the little black schoolhouse ch.1-3

8/14/2019 The Little Black Schoolhouse CH.1-3

1/30


2/30

THELITTLE BLACK

SCHOOLHOUSE

SYLVIA GRIFFIN


3/30

The Little Black SchoolhouseCopyright 2000, 2009 by Sylvia Griffin

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any formor by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by anyinformation storage and retrieval system without written permission from the author,except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

Borderline Publishing305 N. Steelhead WayBoise, ID 83704www.borderlinepublishing.com

ISBN 978-0-984190287 (Paperback)

Cover design by Jeff Jenkins, Boise, ID

Printed in the United States of America on post-consumer recycled paper


4/30

This book is dedicated to my sister who believed in me.


5/30


6/30

5

PROLOGUE

With terror in her black eyes, the young girl gazed at the old mansweathered face. He spoke with firm conviction to the adults andchildren gathered around the light of the fire, as though his ancient agegave him a compelling wisdom.

Only a fool would not be afraid when they hear the cry of LaLlorona. He spoke clearly but rapidly.

When she was alive, she was known as La Malinche by our people.Her Christian name was Marina. She was the Indian Mistress of Corts.She had a bastard son by him. When Corts wanted to take this son

back to Spain, she stabbed the child through the heart rather than beseparated from him.

The girls pulse kept pace with his words, then skipped a beat or twoin the pause preceding the climax of the old mans story.

She has been cursed by God for her evil deed and now must travel

the earth crying for her lost child.Suddenly the old man pointed a gnarled finger at the boy sitting next

to the young girl.Are you the son for whom La Llorona weeps?The frightened boy tried to speak, drawing close to the young girl

for help; but the words would not leave his lips. The girl looked at himand then turned to the old man as she said, HeHeHes my big

brother-Leo-Leo Garza.And what do you call yourself, nia ?Linda. Our parents are Pedro and Armida Garza. She was proud

and indignant. Wewere not children of La Llorona.The old man shook his head sadly.That is where you are wrong, niita . All Chicanos are the bastard

children of La Llorona.Dont scare the little ones, rebuked one of the men in the group

who had been listening to the story of La Llorona. You are wronganyway. My grandfather told me that her cry was heard before thewhite man arrived. She warned the Indians of the white mans coming.She has to be Ciuactle, the goddess of the earth.


7/30

THE LITTLE BLACK SCHOOLHOUSE

6

No, interrupted another man. It was only after the arrival of thewhite man that her cry was heard. And then, looking into the eyes of the terrified children he said, She is the Aztec goddess Matlacuatli,the woman with the net. She is a vampire who stalks desolate places tofind children to feed on who have wandered away from their parents.

Lindas blood turned cold in her veins. She must always stay closeto her parents. She never wanted to see La Llorona.

One man, noticing the look of horror in the childrens eyes, added,Children must be especially careful to stay away from ditches, rivers,and canals. For I have been told that La Llorona is an Indian womanwho killed her children by drowning them. God has cursed her, andthat curse cannot be broken until she finds her lost children. She walksthe banks of ditches, streams, rivers and canals, every place where achild could drown, looking for her lost children. It is there that you aremost likely to see her. Once you have seen her beautiful face and her long, flowing, white robes, evil will hunt you down until it has you inits jaws.

After hearing this last talk, Linda and Leo ran away together as fast

as their callused bare feet would take them. On through the dark theyran until at last they reached their one-room dirt adobe home.

Once inside Leo went to a corner of the room and sat on the dirtfloor, staring at the dirt wall. Linda went over to her mother who wascooking flour tortillas on a wood stove.

She didnt want her mother to see her fear, but she wanted to knowwhat her mother had to say about La Llorona. Her mother would know.Her mother knew everything. She would not lie, for everything she saidwas always true.

As her mother placidly continued her work, she told her daughter,La Llorona represents our Aztec mothers who wept for their childrenfathered by the Spanish men who raped them. We, the Chicanos, arethe offspring of that rape of the Aztec nation. The father of the child of rape has no claim upon his child, for that child does not even bear hisname, and the father is guilty in the eyes of God. But the raped mother

and her child are innocent in the eyes of God, and thus the child bearshis mothers name. La Llorona is our Indian mother. We call ourselvesChicanos, which means Indian. When we speak of la raza, we arespeaking of the Aztec Indian race that has come to us through La


8/30


7

Llorona. You are a daughter of La Llorona.Lindas terrified confusion erupted vehemently, No, Im not!

