My name is Bruce Abney, and this is my first blog post. I am from the Deep South also known as the land of NASCAR and fried everything. My observations are centered around a small town in Southern Mississippi, and I live in Southeastern Louisiana. I am part Cajun, and have eaten alligator. Another interesting piece of information about me is the eye of Hurricane Katrina passed over my house in Louisiana and my residence in Mississippi; neither house sustained major damage. The house in Bay St Louis, which belongs to my aunt, was one of the few structures in Bay St. Louis which did not flood.
You have a perspective of me. For the blogs I am going to alternate between first, second and third person. Since this is my first I think it is better for me to be informal. I want to talk about the South because I feel there is a negative stereotype when people think of Southerners. I am a progressive person who was raised in a racially polarized society; however, I am COMMITTED to providing education to all students. I think my commitment to students stems from the fact that I was not raised in a particularly intolerant community.
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My elementary years were spent in the back of a Protestant church where I was taught by teachers who expressed a natal approach to teaching. The definition of natal approach is not being tolerant of human differences. I will admit, my teachers were not particularly attuned to the behavioral or social differences of their students, and they often did not approach their students with patience.
Despite the fact I observed (as a child) many teachers who approached their students in a natal fashion, I also witnessed teachers who were very fair. Their display of fairness would influence me as an educator. Kathy Blackwell was an example of this.
Mrs. Blackwell was the epitome of a Southern women. She would often wear long dresses, speak in a firmly direct manner, and commanded a very quiet class room. I will admit I was scared of Mrs. Blackwell, and my mother and Mrs. Blackwell had their differences over Mrs. Blackwell’s strict class room environment. However, I was injured half way through my second grade year, and Mrs. Blackwell made a personal visit to my house to drop off a get well card and some sweets. That gesture of kindness never left me. Despite, the differences between my mother and Blackwell, Blackwell felt compelled to personally visit me during a difficult time. During the school end of the years ceremony, Mrs Blackwell awarded me the Citizenship award which was reserved for the most distinguished student in the class.
I was surprised I received this award because of the many differences Mrs. Blackwell and my mother had. In addition, I think Mrs. Blackwell could sense that I was afraid of her; therefore, I was convinced I would not be given any award. However, Mrs. Blackwell showed kindness and presented me the award. I do not know if I was the best candidate, but I do know I was flattered. Despite our differences, Mrs. Blackwell sought to give recognition for what she saw as talent. This show of “fairness” had a profound impact on me as a teacher. There are students who will try my patience, but if that student needs me, I am willing to give that student my time and energy. I believe in fairness because I was taught about fairness when I was in second grade. So future teachers, please take away from this blog that fairness matters. Even though you may not feel comfortable around the student or the family, if you treat that student fairly then there is a possibility the student will remember it. Mrs. Blackwell probably will never know how much I appreciate her fairness,but I do. Her kindness to me was one of the many reasons I decided to become a teacher.
If you’d like to know about how to become a teacher in Mississippi and make a difference in the Magnolia state, contact our Admissions office at 888.MAT.1USC or email us at matadmit@usc.edu.
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