New Ways of Thinking
Sometimes the teacher needs to be taught.
I used to teach in a prison and I remember one young man in my class who was an excellent writer. He was my son’s age and I was really moved by his politeness and obvious gifting for words. As was my opening class routine, I spoke of charting a new path forward for the gentlemen, encouraging them to lean into their individual talents. Each of the ten students wanted to know what “talent” I saw in them. Thankfully by this time in the semester I could sincerely see their uniqueness. I took the time to identify what I saw.
When I approached the writer, encouraging him to keep writing, I looked up at the whole class and said very passionately, “Make a plan not to return to this place once you are released. Beat the statistics. Do not come back. Walk a new journey. Because I tell you guys, most of you are the ages of my son. Seeing you here, hearing your dreams & family stories, truly breaks this mother’s heart. Change the narrative!”
The writer’s hand shot up and he said, “Ms. Potts, most of us are in here for drugs, dealing mostly. I took to the streets at 11, hustling to help out my momma. She sees my situation from a different angle that you. She rejoices that I am in here rather than dead on the streets.”
My mouth dropped open. I had never thought of this angle. I had sympathy for their plight but never really thought of dealing as a solution for some families.
I paused a few minutes listening to a half dozen young men chimed in about this reality from their childhoods. While my experience and privilege says there has to be another way, my heart and head knows that it’s hard, near impossible, to see one’s way out of the pit of poverty.
I won’t excuse wrongdoing, but if we don’t pause to hear the stories and listen deeply, we will never have programs that work efficiently or opportunities that help. We will just continue to parrot our own misunderstanding rather than seeking solutions that work.
By the next morning, I had new activities and writing topics that I hope helped those young men dream a new reality, with actionable steps, to prevent recidivism while also teaching the academics.
Dreams matter throughout the Scriptures. They reveal hearts, direct our course, and give us hope. May the Lord give us a new dream, energize our old dreams and grant us the gift of hope.