Nathan Saunders
Education, Safety, and Discipline
November 20, 2003

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Education, Safety, and Discipline

The tragic October 30th slaying of a DCPS student at Anacostia Senior High School must serve as a wake-up call for all classroom teachers to revisit safety, security, and discipline plans within their individual schools. I was personally closer to this catastrophic event than I wanted to be. I was one of the first teachers at the scene — hearing and seeing too much about an incident that would eventually lead to a fatal end for this youngster. While I did not have Devin in any of my classes, I knew him from my attendance at the football games and normal teacher-student hallway interactions. I humored him about his style as a running back. Number “10” would sneak into the gap then burst into full speed with power and strength. Following one particular game, a game when he did not suit up and play, I teased him about being the “new water boy.” With the confidence of a normal sixteen-year-old, Devin reminded me just how good he was on the field. He then questioned my own high school athletic pedigree certain that it did not come close to his own skills.

Devin's death is a cold and cruel reminder of an awful truth: that the violent death of a minor is the cumulative failure of community, clergy, educational partners and the parental obligation.

Kids are sophisticated and complicated human beings, bombarded with thousands of multimedia messages daily. Our challenge is to find the most effective manner to get across to the Internet savvy, MP3, Plasma DVD TV generation clear instructions and directives for a meaningful life. A message that illuminates the fact that human life is a valuable gift irrevocable by mankind and that violations like harboring weapons, gunplay, violence against the students, faculty or administrators are grounds for revocation of your educational rights.

While most believe that this responsibility belongs solely to the parents, I suggest that this kind of thinking is imprudent and engages in fallacious blame. As a teacher, I can not and will not passively accept the manner by which this young man died, nor should any other classroom teacher! Classroom teachers are going to have to change this system from the inside out! Yes, teachers are tired, weary, and overworked, but we must stay true to our moral and ethical educational compass. We must use the same creativity we use to teach without the books and technology, copy without paper, and run clubs and organizations without adequate funds. We have to advocate on behalf of our students when they are abused and put into potentially dangerous situations. Lack of clear safety plans, consistent and effective discipline for offenders who desecrate our schools, and a lack of resources to teach our students is educational neglect and educational neglect is a form of abuse. We have to advocate on behalf of all of our students without regard to race, creed, religion, or socioeconomic status.

Although classroom teachers do not birth these children, they are ours. They “belong” to us in a way unique to most individuals. We share in their personal, educational, emotional and physical growth process on a daily basis. We laugh with them and we learn from them. I will never forget teaching one particular kid that the word “colonel” did not begin with the letter "K" despite its pronunciation. When it was all over we shared the longest sincerest laugh together. When kids learn something you will oftentimes see it in their face. A sparkle will light up in their eyes. There really is no better reason to teach-than for that sparkle.

My conscience is not at peace as I write this article. All sixty of my Anacostia SHS colleagues heard my concerns about student discipline and safety at the staff development meeting just one day prior to this tragic event. I am having trouble sleeping because I think I was silent too long. Too many of us, including administrators, parents, community, and clergy have waited too long and are too silent on the issues of education, safety, and discipline of our children. Human life is blessed and sanctified and is not to be wasted. This is a national problem as all communities are suffering from violent gunplay deaths involving youth.

Too many students like Devin have paid the ultimate price. His 68,000 DCPS peers command us to successfully run this last football play of activism and advocacy for Number 10. After we have supported his family and mourned his loss, it is only through our action that we can pave the way for Devin to score his last touchdown.