Bob Woods's blog

For "Josh"

Maybe it's endemic to old Homeboys, but I always get a twinge when I see a kid -- especially the kind of boy ordinarily considered street-smart and/or a survivor -- huddled somewhere in a futile attempt to hide his tears. (Think back to the day you were enrolled at the Milt.)

It happened again yesterday. This time, the silent sobs came from one of the toughest -- some say scariest -- young residents at a juvenile facility where I teach on a substitute basis. He was standing behind a door I'd just opened. Suspicious cynic that I am, I assumed he'd been accosted by either a group of vindictive peers or an overzealous staff member.

The Year with No Autumn

That would be this year -- at least here in Pennsylvania, where invariably frost reigns and the leaves are all down by Halloween. Yet here it is, well into the second week of November, and there are still ripe tomatoes on my vines.

Just took a meandering road trip over upstate back roads. Burnt Cabins, Orbisonia, Cross Keys, Mount Union, Bellefonte, Snow Shoe. Mountains are still beautiful. But the colors are muted, uninspiring. Like a shoefly pie without molasses.

Learning Experience

It's an old saw, I know, but teachers really DO learn at least as much from their students as vice versa.

Case in point: Couple days ago, one of my young prisoners -- a quiet, well-behaved kid (unlike most) -- asked if I know his name. I had to admit I did not. (I always called him "Son," as I normaly do all my kids.)

"It's _______," he said. "And I've waited three years for you to recognize me as ME."

The Times They ARE A-Changin'

No doubt about it: Today's MHS kids bear little resemblance to those of even a generation or two ago.

Want proof? Just look at what our alumni president says in his annual report: "The students are needier -- 50 % of the group just enrolled have had some impact or some relationship with children and youth [I assume that refers to a social agency with the same name] in their home community -- about 40 % of those children have been in five or more schools before coming to MHS -- about 50 % have had exposure to drug and alcohol abuse within their past."

Ahh, the Wisdom of the Young

So today I subbed for one of our mathematics teachers -- probably as penance for having added so many grey hairs to poor Tim McCreary's cranium back in the early '50s.

"Yo, Mr. Woods!" Muhshief announced. "The trouble with math is just this: too darn many numbers!"

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