Authentic Doing in Education

8:00 pm

Catching up from last night, I was steered to the “Sante Fe” steakhouse restaurante, just off the interstate across from the Walmart that has essentially sucked the city of McComb dry. Following along the theme of Therese Palmertree’s comment about “the stars are in alignment this week,” as I was making my way across the peanut-shell strewn floor, who appeared with a big smile on his face? It’s Ricky, the same junior from Vickie’s class who also spoke at the Kellogg meeting early in the day. “I had a feeling I was going to see you here tonight,” Ricky said. Ricky was waiting tables and just completed his shift so I invited him to watch me devour a 12oz steak and suck down a Sam Adams. His buddy — I forgot his name — also joined us. Ricky, who is essentially homeless, is staying with him these days. We talked for about an hour, a bit about high school sports, the car Ricky hopes to purchase with his earnings (and arranged support from Vickie), and even a bit about Presidential politics. The discussion eventually shifted to talking about the racial divide at McComb, the use – or lack thereoff – of technology in the school, and about the upcoming interview on Thursday morning. It felt great to have company and the opportunity to learn more about life in McComb from the perspective of two junior boys willing to chat with this 50-year old guy from California.