Teaching as Autobiography

The earliest memories of my educational experience takes me back to my early childhood memories in general and before I even started attending school.

I grew up in a single-parent household where my mother did her best to take care of two energetic, precocious boys. I can remember how early on she would teach us basic things like colors, numbers, ABC's, and how to spell our name. I even remember being enrolled into Head Start for two years; the first year she told me to tell anyone who asked that I was a year older than I actually was (I'm assuming because there was some sort of age restrictions for being accepted into the program). My mom would always tell me to think, and not to be afraid to ask questions about things I did not know or understand.

When I was in kindergarten, we moved from Seattle to St. Paul, and it was during school. But the transition did not really have any effect on me; I was actually excited at the chance to meet some new people. It was a private Catholic school, but the majority of the students were African American, and I do remember that it was a comfortable transition and I had no problem making friends. I also remember that there was a mural on the tunnel wall that led to the lunchroom that said "Black is Beautiful". But I don't remember any real focus on race, racial issues, or even African or African American History.

Although I don't remember her name, I remember my kindergarten teacher - a blonde, middle-aged white woman who wore glasses. She was very kind and encouraging, always telling me how smart I was. She would even buy me little things like pencils and notebooks; she even tried to give me a pet gerbil once (my mom wasn't having it though). She also suggested that I skip a grade, but I didn't want to because I was scared I would not have any friends and not fit in - it's amazing how big a difference a year seemed to be to me as a kid.

I'm not sure of the exact reason, but I wound up leaving private school to go to public school in the 3rd or 4th grade (I believe it was because my mom could no longer afford to send me there). I didn't mind at all, because I had cousins who already were attending the school I was going to, and they made it seem like would be a lot more exciting. And it was, for many reasons; there were a lot more kids at the public school, and they represented a wider range of ethnicities and cultures. The learning environment was much different as well, as it was more hands on and experience driven as opposed to being just from books. We actually had classes that focused on diverse subjects such as languages, science, camping, and various arts and crafts. I don't remember any of the teachers, but I vividly remember the learning experiences and being exposed to new things.

I believe that because my mother lost her job and had to find a new one, we moved to Minneapolis during my fifth grade year. She tried to keep me in the same school, but it soon became too much of a burden and I wound up transferring to a school in Minneapolis.

The teaching process was much different than what I was used to in St. Paul, as it was more focused on controlling the classroom than on teaching. This was when my attitude towards learning changed. Although I did have a few teachers, school administrators, and employees I remember and felt like they actually cared about me personally, I started to feel like there were different things expected from me by teachers and others in charge, as well as my peers. I started to subconsciously accept idea that learning was not important, and it was more about appearance and reputation. So far the remainder of my educational experience, I adjusted my actions accordingly.

Because I had to figure things out largely on my own, I did not recognize the error in my ways until much later in life. My desire to become involved in the education of young people is based entirely on my own experiences, because I want to help those who might be facing the same challenges that I faced and help them make decisions that positively affect them much sooner than I did. 

What is urban?

I feel that there is a difference between what urban is supposed to mean and how the term is used in society. The definition Webster's Dictionary gives of urban is "of, relating to, characteristic of, or constituting a city". This can mean many things, but to me I think it is supposed to refer to more of the core of a city, where there is a mix of housing, businesses, and modern structures such as paved streets, stop lights, highways, and public transportation. 

But I believe that when it is often used, it is done in a context meant to describe something specifically in a politically correct manner, to make sure no one is offended. To put it bluntly, "urban" is just a code word for "Black", "Latino", or any other non-white or European person or culture. This especially true when it comes to the media and "experts" conducting studies and collecting data.

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What up!

My name is Jamal Denman. I am a DJ, writer, and an all around creative person. I also like to cook and stay active. I am also the father of a wonderful daughter who is also a college student. 

I love working with young people and helping them realize their full potential.