks it down

Every new teacher has to be concerned about potential problems with their class, listen and watch as Mr. Bean shares his thoughts.

Are we tapping into our potential?

MAybe we are not tapping into the full potential of our young scholars, see what our guest had to say about this.

Fresh Perspectives

There is so much going on on the island now a days. There is talk and much debate about so many things. Everyone is an expert, and everyone knows that they are right. whew.... In this type of atmosphere, it was so nice and refreshing to have a new perspective on the past show. Our featured guests were incoming teachers, and ahhhh....the Talking Teacher remembers when. ha ha

Their outlook on teaching is so...so...fresh and untainted. Every teacher starts teaching beleiving that they can make a difference, that they can reach everyone, some do, but most don't. The Talking Teacher just hopes that these optimistic future educators stay optimistic and hopeful. Bermuda is counting on them to carry us further than we are now. After listening to them, I think that we are in good hands. All the best to them and to every other perspective educator, wherever you may be and whichever part of the globe you may planning on changing. I'll leave you with the words that my mother tells me when I have those hard days or weeks. "You may not be able to reach them all, but do it for at least that one child...."  

We pause for a second...

The Teacher Talk committee would like to take this moment to send our condolences to the family, friends and teachers of Ms. Rhiana Moore. You are in our prayers.








What a sad day.