The following is something I posted originally on Facebook as my most immediate means of public expression. However, there is more to the story here in regards to pedagogy and advocacy. The original post reads as follows:
“Okay trumpsters, sleep on this: I just spent 45 minutes with a student discussing his research paper which is about the impact of the end of DACA. Through that conversation, he told me his story. Let’s call this student ‘Joe.’
Four years ago, Joe’s mother woke him up in the middle of the night and said “We have to leave now.” They fled Mexico and ended up near McAllen, Texas. Why did they leave? Because his father had just been killed by the cartel. Why was Joe’s father killed? Because he refused to cooperate.
Three years ago Joe’s mother was deported. Joe somehow managed to make it through high school and get into Texas A&M University where he joined the corps of cadets. Joe has been planning to enlist in the army when he graduates from TAMU because that is how he can become a citizen. His visa status basically labels him as a refugee.
Joe has no family here – no one – yet this kid makes it to every single one of my 8:00 am classes after doing the morning workouts/rituals of the corps. Joe completes every assignment on time and seeks help constantly as he apologizes for his English (which is, honestly, better than many native speakers). He’s also surviving what can basically be referred to as hell month as a freshman in the corps. Yet, he can no longer join the military to get citizenship because trump killed that hope.
Joe is not a rapist. Joe is not a terrorist. Joe is not a murderer. Joe is a kid – an 18 year old kid – trying his damnedest to maintain grades and graduate from one of the top universities in this country. Joe is willing to die for this country, yet your president doesn’t think he belongs here and your congressmen are too weak to stand up for what’s right.
Rest well. I know I won’t.”
I did not rest well. I immediately picked up my office phone and contacted student assistance services in my university. I spoke with someone who assured me we had resources to help but she would need Joe to come in to see her, so I gave her his contact information. I also spoke with a colleague and my department chair, both of whom felt equally outraged, both of whom immediately got to work looking for local resources outside of the university (this is my first semester on faculty and I live an hour away from campus). All of this took place on Wednesday.
Friday morning, Joe came to class and I pulled him aside to ask if he had spoken with student services. He replied that he had not because he does not answer calls from numbers he doesn’t know, but he assured me he would contact her after class. HOWEVER, and possibly more importantly, he told me that he had secured 90% additional funding towards his current semester debt by going to two of the offices that I suggested. HE went on his own after speaking with me, after discussing how the process should work. He was very grateful and I felt very relieved.
As it is now Sunday morning and I’ve had a couple of days to mull this over, I’m realizing how many lessons were learned in that brief encounter: we revised his thesis for his essay; we researched additional resources/sources, and we – HE – found a resolution, temporary as it may be. How does this relate to teaching?
Obviously, we must have a positive rapport with our students in order for them to be engaged learners; however, I believe that engagement is reciprocal. I NEED my students to push me, to drive me to the point of outrage that I immediately leap (literally and figuratively) into action on their behalf. I believe that teaching IS advocacy, and that’s why I know it’s a calling and a passion.
As we navigate the next 1164 days of this presidency, advocating on behalf of our marginalized students is an imperative, not an option. I believe as educators we subscribe to our own hippocratic oath that includes a healing aspect via knowledge. If we show/help our students find a way to help themselves, is not that healing?