Youre the only mother I have!The mother looked at her daughter with sorrow in her eyes. She had

known that Linda was frightened. She had hoped to remove the fear from her daughters heart by making her feel that La Llorona was to beloved, not feared. Now Armida was baffled by her young daughter. Shewondered why grown men would try to scare children. She thought thereason was that they had never become adults.

She stooped to gather her vulnerable daughter into her arms. Theyoung Linda cuddled within the proffered warmth and knew her mother loved her. I want to be just like her, wise and good , the childs heartcried silently. Her mother, wordless too, yearned that harm might never touch her children.


9/30


10/30

9

THE LINCOLN SCHOOL DISTRICT

Breathlessly, Linda Garza dashed up the steps of the high school. Shedidnt want to be late for the meeting the Lincoln School District washolding for new teachers. Long ago she had acquired the stresssyndrome of adapting to the exactness of Anglo time. She knew shearrived long before the meeting was to start, but the anxiety of teachingin an Anglo school district caused her to feel rushed.

As she walked into the building, she noticed that not many hadarrived yet. She picked up a packet of papers that were on a table nextto the entrance into the auditorium. She walked into the auditorium andsat by herself in the middle of a row that was in the center of theauditorium. She was hoping that this position would be a good hiding

place when all of the new teachers were seated.As she sat there, she scanned the papers in the packet she had picked

up; but her mind could not seem to focus on what she was seeing. She

was preoccupied with the worry that perhaps she had made the wrongdecision to leave the Fertile Valley School District where she hadtaught for the last five years.

Fertile Valley had hired her straight out of college. She had giventhem five years of successful bilingual teaching. Dr. Donald Peterson,now the superintendent of Fertile Valley, had been her principal for thefirst two years of her teaching career. It was his excellentrecommendation of her teaching abilities that had enabled her to behired by Lincoln. He had not wanted her to leave. He made her promisethat she would send him her new address, so he could mail her acontract in case she wanted to return after teaching a year in an urbanschool district.

It was more than leaving the security of the tenure she had in FertileValley that made Linda apprehensive. It was also that Lincoln gave her an uneasy feeling. She had taken a cut in pay to come to Lincoln

because they would not give her credit for her five years of teachingexperience.She would not have considered leaving the Southwest to go to the

North to teach had it not been so difficult to teach migrant Mexican-


11/30


10

Americans. She couldnt even teach the alphabet without the children panicking when she came to the letter j. The Spanish word for j is jota ,a perfectly proper Spanish word; but among Chicanos it means ahermaphrodite. An Anglo could have been forgiven for having usedsuch a word because most Anglos were ignorant of the language, butthe children could not forgive a Chicano who obviously knew thewords meaning.

To make it even more difficult, the parents of the migrant childrenfrequently kept them out of school to be with them either at home or working in the fields. They could not see the need for a formaleducation, especially when their children could help with expenses byearning money in the fields. Also these parents did not trust a Mexican-American who was a schoolteacher, especially when that teacher wasa woman.

If Linda had had any of her family still living, she might have hada reason to stay among the people who had given her her roots. Insteadshe had decided that perhaps formal education was a culture of its ownand thus she would teach in a community that valued education.

Linda had applied to several middle-class urban school districts.Lincoln seemed to be the only one that was interested in a never-married, bilingual, Mexican-American teacher. She could not helpwondering why they wanted her.

Suddenly Linda came back to the present as the meeting was aboutto start. With a shock, she became painfully aware that no one hadchosen a seat near her. She was the only one there who was not sittingnext to someone. She felt uncomfortable and conspicuous because shewas surrounded by several empty seats. Even the seats in front and

back of her were vacant for two rows in both directions although therewere teachers who sat at the ends of these rows.

On the circumference of the empty circle which enclosed her, therest of the educators formed an oblong group with Linda as the center.She did not get up and move next to anyone. She was too reserved andshy to do this. But she did wonder what there was about her that made

the others avoid her.Dr. Matthew Brown, superintendent of schools, stood up to addressthem. Linda noticed his expensive suit and arrogant bearing. It wasobvious to her that he was a very different man from Dr. Peterson.


12/30


11

However, she thought that being avoided by the other new teachersmight have colored her reasoning. She listened to what he had to say.

