How to Cope While Working in Public Schools: Walk
When I started walking, it was to break out of the confines of the school campus.
The first step to coping while working in public schools is to leave for lunch. This is major because teachers are guilted and conditioned to be all-in at all times--never taking moments for themselves [even though it is written in their contract that they are guaranteed that duty-free lunch time]. And what you can do during that time...is walk.
When I started walking, it was to break out of the confines of the school campus. School campuses are gated. I felt imprisoned. People are enmeshed with one another and the culture of the school. So, in order to maintain my identity as a sane person, I had to go.
Walk.
If you have a radio, there is always chatter, and it may involve your name. You would know this if you were listening. But don't worry, someone heard it for you. If the radio is silent, the class change bells are ringing. Announcements are made over the intercom. The students are shouting in between classes...and so are the adults, particularly the administrators and often times the think-they-are-administrators.
Walk.
The phone may ring, repeatedly. Your e-mail notification sounds. Someone may be looking for you and calling out to find you. A student needs your help, again. Yes, the same student. No, a different student. What is his/her name, again? The principal needs to see you to talk about some bullshit, or to introduce you to the Black Regional Superintendent like you give a fuck, or to handle something with a student and you have no idea why she is asking you to tag along so the only reason you can come up with is that she is scared of brown kids because she has no authority or rapport and the students tell you every day that they don't like that bitch.
Walk.
When I walked, I listened to the sound of the neighborhood and the city. I played Frogger trying to cross the road safely. At the suggestion of the school secretary, I walked to the corner Latin store to get a Cuban sandwich. It tore my stomach up so I was late to school the next morning. I walked to the Dollar Tree and Dollar General to get random shit that I never needed but couldn't get through most days without: chips, candy, chocolate, drinks, and teacher supplies. I walked to pick up my order of Lil Caesar's pizza that I should not have been eating since I told people I was trying to lose weight for my health per my doctor's orders (half lie). I always wondered if they clocked that. I walked to Walgreens to buy my 10th phone charger...and more chocolate. I walked to 7-11 to get a Slurpie and a sugar high [since I had no crack].
Walk.
Around the area, I looked at all the trash on the ground and thought it would be nice to bring a bag and my grabbit to pick it up--community service. I stared at the people walking past me and wondered if I would get catcalled or asked for money. It happened everywhere else. I saw the hurricane debris still gathered on curbs and envisioned a grant where I could get a truck and hire students to clean up for some good money. I smiled at the clerks watching the fuckery they had to endure from irate customers. I waved back at a lady who was always on the porch with her dog barking at me. And when I rounded that final corner of my mile-long, 30-minute speed walk, I checked my timing, took a deep breath, and hoped that one day I would have the courage to keep walking.
How far can you walk in 30 minutes?
