Comments on: A profound and unexpected correspondence

By: Dave Fort

Dave Fort — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 06:56:05 +0000

Good for you, Annie! This is an incredibly touching piece to read. Proud to know you. Anna says hello.

By: Jesse James

Jesse James — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 05:21:07 +0000

Just my two cents: I went to “good” Catholic schools. In the ninth grade, a first year teacher read us Night. We good middle class Catholic kids spent the time ridiculing him and making his life miserable. We were awful, all of us. In my time in those “good” schools, I can’t remember one great project that affected me, one moment where I thought “Wow! School is awesome.” Later, I and most of my classmates went to UC’s or higher. When I went to college I was shocked to learn that not everyone was Catholic, Irish or Italian. What a closed yet “educated” world I lived in. So I commend you Annie Hatch. Despite the fact that some commenters keep beating Oakland and OUSD down, really they are ready to rise to whatever challenge given the slightest chance. Thank you Katy for sharing and Annie for making it happen.

By: Nextset

Nextset — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 04:48:36 +0000

Jeanette, can you explain your post?

My point is that public schools – urban public schools anyway – tend to “graduate” students woefully unprepared for the Brave New World.

When this happens the students have to learn everything the hard way – by painful experience and loss.

Contrast this to good schools whose products are fairly and fully coached about this country, it’s history, economy and it’s people.

So exactly what’s your point?

By: cranky researcher

cranky researcher — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:36:03 +0000

Lisa, thank you for sharing! The Oaktown Teen Times is a great paper! The article on homocides and the small high schools has great coverage of the Fremont and Castlemont situations.

By: Robert Menzimer

Robert Menzimer — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:09:32 +0000

Those of us who work with high-school students, in Oakland and elsewhere, have learned to not be surprised about what pours out of them when they are given the opportunity, and the tools, to communicate. But what you’ve led your students to express, Annie, really stands out. A tremendously moving experience to read about this.

By: Kurt Wootton

Kurt Wootton — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:35:29 +0000

Annie, What I particularly like about your article is how you include the quotes and the voices of your students. It feels like you are creating an atmosphere in your classroom where students can eloquently express their ideas and opinions. Thank you for teaching your students how to write in meaningful ways, and sharing what happens in your classroom with the larger world.

By: Modern Ms. Barrett

Modern Ms. Barrett — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 02:05:40 +0000

Nice work, Annie! I have said it before, but I’ll say it again: you are an outstanding first year teacher. I can’t wait to see the things you’ll pull off in your fifth year. I am so grateful to have you as a colleague.

I would say at our school in Oakland, kids have more exposure to Islam than to Judaism, for sure. I find the above conversation an interesting commentary that seems to presume that by the time people reach their teenage years they should know about all the various cultures and religions of the world. This is a little ridiculous. They learn about these things as they grow up and hopefully each year get exposed to more and more that is different from what they’ve known.

By: Jeanette

Jeanette — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 06:43:21 +0000

The sad thing about this is that these students who escape underclass and actually work for a living are going to encounter Jews as landlords, as superiors at work, as professionals such as Drs and Lawyers. On occasion some of the students might actually on occasion compete with Jews for position or be involved in contracts with them. Good luck with that.

^^^ Wow, someone missed the point of Annie Hatch’s class’s exercise and Wiesel’s experience and message. Scary and pitiful that Nextset feels comfortable even scripting the above.

By: VM

VM — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 03:00:24 +0000

We are so happy and proud that you are a member of our Life Academy family. We appreciate you and your amazing and positive energy you bring. Keep up the good work our students are so lucky to have you, enjoy the moment. You go Annie Hatch!

By: Annie Hatch

Annie Hatch — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 19:56:50 +0000

Seenitbefore and Nextset: I think I’m one of the lucky ones as I’m a good teacher in a great school. My principal and coworkers provide nothing but support and encouragement, and all of them make me want to work harder and be better (in a realistic and sustainable way). I really don’t think I could do this challenging work (at least not for very long) if I didn’t feel tremendous support from my school community. It makes all the difference.

Lisa: I would love to have one of my students write something for Oaktown Teen Times. What a great opportunity– thank you.