Entry #23: Driscoll Middle School:
Trying to provide a better way
[Editor's Note: While Darrell Lee and his son Tyler celebrated Grandpa Lee's
8oth birthday in Yuma, Arizona, Corrine and Ian assumed school-visiting
duties. This is their report. Darrell will be back next week to tell us
more about Corpus Christi.]
Corpus Christi, Texas -- After driving for two quick days
from Louisiana we ended up in Corpus Christi. We toured Driscoll Middle
School with Dr. Garner the principal. We are the minority in a sea of Hispanic
faces. While walking around the halls, I realized how tough it must be for
the boys to start over in a new school each month. Upon starting the first
day, I wondered how Ian would do since Tyler was away with his father. His
comment was, "I'm okay, mom, I've done it before." It dawned on
me that they are stronger than I thought with who they are. They are not
shy anymore.
Well, with Darrell gone, I have spent the week going to different school
activities. This school faces many challenges, but not for lack of trying
or the availability of resources. I have observed a full-time officer and
a security guard on the campus at all times for safety. They have two volunteer
parents that float around the campus all the time. I attended one function,
a father/son activity in the morning, where four parents showed up but five
male staff members took it upon themselves to gather a child out of a class
so he could participate as well.
This school has a full-time parent liaison. She is there to educate the
parents and have activities for them to do together. There are two community
resource people full-time, one of those being a case worker. These are people
in ONE school, not the district but the school -- a school where so many
people work for the benefit of both child and parent.
Just this week, another function besides the father/son obstacle course
was a parent/child picnic where they went to a park and played "Egyptian
Baseball" (what a whacky game). Anyway, each child had to have
a parent come in order to participate. They were served pizza after the
game. I thought the participation was good (about 35 parents). Other things
in the week included an arts and crafts class for parents-only after school
and a chance for parents to come to school for lunch. We arrived during
"Texas School Week," so some of the activities were not everyday
occurrences, but I was still impressed.
Driscoll has more support resources for parents and kids than any other
school we've visited. They have a unique "tech dome" with at least
50 computers for students. We also toured a class called "Synergistic
Lab" where they have computer stations with all these gizmos that teach
the kids a lesson each day. Ian is taking that class -- he loves it and
says the equipment is first rate.
They have a golf team, and the school provides the clubs. They also have
a uniform dress code and if a child can not afford the pants, the school
will provide two pairs. The track coach will also provide spikes for all
the kids. This is a Title I school (I kept hearing the term and wasn't quite
sure what it meant -- it's the federal program for schools with high numbers
of low-income families), and that's the reason many of these resources are
available.
From what I've seen so far, this appears to be a school that's trying to
provide a better way for its students and families in the midst of many
obstacles. Darrell can fill you in next week as he digs deeper into some
of these programs from his educator's perspective. I appreciate the chance
to tekk you my view for a week!
Corinne, the loving wife
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Photo by Corrine Lee
Egyptian Baseball at Driscoll Middle School in Corpus Christi, Texas