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By John Dumbleton

On Jan. 13, the Rocky Mountain News published “North High teachers take fall for inert students, bureaucratic bog,” a guest column by former North High School English teacher W.L. Herrick. To say that Herrick’s attack on students at Denver’s North High School was misguided and inappropriate would be putting it mildly.

I was hired to teach English at North High School in December — to replace Herrick. I graduated from Metro State in the fall of 2006, so I am a first-year teacher. I completed my student teaching at another Denver Public Schools high school that is similar demographically to North, but during my short time there, I reached out to all of my students, demanded high levels of academic achievement and personal conduct from them, and would never accept anything less than their best efforts. My students responded better than I could have imagined.

DPS recently implemented an inquiry-based education model, and “What is a Monster?” was the major question for first-semester freshman to ponder and answer. During my student teaching experience, my students and I studied the Holocaust and worked our way to the current tragedy taking place in Darfur, Sudan. The relationships I built with my students and the unwavering faith that I had in them, along with a tiny bit of nudging, allowed them to accomplish more than I ever could have hoped for.

They conducted a bake sale and a raffle to raise money for the victims in Darfur, and they initiated a campaign to raise awareness throughout the school about that terrible situation. The students took ownership of the project, and they completed it almost entirely on their own (several volunteered much of their free time after school). Children are capable of anything when given opportunity and encouragement. All they need is an adult to simply believe in them.

Though I may be inexperienced and idealistic, I know that my students at North — Herrick’s former students — will make me proud with their creativity, effort and continued growth as good young men and women.

All of that said, I cannot on good conscience let Herrick’s flagrant verbal assault go unanswered. If so, I would be negligent as a teacher, mentor and leader. The situation at North is tense, and my comments might alienate some. I prefer not to, but I am here for my students, no one else.

Herrick said his “central” reason for resigning his position at North “is that [he] will no longer be in a student culture of complete indifference.” Are there some indifferent students at North? Of course, just as there are indifferent students in every other school in the United States. What is obviously inaccurate is Herrick’s decision to use the word “complete.” Can one ever use the word “complete” with any certainty when discussing people? I doubted the assertion, so I asked my students if any of them were indifferent about their education. Out of five classes, five students answered yes. That’s an average of one per class.

Herrick’s evidence to support his imprecise language is equally weak: “If my students are typical, the center of gravity resides with those who loudly proclaim they don’t care, they will not listen, everything is stupid, so why not drop out?” First of all, assuming Herrick’s assertion is accurate — which, according to my observations, is not the case — one of a teacher’s main jobs is to reach out and find a way to engage reluctant learners. Another problem with Herrick’s choice of words was to use the modifier “my.” To be a teacher and an educator is a privilege, and he gave up any claim to those students. Lastly, isn’t “drop out” another way of saying quitting — or resigning?

Finally, the absurdity of the statement that “there is a tiny, gratifying minority who fly below the radar and have goals and aspirations” stands alone. I’ve never worked with any student who doesn’t have a dream or aspiration of some sort.

I don’t care about Herrick’s political views or what effect his words will have on the debate regarding the redesign of North. What I absolutely care about is the negative effect his words have had on my students, those whom he worked with every day, those students whose parents entrusted him to educate and uplift them.

As George Orwell once wrote, “Political language ... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.” Herrick attempted to make his wind solid. But I’m here to let him and everyone else know — in particular, my students — that his wind stops here.

John Dumbleton is an English teacher at North High School.

READER COMMENTS

Well why don't you grab a box of tissues and cry me and the rest of the world a river Mr. "Not Naive." You sound pretty ignorant, threatened, and and very intimidated by new teachers who have a different approachs, experiences, and strategies in helping the kids in ways that old old old old old old old old veterans can't even try and comprehend. Dont give me this nonsense about how they "Know the reality in which they work in" anyone with any job knows the reality in which they work in smart guy. So lets all take a minute to salute you becasue you seem to know it all, while we're at it, lets just pin a rose on your nose! And for calling yourself "Not Naive" you sound very naive. I am a realist, not someone who lives in the past and praises a "veteran" like they are some kind of GOD, because the reality is that times have changed, younger, newer, first year teachers are the ones who come in with the experience on how to deal with kids instead of walking away while saying..."I will no longer be in a student culture of complete indifference" wow....lets give up and move on becasue your incapable of adapting and learning new things, and jump on your high horse and say "I'm a veteran, I don't need to put up with this, if i can't get through to these kids, no one can." God forbid these Veteran teachers learn something new!!!!!! Why, they know everything, they are never wrong. Kids need hope, not disappoinment and discouragment.

VETERAN= knowing the reality of what useto work.

REALIST=Tending to or expressing an awareness of things as they really are;One who is inclined to literal truth and pragmatism.

