Reflections on Week One

For months, the Mississippi Teacher Corps has simply been something I've talked about.  People would ask me if I had plans to go back to school or had thought about the next step in my career, and I could simply explain the Teacher Corps as my next step.  This week has been a sobering adjustment to that response.  Instead of looking forward to the Mississippi Teacher Corps, I am now in the Mississippi Teacher Corps.  

The week began in a very appropriate manner with two days of mostly orientation.  We took part in basic new student procedures and are now equipped with a school id, school email, and a new found knowledge of the BEAUTIFUL campus of the University of Mississippi.  We also took part in a very important CPR certification course, though I pray I never have to use it.  

Another bit of our orientation focused on introducing participants to the State.  Mississippi is a fascinating place, with puzzling ironies that run deep.  A long history of hate and oppression casts a shadow here, and these elements will surely contribute to many of the frustrations I face as a teacher.  One question, for example, is why does malnurishment plague a state with some of the most fertile soil in America?  It will be interesting to determine my own understanding of the State and the issues that plague her.  Unfortunately the ramifications of this hate are still being felt in a powerful way, especially in Mississippi's Delta region.  Schools and communities are still largely segregated, not due to law, but seemingly due to tradition.

Of all the questions that have been discussed in our short time here, one clear answer is that there are no easy answers.  In this harsh reality, though, I have found hope in the solidarity of the Mississippi Teacher Corps.  A clear message that has been conveyed from day 1 is that we are not alone in this.  The challenges of a first year teacher will not be unique as 23 other people will be sharing the same experiences.  Furthermore, most first year teachers will be in districts where second year teachers have taught or are already teaching.  Finally, the program and its participants are held in very high esteem at the University, and consequently the University is extremely supportive in whatever way it can be.  This is welcome news and will mean a lot as the weeks and months pass by.

Week two starts today.  I look forward to the new adventures and challenges that will present themselves, and will be sure to keep you all posted.

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