The Teacher
She quietly enters the classroom - and finds thirty all-male - blue clad inmates sitting -
patiently - waiting - waiting for her arrival.
They all greet her respectfully - with great deference - some even reverently.
She is a tall woman - six feet one inch - with a lean muscled frame - just beginning to soften
With thinning wisps of graying brown hair - obviously past retirement age.
She holds herself erect - her demeanor and temperament - shout out to the world,
this was once - a very strong - proud women - always in control - unbreaking - unshakable.
She wonders to herself - not for the first time - “Do I deserve all this praise and adulation?”
Today is green-book day - the last day of class - of this sixteen week learning journey.
Bitter-sweet day - green-book day - where each student must stand before the Teacher.
Speak to classmates - speak with no restrictions - speak with no boundaries.
Speak of knowledge - learning - life - dreams - takeaways - about the real world outside.
Some speak well - polished - professional - others stutter hem and haw - but all speak.
All have something to say - many read straight from the green covered - small paper journals.
Journals they received from the Teacher - on the first day of class - just for this day.
Speakers - direct personal comments to the Teacher - words of thanks - of praise.
Most recite the Teacher’s - First Day Words - words such as honor - respect - integrity.
Some scorned - the Teacher’s First Day Words - branded them - insincere - platitudes.
Now they preach the First Day Words by rote - as only true believers can articulate them.
All have changed because of the Words - some have changed drastically - but all have changed.
After today - they will return to the daily routine - the broken long arm of the law - the Prison.
For most - the Teacher is the first true role model of their lives - a surrogate mother figure.
After each has spoken - the Teacher delivers her Final Words - much like the First Day Words.
She speaks of pride - duty - love of family and friends - she speaks of becoming a dependable
person.
Her voice is melodic - soothing - yet it rings with strength and power - that belie her aged body.
The students sit mesmerized - listening like sponges - soaking up the doctrine - the life lessons.
All inhabitants of this prison - recognize she is a woman of honor - all know - she is the
Teacher.
Incarcerated felons and prison staff - all - appreciate and respect this quiet woman of learning.
The Teacher dismisses the class - but - no one leaves - all arrange in a line by her desk.
They remain for their turn - a personalized farewell - a firm handshake for each eager student.
The Teacher is finally alone - the last student has departed to his bunkhouse.
She collapses exhausted - audibly dropping her tired old frame - into her chair - with a loud sigh.
She speaks aloud - “One glorious week off - to rest and recover” - another expressive sigh.
Then it all starts over again - at the beginning - thirty new felons - the First Day Words,
the sixteen week journey - the growth - development - transformation - the Final Words.
Craving - longing - almost overpowering need - from these men - the search for what exactly?
To locate - a person to teach and mentor them - confirm by example - how to be - a good person.
She stands wearily and begins packing the tools of her trade - perhaps it is time to truly retire?
Is it worth it? She wonders - not for the first time - little pay - less support - no recognition.
She appears her age now - face lined with a lifetime of experiences - protesting - fighting - causes - prisons.
Her tired eyes rest upon the heap of green-books - slowly the internal fire returns to her eyes.
She straightens her back - her jacket - her scarf - and she straightens her mind.
She opens the classroom door - exits into the dirty dimly lit hallway - back into her persona.
She is the Teacher again - she embraces the ramrod - no-nonsense look - she breathes in the
role.
She is greeted enthusiastically by staffers and former students as she strides down the long
hall of the education building - in the prison’s center - it’s heart.
Her manner is complete calmness - she seems impervious to the dangers surrounding her.
She whispers aloud - not for the first time - “Who needs better - pay - support - recognition?”
She glances down at this semester’s stack of green-books she is carrying - impressive - full -
bulging.
Each book represents a life - a potential salvage - a victory over the system - a win.
Books she will add to the hundreds of others saved - through her years teaching - in the prisons.
She smiles softly to herself - and mutters - not for the first time - “It is enough.”
“The justice system is broken - I can never be powerful enough to change the system!”
She recognizes the system is too big - too powerful - she would lose that fight.
She chuckles - “I can beat the system - one reformed inmate at-a-time.”
She considers the numerous green-books collected at her home - for the first time today - she
smiles fully.
She understands - she can win - make a difference - help these young men to change course.
She walks boldly onto the prison yard - she nods - in recognition - to former students.
Greeting each by their surname - Mr. Brown - a nod - Mr. Jackson - another salute-like nod.
A rookie felon - fresh to the prison - is walking the prison yard - with an older companion.
He observes the tall woman hauling a clear - see-through plastic bag - stuffed with something
green.
He stops amazed - to observe the ritualistic greetings - the display of mutual respect.
The rookie - inquires of his walking companion (a lifer), “Who is that woman?”
The lifer responds - “Her - you don’t know who she is? Why son - she is theeee one and only!” “She is the Teacher.”
From the author: This poem is dedicated to Rhea Edmunds - who has taught in all-male prisons for 20 years with no recognition, support, and for very poor pay. Rhea, who is a woman of color - took me, a 63 year old white guy - under her wings four years ago when I started. Everything I know about teaching incarcerated students I learned from her. With deepest respect and love - Rhea this is for you.
Bio: Thomas Davison obtained his doctorate as a Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership. Dr. Davison has been teaching entrepreneur-focused business coursework at two prison facilities in Marion, Ohio. He has been deeply moved by his personal observations and interactions with his incarcerated students and has been motivated to create poems and short stories about the day-to-day lives and experiences of his felon-students. Thomas has recently created a not-for-profit (NFP) business, Entrepreneur Services for Felons (ESF). Thomas has dedicated 100% of his writing profits to this NFP, which provides free, one-on-one support services for felons and ex-felons.
He may be contacted at davisont@mtc.edu.