We have had teachers from all over the nation apply for positionsin the Lincoln School District. His eyes scanned the audience beforehim. You have been chosen out of hundreds of applicants to teach inthe finest city of the United States of America.

This school district employs a total of 1,798 people in positionsranging from superintendent to custodian. Our city has a low level of unemployment, a high standard of living, and is economically solvent.There is very little crime here. Because of these advantages, we try tokeep our community select. We do not want any undesirablesdestroying our high quality of life. This does not mean we are racially

prejudiced. Dr. Brown looked straight at Linda while he said, As youcan see, we even have racial integration in our faculty.

Linda glanced around, but she was the only one she could see whoappeared to come from a different culture. She thought that perhapstomorrow, when all the teachers met together, she would see other teachers from minority races.

Dr. Brown continued with a tone of smug complacency in his voice.Because we can be choosy about our teachers, you should know thatwe will not tolerate any laziness. Each of you will be observed at leastthree times a year by your building principal to assure that you aredoing your job. Your principal may also call on any of our administrative staff to help an inferior teacher improve his or her teaching.

Linda looked at the packet of papers she had in her hands. Shenoticed that one of the sheets listed the central administration positions.She was shocked to see the long list of administrators.

She did some mental mathematical computing to figure out the ratioof administrators to subordinates. She discovered that one out of ninewas a central administrator. If principals and assistant principals wereincluded, one out of seven was an administrator. She wondered howmany of the districts 1,798 employees actually taught the children.

Thumbing through the sheets of papers, she discovered the salaryschedule for both teachers and administrators. All of these caretakersof the district received a fantastically disproportionately high salarycompared to classroom teachers because of a responsibility factor built


13/30


12

into the salary schedule. Linda couldnt understand how anyone could be considered to have more responsibility for the education of childrenthan a classroom teacher.

With the high salaries of the numerous administrators, Lindaunderstood why the district couldnt afford to pay a teacher a salaryworthy of the job. She also noticed that not only were the teacherssalaries very low, but there was not a great deal of difference betweena teachers salary at the top of the schedule with a masters degree andtwenty years teaching experience and that of a teacher at the bottom of the schedule with a bachelors degree and no experience. Sheconcluded that there wasnt much opportunity for monetaryadvancement.

She shifted her mind back to what Dr. Brown was saying.No teacher is to use the telephone or receive calls unless it

concerns school business. Any teacher who has personal affairs whichinterferes with his or her job will receive demerits, the number depending upon how serious the principal determines the offense to

be.

Linda was puzzled by the meaning of demerits. She thoughtdemerits were something that the military gave or perhaps a penalinstitution. She wondered why there was so little respect for teachers.

With the quality of voice that a parent reserves for a disobedientchild, Dr. Brown continued, You will also receive one demerit for each day you are ill. Illness costs the district money because we haveto pay for substitutes.

Each school has a time clock in the office that will record thearrival and departure of each teacher on his or her attendance sheet.You are to punch in as soon as you arrive and never leave the schoolgrounds until you have punched out at the end of the day. Teacherswho arrive late, leave at noon, or go home early, no matter the reason,will receive demerits, the number to be determined by your principal.

With a majestic wave of his hairy hand he added, The LincolnSchool district graciously allows each teacher ten demerits for the

school year. If the number exceeds ten, the excess will be recorded inyour file which is kept at the administration building. The evaluationsof your teaching ability will also be placed in your file.

You will never be permitted to see your file. The files would be


14/30


13

invalid if teachers could see them. These files are for principals,administrators, parents of students, and the public to use in evaluatingyour worth. They are also used for determining a merit pay bonus thatwe offer at the end of the year to teachers who have given outstandingservice.

Absolute submission to a dictatorship is what he really means ,Linda thought. Her eyes did not leave his arrogant face as his wordscontinued.

We pride ourselves in the Lincoln School District that no teacher ever receives tenure. A good teacher doesnt need it; a poor teacher shouldnt have it. Also, if a teacher is given tenure after a few years of acceptable teaching, that teacher will become lazy because of theknowledge that his or her job is secure. We will not allow this tohappen. You will not be rehired if you succumb to indolence.

Glaring at his audience, he continued, To help you resist thetendency to become lazy, you will be required to stand while there isany student in your room. A good teacher never sits.

Lindas mind was aghast. She wondered when was the last time Dr.

