Why I Can’t Allow Teachable Moments to pass in My Classroom
By: Estacious Charles White
Tags: Education, Literature, African American, Students, Teaching

Education is the key solution for change, for peace, and for help in the fight against racism and discrimination in general.

Clarence Seedorf

It’s always a pleasure for me to introduce something new and exciting for my students. We are reading a short story by Washington Irving titled “The Devil and Tom Walker.” The narrative is about a man who sells his soul to the devil for riches. Of course, we know these stories usually end with the protagonist losing his soul in the end and learning a horrible lesson in the process.

Whenever I bring a rather old story to my students, I try to compare it to something they may understand, so I told them the legend of Robert Johnson. I explained how he allegedly sold his soul to the devil to become the greatest Blues guitarist. The kids listened to every word that came from my lips. They were enthralled by the story about how Robert Johnson met the Devil at the crossroads in a dusty Mississippi Delta for supernatural guitar skills.

I went to Youtube and played a snippet of “Crossroad Blues,” one of Robert Johnson’s biggest hits. One young man asked to see a picture of the crossroads in Mississippi, where Johnson sold his soul to the devil. At least one kid was singing along with the Blues legend.

It was fulfilling for me to share the Blues with my students and bring something new to them. Passing on knowledge is one of the greatest things an adult can do for a child. Witnessing my kids learn something new is a feeling beyond explanation. Eyes lighting up with sincere interest is a teacher’s whole purpose for standing in the classroom year after year.

I don’t teach in a traditional environment like many of my counterparts who are constrained by lesson plans, testing protocols, and overbearing administrators. There is latitude in my instruction, and I utilize every bit of it in my classroom. If my students have a question about something outside the realm of English, I answer it.

We had a marvelous discussion about black holes. I walked to my SmartBoard and went to NASA’s well-rendered animation of a black hole with all its components. I explained the event horizon and the formation of black holes in space. The questions I received from my kids were marvelous. In the right environment, at-risk kids can flourish and learn new things.

Another young man in my classroom stated he wanted to be a doctor who studied and treated blood disorders. However, he didn’t know what it was, so once again, I went to my trusty Smartboard and located the job description for a Hematologist. He was fascinated by the different disorders of the blood and the treatment methods. If I allow a teachable moment to pass, it’s a disservice to that child.

My fellow teachers in juvenile facilitate many creative assignments in their classrooms. The math teacher created a fantasy football program that includes mathematical formulas, and the Social Studies teacher has art every Friday. If the bureaucracy of education constrained us, none of the unique educational opportunities we employ would be allowed.

I am not stating we don’t teach the curriculum, but we have the latitude to add extras to our program that may be frowned upon in other buildings across my school district.

In my classroom, at least twice a week, I have a silent reading activity. Why? Because many of my kids don’t read on the outside, and their knowledge is limited. Education is the great equalizer. It’s the reason, slave masters didn’t want slaves learning how to read and write. If they could read and comprehend the phrase, “All men created equal,” slavery may not have lasted as long as it did in our country.

I value education because of the sacrifices my ancestors made in the cotton field over 150 years ago. I value education because of the bravery of Brown V Board of Education. I value education because Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and Medgar Evers lost their lives for me to teach in my classroom without fear. Finally, I value education because their sacrifices allow me to give the greatest gift I can to a child — knowledge. As long as I can do that, I consider it a career well spent.

Thanks for reading and peace.

Estacious(Charles White) is a 23-year educator. He began writing over 25 years ago. His work experience encompasses managing schools and teaching a variety of subjects. His passions are poetry, short fiction, playwrighting, and non-fiction. He won one of six prizes in the Rockford play festival for his play “Incarcerated Christmas”. He is married with three children and a native of New Orleans.

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