A "Want-a-Be-A-Teacher" Secretary... of the impolite order!                   

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May 26, 2006    A Free Tutoring Service: Preparing for the Future. Tell Oprah about us!  Please read all 17 of the editorials I have written, and all 30 pages to the Oprah Show Producers. They relieve the stress of many years of struggling to assist students with their classes!  The Professional Community Speaks! (Click!)

I had a talk with this well-dressed lad as he walked me to the Magnet Office of Curtiss Middle School. He had been assigned as my escort by the Main Office. We entered the Magnet Office to speak to the Coordinator, but was told by a secretary that she was not in. I asked to speak to one of my student's (Tyneesha) teachers, as I had spoken to all of her teachers before, having them to think highly of me for appearing on behalf of one of their students. I was authorized by the parent to speak to her counselor and teachers at their convenience. I had been to Curtiss Middle School many times (click) in years past! As a matter of fact, my son, Kenneth went there in 1975, and my son Duane, in 1977! I had sat in their classrooms upon numerous occasions and assisted with homework!

The secretary was more bent upon berating the young man above for some unknown reason than she was interested in me at all. She finally asked "What do you want?", in a most harsh voice. 

"I would like to visit Tyneesha's classroom", I said politely.

"Which classroom?" was her irritated reply.

"Could you look it up for me?" I asked politely.

"Don't you know your job?" was the very sarcastic reply. I knew then and there that I had met someone who did not appreciate me in the least. I had met many such persons, but not one so intense in her dislike of me as this one. I wanted to say that I didn't have a job. I work without compensation to assist all failing students wherever they are.

"You should come prepared!" she shouted. "I know who you are!" The accent was on the "you".

I was not prepared for confrontation on this day. I had only stopped by Curtiss Middle School to take a picture of Mrs. Pam Pitcher, whose son I am tutoring. She owns a Fitness Center on Bonita Street in Carson, and I wanted to produce flyers to enhance her business...for free. I had gone to her business location and found out she was doing a "career day at Curtiss". I thought to take care of the business with Mrs. Pitcher, and at the same time, look in on my students. I figured I would not make it by school closing to visit Tyneesha's teachers, since I had to travel to Brea, CA to pick up one of our computers (frozen) that had been repaired by Computer Digital Land of Brea. I only had a long and hard day of volunteer work to consider, and not the sarcastic and ignorant comments of a Magnet secretary! 

The secretary mumbled something and then came up with Room 204, as the room where my student was having a class. I went to that room, only to find it to be the room of Mrs. Loo, her math teacher. 

Mrs. Loo looked surprised to see me. She said this was not the right class for Tyneesha. 

I went back to the Magnet Office to perhaps face more of the same sarcasm and utter impoliteness that I had faced before going to Room 204.

What comment caused me to respond with my own sarcastic rhetoric? What caused me to react to more sarcasm and a seemingly dislike for the likes of me?

I told the secretary she had given me the wrong room. She seemed more irritated by her mistake.

I had to tell her she was totally impolite and she was working for the public, and it was not the other way around. I left and went to visit Mr. Morris in Room 231; there I found my student.

Mr. Morris, a very dedicated and caring teacher, allowed me to a minute to  respond to a student question as to who I was.

I spoke briefly to let the students know that I was a Volunteer Tutor, interested in assisting those who needed homework help. I told them of the Professional Community that stood behind them, as well as Mr. Morris, a very dedicated teacher. I urged the class to give him the respect that he truly deserves, and to do their very best in school. I went a bit further when I used their "vocabulary- words- of- the- day- before" in sentences. They were amazed by this, and wondered how I knew the homework words. (I, of course, question each student daily on homework assignments, and we delve into each of them!)

Mr. Morris thanked me for coming, and I left the school by way of the Main Office. I told the secretary there of the very impolite and sarcastic Magnet secretary. I was told that " a secretary should be a reflection of the school where they work". Thank God, this is not the case with this vile person. She stands alone at Curtiss Middle School and is not representative of any teacher, counselor or student that I have met there. Perhaps, she needs another line of work!

 I spoke to the Dean as I left. I reminded him of our former conferences when he was Counselor for Joshua Leake of several years ago: approximately 3 or 4, when I came to Curtiss in the role that I still occupy today....the role of someone chosen by God, to assist the failing students of our Cities....and to do it all for free! The Dean thanked me for my dedication and commitment. I beamed as I left to travel the 30 miles to Brea, to carry on my Volunteer work for.....A Free Tutoring Service: Preparing for the Future". It is a job that pays $0.00, instead of the near to $100 an hour one that I held as a Supervising Senior Electrical Tester (click) for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power for more than 28 years. Thank God, He gave me the ability to deflect negativity and to continue doing what I do for free. Secretaries such as the Magnet one, would never had been hired by me!

Cleophas MIke McAlpin.....Dedicated and even more intense....May 26, 2006

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