Matthew Brown had ever put in a full year of teaching. She came to theconclusion that he knew nothing about teachers or teaching, and

probably little about children, too.Suddenly Dr. Brown began pacing back and forth before the

podium. I really regret having to discuss our dress code with you, hesaid while he was walking. All educators should know they need todress professionally, but it appears that one of you is lacking in her education.

Linda wondered who that poor woman could be. She hadnt really paid much attention to what the others were wearing, so she hadntnoticed anyone who wasnt dressed appropriately.

Abruptly Dr. Brown turned and maliciously stared directly at her.Women must always wear designer dresses and high heels. Anywoman who wears slacks or low-heeled shoes hates her sex and wishesshe were a manor perhaps shes just a lesbian. Either way, she is not

setting a proper image for the Lincoln School District.Lindas brown skin became a deep reddish hue as she glanced downat the feminine pantsuit she was wearing. She wondered how he hadknown she was also wearing low-heeled shoes, but then decided that


15/30


14

high heels would look out of place with a pantsuit.After that, she had only the vaguest idea of what Dr. Browns

closing remarks might have been. Neither was she aware of what theother speakers said, except that it seemed to be more negative warningabout what the Lincoln School District expected of them.

As Linda returned to her apartment on the city bus, she finally beganto get over the emotional shock Dr. Brown had given her when hesingled her out. She started to think clearly again. The only way Dr.Browns words had cheered her up was that she now knew it was her

pantsuit and low heels that had caused the other teachers to avoid her.When she returned to her apartment, she sorted through her clothes.

She discovered she had only three dresses, none of which could beconsidered designer dresses. She had never had a salary that allowedher to purchase a really good quality dress. Much to her dismay shediscovered she had only one pair of heels, and they were not very high.Although Linda was rather short and slightly plump, and thus wouldhave looked taller and more slender in heels, her ankles had a tendencyto wobble if the heels were too high. She preferred to look short and

plump but steady on her feet than taller and slimmer but likely to toppleover any minute. She also didnt like to teach in a dress. There weretimes she liked to bend over or sit on the floor with the children. Thiswas difficult to do in a dress.

Deeply depressed, she threw herself on her bed and started to cry.When it seemed to her that she had no more tears to shed, she got upand wrote a letter to Dr. Peterson giving him her new address as he hadrequested when he told her he would send her a contract for the nextschool year.

That night she had troubled dreams. Death filled her nightmares.She relived the shock of her brothers death from a drunken brawl andthe later lingering death of her mother from tuberculosis. It seemed asthough her mothers bloody spittle covered the dirt floor of their adobehut. It appeared to mingle with the blood from the knife wounds in her

brother Leos body. But the worst horror she re-experienced that night

was her fathers death.Pedro Garza had worked long days in the fields to help finance hisdaughters education. He had insisted that she continue her studies untilshe had her masters degree. He would have continued working until


16/30


17/30


16

* * *

The next morning Linda felt as though she hadnt slept, but she onceagain arrived early for the meeting that this time would include thereturning teachers as well as the new ones. Because of the large number of teachers, this meeting was held in the huge auditorium of the citysCultural Arts Center. This time Linda was only isolated from the others

by one vacant seat on each side of her in the row in which she sat. Shefelt uneasy about this isolation but thought it was due to the fact thather heels were not very high and her dress was not expensive.

Once again she listened to the same lectures with the identical themethat the new teachers had received yesterday. Linda searched theauditorium for another person of a minority race but could still seenone. Why have they hired just me? she asked herself.

She wanted to shut her mind and heart to the subtle message shewas receiving again from the speakers. The connotation whichsignified, We know you are a poor teacher who will try to doeverything you can to get out of work; but we, your superiors, will be

spying on you and seeing that you do your best anyway.Linda thought that if she treated students this way, even the best of

them would hate her and never learn anything. She wondered whatkind of schoolteachers this philosophy had created and what chance shehad to fit in.

She did her best to put these thoughts out of her mind as she toldherself that tomorrow, as soon as she was alone in her own room whereshe would be teaching fifth grade, she would feel better. She felt thatno administrators would be able to destroy the magic that takes placewhen a teacher is alone with her students in the peace of her own room.


18/30

17

NORTHSIDE ELEMENTARYSCHOOL

The next day was Friday. With amusement Linda realized that againshe had arrived earlier than required. First, she tried to rationalize her early arrival at Northside Elementary School by telling herself that thecity bus schedule was the reason she was always early. But finally, shedecided it was only a bad habit she had picked up from being aroundAnglos. She felt that time creates stress. She longed for the leisurelyeternity of her childhood culture where time was not so important.

