Re: Don't allow Merrill's post to scare you

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I work in the 9th ward and it is not the most dangerous area of
the city. Yes, New Orleans has a lot of poverty and crime but
that does not mean that you are going to be attacked in your
school or murdered as Merril seems to imply.

I came to New Orleans through TeachNOLA a little over two years
ago and have been able to teach without any physical assults in
one of the worst high schools in New Orleans (and arguably the
country). A teacher (Dineral Shavers) was murdered in 2007. What
Merril neglected to mention is that that teacher went to pick up
his step son who had had an altercation with some boys in a rival
ward. The boys who were chasing his step son fired their guns at
the car and ended up killing Dineral instead of their intended
target. Obviously this was a very tragic event, but I want you to
know the details because you shouldn't think that teachers are
being gunned down at school or targeted because they are teachers,
nor are teachers routinely assulted by their students. I've
actually found that my students are quite protective of me (even
as they curse me out from time to time for insisting that they do
their work or are heaven forbid asked to get out of the hallway
and go to class).

Teaching in New Orleans or any high-needs urban area is not for
the faint of heart. You really have to be passionate about
working with at-risk to survive teaching in any school run by the
RSD.

On 12/09/08, Wondering wrote:
> Thank you for your post!
> I did post my application on the TeachNola website and they are
> reviewing it right now. I wasn't aware that all of the
> elementary teaching positions will be in the 9th ward. I also
> applied through TeachLouisiana. West Baton Rouge contacted me
> after I put my application, cover letter and resume through
> TeachLouisiana; so now I’m sending them their application and
> will go through their process.
>
> I plan on visiting Baton Rouge in February. I currently live
> in Florida but I’m from the north, any help on (West) Baton
> Rouge would be of great help and I do greatly appreciate it.
>
> Thank you again for the post!
>
> w
>
>
>
>
> On 12/09/08, Merrill wrote:
>> Are you sure you want to do the TeachNola thing?
>>
>> Have you been to the 9th Ward New Orleans? It is the most
>> crime-ridden area in the country. Dire poverty, gangs
>> everywhere, shootings on a daily basis, 60-75% illiteracy.
>> Teachers are routinely assaulted--a couple have been killed.
>>
>> Better know what you are getting into!
>>
>> On 11/25/08, Wondering wrote:
>>> I decided to start the application process for the 2009-
>>> 2010 Master Teacher Corps for the 2009-2010 school year.
>>>
>>> Is there anyone else going through this process or if
>>> wanting to teach in Louisiana, are you going through the
>>> TeachLouisiana process?
>>>
>>> Please share your experience, Thank you in advance.
>>>
>>>
>>> Best regards,
>>>
>>> Wondering
>>>

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