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Copyright 2010 by Teofilo Colon Jr (a.k.a. “Tio Teo”) for Being Garifuna. All Rights Reserved. Contact Tio Teo.
February 21st 2010.
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California, United States — Here is a blog post about the new book co-authored by Belizean Garifuna Educator, Mr. Frank Palacio. The Book is called, “Middle Schoolin’ : 50 Stories about The Challenges, Humor and Rewards of Teaching.”
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UPDATE on March 31st 2010.
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Here is an interview with the co-author of the Book, “Middle Schoolin’ : 50 Stories about The Challenges, Humor and Rewards of Teaching.” — Mr. Frank Palacio.
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Tio Teo — Where are you from?
Frank Palacio — I was born in Punta Gorda Town, Belize.
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Tio Teo — What compelled you to become a teacher?
Frank Palacio — I wanted a career that involved helping others.
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Tio Teo — How long have you been teaching?
Frank Palacio — Let me see, two years in Belize, plus thirteen years in California makes for 15 years total.
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Tio Teo — How has coming from a family of teachers impacted or informed your thinking about (and practice of) teaching?
Frank Palacio — I still remember the days when the teacher was the most important man in town next to the mayor, priest and the policeman. Sometimes the teacher served all those functions and was often the most intelligent person in the community as well. I was influenced by my dad, my grandfather and their teacher friends.
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Tio Teo — Are you a “Middle School” teacher (Grades 7-8, Junior High School Grades)? If so, are those the only grades you have taught? As opposed to teaching elementary school, high school or even in college?
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Frank Palacio — For now I am a Middle School teacher, and so the book “Middle Schoolin’ ” is aptly named, even though, the book contains many scenarios that are teachable K-12. I have taught High School in the past and even Adult Ed.
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Tio Teo — I’ve read that seventh and eighth graders were the worst behaved students as a group and that overall the junior-high school experience is considered a universal time of torment. In fact, apparently, many substitute teachers refuse to teach seventh and eighth graders. Do you find this to be the case as a Middle School teacher? In that, ARE seventh and eighth graders difficult to handle?
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Frank Palacio — This is an excellent question, Tio Teo. It is commonly held that 7th and 8th graders are the toughest classes to teach and to discipline probably because these students are going through puberty and their hormones are racing around like a pingpong ball inside their body causing them to be overly dramatic, or emotional. There are psychological, hormonal, as well as emotional changes that occur in this age group. To be a good teacher of this age group, you need a calm, caring adult who is able to step back and put himself in the shoes of these kids and think back to ones own adolescent years and to make the conscious decision to be there for the kids unconditionally.
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Tio Teo — How different IS the dynamic for teaching middle school students as opposed to other students like those in elementary school or high school? What makes Junior High School special?
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Frank Palacio — Junior High School special to me is the fact that students are very impressionable and honest. They want to emulate the way the teacher walks, uses words, gestures etc. They all wear the same type clothes, sneakers, hairstyles, and they talk the same etc. The kids are searching for their identity. They are also starting to discovering their own powers — gifts and talents. Therefore if the right teacher impresses them with a love for knowledge, community, and respect for self nothing is more satisfying. (Read Middle Schoolin’ for some humorous situations that kids get involved in, pranks etc )
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Tio Teo — What should or shouldn’t potential teachers consider when thinking about teaching Middle School?
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Frank Palacio — The potential teacher should not expect that all kids are the same and that every kid learns the same or thinks the same way. Be prepared to be challenged and be ready to explain firmly but gently why the kid should listen and act as you instructed. The WHY is often important in education. If the student knows why you want them to do a certain thing, then they are more prepared to “buy in” and cooperate.
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Tio Teo — What was the impetus of this book? What made you want to co-write a book on your experiences as a teacher?
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Frank Palacio — “Middle Schoolin’ ” is about real life situations. Often I would go home and tell my wife, “Guess what happened today at school!” I kept telling my wife that the stories about things that kids say and do in school needed to be chronicled and shared. Jacques Rallion who is an excellent storyteller and I would swap stories about our individual classroom experiences and so we agreed to put pen to paper and tell our stories — our students’ stories!
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Tio Teo — Who is this book for?
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Frank Palacio — “Middle Schoolin’ ” is for every parent, teacher, counsellor, coach and even student. This book is about treating students with respect and dignity as individuals. Education is not “a one size fits all proposition.” This book is not only to entertain, but to teach others about what school life is like today.