She went to the main office and stood outside its door until thesecretary came. She was told to take a seat and wait until the principalarrived.

She had just sat down when a fairly short, stocky man, about thirty-five years of age, arrived. He had blue eyes and a narrow semicircle of light brown hair around a bald skull. Even though he wore anexpensive suit and tie, Linda thought he was rather homely, but thenshe realized that all Anglo men were unattractive to her. This man waseven hairier than most Anglo men. With his pasty white skin, hairyhands and balding head, she wondered if he belonged to the humanrace.

She recalled a question her brother Leo had asked when they werechildren.

How do Anglos know whether they are sick or well? When we aresick, we turn pale; but Anglos are pale all the time. How can they or anyone else tell if they are sick?

Linda hadnt had the answer then, and she didnt have it now.As soon as this homely Anglo entered, the secretary immediately

stood at attention. This was the first time Linda noticed that the womanwore an attractive dress and high heels.

Mr. Burke, said the secretary respectfully, this is Linda Garza,your new fifth grade teacher.

Beth, did you see to it that she punched in on the time clock?No, sir, I didnt think about it.


19/30


18

Mrs. Hawks, you are not paid to be negligent in your job.Im sorry, sir. I really am.Linda thought she noticed a slight smirk of satisfaction at the

secretarys discomfort as he said, I will overlook it this time, Beth, because it is the beginning of a new year and you probably arent back in the groove yet.

Oh, thank you so much, Mr. Burke, the secretary sighed withrelief.

Linda knew that this man had turned to address her, but she couldnot look him in the eye. Years of practicing the Anglo trait of facing a

person eye-to-eye suddenly vanished, and she reverted to the Chicanocustom of avoiding eye contact.

Mr. Burke noticed that she was looking down and assumed she wasshy in his presence. He felt immensely pleased at having this effect onher.

Now, dear, he addressed her, dont you worry. I am GregoryBurke, the principal of Northside Elementary School. Ill take care of you as though you were my own daughter.

He put a fatherly arm around her and led her to the clock where he proceeded to show her how to punch in and out of the school.

Linda did not feel comfortable with his arm around her. Women puttheir arms around women. Men put their arms around men. Adults puttheir arms around children. But adult men do not put their arms aroundadult women unless they are closely related to them. Still, he hadreferred to her as a daughter. But that didnt make sense either. Hewasnt much older than she was.

Now, my dear, he said patronizingly. Come into my office andwe will get to know each other a little better.

Again he put his arm around her, only now he held her closer tohim. She did not know how to handle this, so she did nothing. She didnot want to hurt his feelings. After all, he was a principal and the two

principals she had known had been men of great integrity.After entering his office, he closed his door. He did not sit across the

desk from her. Instead he pulled up a chair next to his and pointed toit saying, Have a seat, Linda.She would have been more comfortable if he had not called her by

her first name until he had known her longer. But then, he was her


20/30


19

principal, and maybe that gave him the right.Linda instinctively moved her chair slightly away from his as she sat

down, but Mr. Burke slid his right next to hers until she felt suffocated.Then he put his plump, moist, hairy hand on her knee and said, I wantyou to know that I run my school like a family. My staff are as dear tome as my own children.

I want you to be at home in my school. I want you to feel as thoughLincoln is your own hometown. He patted her knee as he said, I canshow you around the city and see that you have a social life. I knowhow lonely you must feel being in a new place with no family or friends.

She wondered how he knew that she was alone without family or friends, and then she remembered that on her application she had towrite that all of her family were dead and that she had no next of kin.The Lincoln School District had wanted the addresses of all of her family, friends, and relatives. The only way she had been able to satisfythem was to say she had no close friends and that her family wasdeceased. She would have liked to have friends, but other migrant

Chicanos did not want to associate with a woman who had a collegeeducation.

Ironically, Linda remembered how isolated she had felt these lasttwo days. However, at this moment she preferred that isolation.

Shall I show you around the city tonight, Linda?Linda wondered why he didnt discuss the school, her teaching

position, or the students she would be teaching. She shifted her positionto get away from his damp hand as she gave him her answer. I wouldlike very much to see the city. You can give my phone number to your wife, so that she can call me to make the appointment for the two of you to show me around. Right now I would like to be shown my roomwhere I will be teaching.

