Teaching in the Inner City
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Why is it that you persist in writing about only the hopelessness of Watts? Haven’t we heard enough? Your interview with Mimi Warshaw again seems to emphasize the negative.
Couldn’t you have given your reading audience something a little more encouraging? As a white teacher from a middle-class background (Glendale), I must take offense at some of the illusion you have painted about Watts and the school where I also teach, Markham Junior High.
At Markham we are presently going through a transformation of sorts to the days when Markham was a proud place to be. For the first time in almost 10 years, Markham and Jordan High School have presented night performances in drama and dance.
In addition, Markham is also seeing growth in its academic elite. Because of this year’s glut of “smart” students our head counselor was forced, albeit happily, to add another college prep English class to the schedule. Maybe these accomplishments don’t seem newsworthy, but many of us who haven’t given up on the inner-city children find them quite encouraging.
ALFEE ENCISO
Los Angeles
Enciso is an English and reading teacher at Markham.
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