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Tio Teo — Are you Garifuna? If so, how has being a Garifuna-American shaped your sensibilities as a teacher? I imagine that you have a somewhat increased sensitivity to students who are immigrants or aren’t native Americans.
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Frank Palacio — Another excellent question, Tio Teo. Being Garifuna means, I love and respect education as the key to success, I am for the oppressed and downtrodden, I value multiculturalism, and my mantra is “it takes a village to raise a child.” This is the way I grew up. Your teachers could discipline you, your neighbors, even a stranger! Community is super important.
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Tio Teo — I understand that many Garifuna people from Belize are educators/teachers. Are there any distinct cultural aspects that account for this? Are there any towns or families in Belize where one can find many Belizean/Garifuna teachers?
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Frank Palacio — Yes, the Garifuna teachers that were pioneers in education around my dad’s time and before would travel to remote villages that were not accessible by road. They had three things going for them. They were tough, not afraid of hard work, and they had a facility with languages. If you can learn Garifuna you can probably learn any other language spoken in Belize or anywhere else! Our Garifuna teachers would go to different parts of the country of Belize, other districts to teach. We helped to educate the following communities: Creoles, Mestizos, Mayas and Kechis and of course our own Garifunas.
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Frank Palacio — When I was growing up in Belize 30 years ago or more, Teachers moved from the small rural areas to go to Belize City to receive their training. As a result every Garifuna Community produced teachers. At that time I would say that Teaching, was probably the number one occupation of the high school educated Garifuna person.
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Tio Teo — How can you tell when you have a Garifuna student in your class? Have you found that special consideration needs to be given when presenting material to Garifuna students–in particular those who are recent immigrants (as opposed to those born in the USA)?
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Frank Palacio — I can usually know if a Garifuna kid is in my class because of either the name or the accent. Sometimes, a kid will tell me on the down low that they are from Belize. I usually respect their privacy if they don’t want to make an issue out of it, then that is fine. For a recent immigrant kid, I can usually help that kid by telling him of my immigrant experiences and offer suggestions to help them cope. Sometimes the best help I can be is just by telling them that I understand what they are going through and that I am available to help in anyway I can. Knowing the home culture, I sometimes just pick up the phone for a one-on-one conversation with the parents.
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Tio Teo — How has your book been received? I have heard from Parents and Teachers who have written about how much they got from your book. Have their responses been instructive? How so?
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Frank Palacio — This book has been well received by many communities. The Garifuna community has been very proud, I get lots of “Good job!” or “I can’t wait for part II.” or “Keep up the Garifuna tradition of excellence.” from colleagues, the reaction has been, “Wow, someone who actually published! Good job!” I have gotten feedback from University professors who tell me that there is a need for a book like ours to help new teachers, because many books seem to fail to give new teachers strategies that they can use from day one, or the books don’t break it down so new teachers can relate to exactly what the author is saying.
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Tio Teo — Finally, what does BEING GARIFUNA mean to you?
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Frank Palacio — Being Garifuna to me means that my roots extend from Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, St. Vincent and Guyana. Now the United States accounts for probably the largest Garifuna Population in the world collectively? Furthermore, with the advent of the internet age, The Garifuna Community is global. Being Garifuna means that I have a responsibility to the following to do my best in my field: to God our creator, our ancestors, and my own role models from different fields: Vincent Ramos in Politics, Roy Cayetano, Jerris Valentine, and Dr. Joseph Palacio in Garifuna writings and research, Theodore Palacio former principal of Belize Teachers College, Andy Palacio in music, Bishop Martin and Father Lazarus in Religion, Milton Palacio in Basektball, and Angela Palacio for her work at A Palacio Exchange , to name a few.
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Frank Palacio — Finally in closing, I would like to thank you, the community and Tio Teo Colon for being farsighted and wise for your work in helping the world to discover the talents and gifts of the Garifuna people. I wish you much success in all your endeavors. God Bless. I would also like to personally thank anyone who has bought a copy of our book, “Middle Schoolin’ ” or who has prayed for the success of this project, especially my parents, Theodore and Bridget Palacio and my wife, Glendarice Palacio. Again Middle Schoolin is available at www.bn.com, (Barnes and Nobles) www.amazon.com, and Angelus Press in Belize.
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Tio Teo — Uwati Meigeiti, Mr. Frank Palacio.