My Final Speech to Manual (5-22-09)

As I thought long and hard on how to break the news to my students regarding my departure to the Building Excellent Schools Fellowship next year I concluded that a spoken word poem would be most fitting. And so for a series of days I worked on the words that I'd deliver to the entire school, trying to explain why I'm leaving while sending my love to those who will remain. Below is a copy of what I shared this morning during our community meeting.

This last year of teaching has felt much more like just preaching
Work hard be responsible and do the right thing,
Go to college, get your degree and earn some ca ching.
I’m selling to all, but not all are buying,
Some students don’t believe, they think I’m just lying.
And even some who do and follow my path
Don’t necessarily choose to step it up when in math.
So as the year went on I began to wonder,
What would it take, to make some real thunder?
What if I started much sooner, much younger,
Could we develop an intense academic hunger?

What if I started when you were just three?
What would your future look like, just where might you be?

What if I had Mr. Crews when he was four
and forced upon him education galore.
What if at five I taught Mr. Rice
To work really hard and always be nice
If at six I had Shaqua and worked her each day
Would bad words come out, would f bombs be in play?
At 7 there’s Donovan walking to school
Perhaps he’d be better at following the rule
At eight I see Kquame and his back pack’s a mess
His difficulties now perhaps would be far far less
Dulce and Diana attend when they’re nine
Coming in early, even standing in line.

What if I started when you were just three?
What would your future look like? Just where might you be?

Working at Manual for over two years
Needing to leave nearly brings me to tears
But when I think of Sinamen and Destiny too
I realize quite quickly it’s what I must do
So many of our students are great as they are
Heading to college I know they’ll go far
But what of our ones who can’t read, write or speak?
Whose academic skills are so very weak?
Those for who fractions are scary and hard
Who’d choose over writing to work in the yard

And then there’s character and values on top
Accessing middle class, avoiding the mop
The idea that hard work pays, just compete
Avoiding McDonalds, in the back flipping meat
Perseverance and manners, being polite and on time
All beat the idea of begging for one little dime
Living the good life and striving for it each day
Entering the game of life with a legit chance to play

And so when I think of Latha and Iaisha,
When I consider the futures of Dominique and Kanesha
I’m forced to consider what’s my best form of attack
I can’t watch from a far, I can’t just sit back
I read and research everything that’s out there
Who’s getting it done, who’s making life fair
I conclude one solution to closing the gap
Opening my own school to put on the map

A school for your cousins, your brothers and sisters
Where little kids come to work hard for their misters.
We’ll embed college in their cute and tiny heads
They’ll be lawyers and doctors assigning the meds
Make it Happen Academy will be a great school
We’ll change the community with one simple rule
Every kid has a shot at the life that they dream
No matter their money or race or even their team
At my own school where you’ll start when you’re three
Imagine the future, where might those kids be?

And so I bid goodbye to my Manual crew
My little brother Ronnie, and the faculty too
To Paschall and Frazier, Monet and Ms. Kreiger
I’m sorry to leave, but I must, I’m so eager
To the rest of the staff who I love so very much
I know you’ll get it done and come through in the clutch
And to student like Nichols who taught me to believe
That some TLC can help kids really achieve
I’ll think of you next year as I learn and prepare
To open a school of quality seen far too rare.
That prepares little ones to compete with the best
And ensures them a chance at life’s treasure chest.

What if I started when you were just three?
What would your future look like? Just where might you be?