Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Liberation (05/02/24)
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TITLE: Zac, The transformer | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marlene MCPherson
05/02/24 -
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Isaac Henry came to Saint Andrew Technical High School now as STATHS with nineteen years of teaching experience and also some military training, so he was competent to move the school that was surrounded by vulgarity, theft, and slum to a place with an atmosphere where learning took place and results were forthcoming. This he did and the transformation of the school became known as “Oasis in the Desert.”
His technique in handling disciplinary problems was unparalleled. When he was coming to school, for example, he would offer students a ride since both were going to the same place. One morning as he stopped to offer two students a lift to school, he noticed that one of the students was not going to “his school”.
“Where is your epaulet?” he asked.
The student was dumbstruck.
“I do not know you, only that student I know ‘cause he is clad in the full uniform”.
The student had to step out of the car while his friend rode with the principal.
He taught the males by his examples. In one case when he recognized that the boys could be champions for the football Manning Cup and the Oliver Shield Cup, he planned to camp the entire teams for the summer months. During this period, they were trained and received nutritious meals. According to him, he wanted to:
“Keep them from the girls who love stars”.
Needless to say, victory was secured as the school beat their opponents 6 to 1 which was historic.
One day in class while teaching was taking place one of the fourth-form students went to the teacher and asked permission to leave the class. She bluntly refused and told him.
“Anything that you want to do outside do it in here.”
He went to the wall and urinated in the class. She immediately called the principal, Mr. Henry.
He came and looked, then he turned to the youngster:
“Why did you do this?’
“She told me that anything that I wanted to do outside, I should do it here.”
He turned to the teacher, “Did you say that teacher?”
“Yes,” she replied.
“Well, teacher, he followed instructions”.
Turning to the boy, “Young man you have to clean it up now”.
Then he left. The student immediately responded.
He walked the school environment throughout the day so he was alerted and aware of what was happening. Sometimes as he patrolled, he would see papers on the ground, and he would simply clap and point to any student outside.
“You have left something on the ground”. Without hesitation the student would take it up and move to a container.
He even made sacrifices to ensure that the school’s goals were realized. He mortgaged his house and paid down on a car for a raffle to take place for needed funds for the school. But this did not end there. After twenty-one years of service in his will he ordered that his house be sold, and fifty percent of the money should be donated to the school.
Clearly, this educator demonstrated nothing but devotion and dignity to his vocation and for the future. Generation. Over the years the students referred to him as Zac, which was like a holy endearment.
This is true story.
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The Challenge topic is subtle but on reflection it is found in the transformation.
As a reader I'd have warmed to Zac a lot more had he entered into the story a little more rather than being told about him.
I understand that is limited by the word count and the many things the honorable man accomplished.