I can only wish the students, teachers and stafff and North the best. I think attitude has a lot to do with it, but parent involvement is critical. Successful schools have a base of support...volunteers, fundraisers, parents, etc. If North is able to encompass these things, it might stand a chance. Teachers with 20+ years of experience have got to come into the situation with "fresh eyes". All the stereotypical crap from previous years is not working. New teachers are willing to try things, investigate, and yes they are idealistic, but kids need hope and a sense of self worth.

You're so right Ms. Sunshine.
I shouldn't have an opinion because I've never been in the trenches. These young teachers are the sunshine of these young people's lives. They know it all. They have all the answers. They are all "Miracle Workers". I'll just fade into the sunset and let these young well intentioned teachers change the World. I'm not naive, Baby!!!!!!!!
Veteran = Know the reality in which they work in. Idealist = Don't have a clue.

and by the way...no need to comment on the way i spelled "VETERAN" jus thought I would try sounding like "those few kids who slipped under the radar" ya know....or maybe it's just cause I simply don't care....now you can proceed bashing my spelling of vetrn, vetern, vertern, sorry I mean Veteran *wink*

WOW Mr. DRM you seem quite hostile...and it's so funny that the few of you who say John hasn't been a teacher long enough to "have an opinion" (mr.common sense), actually he has had quite the teaching experience to speak about what he has observed and currently observing. I'm so tired of you "vertern" teachers thinking you know every last damb thing there is to know about teaching when in reality you all threatened about the new generation of teachers who can and will probably do a better job of reaching kids intellectually and academically, so maybe you should take a look in the mirror, get some tools, build a bridge, and get over yourselves and your "big" egos. It's sad to see you "vetern" teachers being so defensive, it's really pathetic, times have changed and maybe you need to accept the fact that some "first year teachers" like Mr. Johnny, can make all the difference in some students life, if not all, that you "veterans" could never make in all your years of teaching. With that said...stick that up your pipe and choke on you kind gentleman you :)

Hey, C.
I know the TRUTH at North. Maybe if you weren't sticking up for your friend you'd have an unbiased account. I don't know Mr. Herrick. I just know how they're treating these professionals. And yes, I'm on full retirement after 27 years of teaching. Put that in your pipe and choke on it!!!!!!!!

Actually, DM, you obviously are the one who doesn't know about the situation at North, so you may want to get your facts straight before criticizing anyone else.

Hey, Mr. C. Pack,
You obviously don't know the whole situation at North. Teachers were all let go after First Semester. If they wanted to come back they had to re-apply for their job. If this happened to you I'm sure you wouldn't be happy either. (Mr. Herrick) These hard-working teachers were blamed for the low test scores at the school. This Mr. Dumbleton didn't let the readers know how he got his job, did he?

I read Mr. Dumbleton’s article as a forceful response to Mr. Herrick’s attack on his former students. He seems to be defending his students and stating that there are creative ways to reach difficult kids. History and even current cinema, Freedom Writers for example, are full of success stories where inexperienced teachers have been able to make a difference. I was quite surprised to read the responses by veteran teachers. He’s not attacking educators in general. He seems to take issue with those that no longer believe in their students and blame them for their own failures. My hope is that Mr. Dumbleton will be fighting with and for his students for decades to come. If your seasoned view is that he will eventually succumb to the notion that at-risk kids are not worth the effort then you should retire making room for someone who believes that change is possible.

"They conducted a bake sale and a raffle to raise money for the victims in Darfur, and they initiated a campaign to raise awareness throughout the school about that terrible situation."
He writes this with pride - thinking that this truly is the role of a teacher; "I may be idealistic". You're idealistic, alright - and have a captive crowd.
I'm sure you will indoctrinate activists rather than teach children (at other's forced expense) for years to come.

Call me a skeptic, but how could a teacher (W.L. Herrick) with thirty years experience, applying to teach at a school, not know of the hugh controversy surrounding it.

And to blame his students? That is very revealing as to how Herrick views his job.

The calculated indifference these "veteran" teachers are imposing on their students is part of the problem. I don't think there can be any doubt that the longevity of these teachers--twenty to thirty years--coincides with the decline of the quality of education in this country.

To Mr. Dumbleton,
You joined North High after First Semester when many of the indifferent kids have dropped out. You're not a "Miracle Worker".
I doubt you'll be there in five years. Instead of alienating your fellow teachers, you should keep your opinions to yourself. I read from your piece allot of ego and self-promotion.
From:
A 27 year Veteran Teacher

Mr. Dumbleton,
You are, indeed, a miracle worker and savior of DPS. I need your help and advice very much on how to change the culture of a classroom (5 classrooms) in three weeks. Rather than teaching, perhaps you should become a DPS facilitator to improve the skills of the struggling veteran teachers with 20-30 years of experience. Good luck with the CSAP.

Dear John - *yawn* ... you haven't been a teacher long enough to have an opinion ..

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