Gregory Burke ignored her request to be shown to her room as heresponded, My wife is too busy to get involved with school activities

by showing a new teacher around the city.

Linda continued to avoid his eyes as she responded. I can certainlyunderstand that, she agreed. As a conscientious teacher in thisschool, Im sure I also will probably be too busy to accompany you andyou wife on a city tour.


21/30


20

If Linda had looked at Gregory Burkes face, she would have seena puzzled frown as he was trying to decide if she were nave or justevading him. He finally decided she was nave and needed to have thesituation explained to her more thoroughly.

Listen, Linda. I am only trying to make you feel welcome. I wantyou to be a success as a teacher in my school. I am the one who will beevaluating you. I am the person who will either make or break your career in the Lincoln School District. I can see that you get merit pay,or that you are permanently out of the teaching profession. The highlytaxed public has nothing but praise for a principal who has the courageto get an incompetent teacher off the public payroll. You have nodefense against me. Lets face it. You are a new teacher from a

backward culture. I am a fully established principal with an excellentreputation.

I am giving you this advice because I feel very protective of youand want you to succeed. I am certain when you have a chance to think it over, you will welcome the opportunity for us to become better acquainted.

Linda thought she was having a nightmare. She would have preferred the horror of the last two days district meetings to thistraumatic experience of meeting Mr. Burke.

She responded to him by saying gently, If you would like to get toknow me better as a teacher, please show me to my room so I can getstarted.

Disgustedly Gregory Burke stood up, opened his door, and called tohis secretary, Mrs. Hawks, will you please show Miss Garza to her area?

Linda wondered why he referred to a room as an area.The secretary said, First, Ill show you the school. A person can get

lost around here if they dont know where they are going.She took Linda outside in front of the school, where there were three

small portables. She pointed to one and said, This is for the gifted andtalented teacher. The next one belongs to the speech therapist. The last

one is for the learning disability teacher.They went back inside, turned right, and walked past the main officeto the very end of the front section of the school.

This school has been built inside a hill, Beth informed her. The


22/30


21

last room at the end of this hall is the furnace room. It and the facultyroom at the opposite end of this hall are the only rooms in the front partof the building that are entirely covered with earth and thus arewindowless. The furnace room, however, has access to outside air and

pumps it to the rest of the school.Linda noticed that the other side of the hall was not lined with

rooms.The next room is the custodians office, continued Beth. This is

the office of the resource officer. Next is the nurses. And of courseyou know this is the main office. We wont go inside. You know whereMr. Burkes office is. Right next to it is the vice-principals office. Yousaw the front part of the main office where my desk is. Next is thesupply room. Both the front part of the main office and the vice

principals office have doors that go into the supply room. This is theaudiovisual room. And here we are at the front door again.

Beth walked past the front door, continuing further down the hall,and showed her the library, the conference room, where meetings wereheld to decide the placement of students in special programs, and the

offices of the psychologist and counselor. Linda noticed a teachersdesk in the hall.

Why is there a teachers desk in the hall? asked Linda.That desk belongs to the reading specialist, replied Beth.When will they move it into her room?This is her room.I dont understand, said Linda. Everyone has a room or office

except for the reading specialist?She works in the classroom.Where does she keep her books and supplies?She has none, said Beth. Greg threw them all out. If she were to

get a bookcase to put in the hall and put supplies in it, hed throw themout too.

Why? asked Linda.Linda received no reply.

Realizing that Beth was evading the answer, the usually shy Lindasuddenly was overcome with a burning desire to know why Gregwould treat reading with such contempt.

You didnt answer my question, Beth.


23/30


22

Beth appeared even more uncomfortable, but she answered Lindasquestion this time without being pressured.

Ten years ago the reading specialist had the custodians office andworked with small groups of remedial readers. But that was beforeGregory Burke. Three years ago when he came, he made his usual play

because he found out she was a divorcee with three children to supportand no boyfriend or male relative to protect her.

I know you understand how Greg is, Linda. The minute I saw him put his arm around you, I knew you were in for his opening scene.

Now it was Lindas turn to become uneasy.When Donna wouldnt give in to him, he tried to get her fired by

giving her a bad evaluation. He might have gotten her fired because theschool board was asking for a 5% purge of the teachers in the district.They said that statistically 5% are rotten teachers and thus 5% had togo. But Dr. Brown said that Donna had such a wonderful past recordthat she should be given a second chance. So Greg threw out all of her supplies and moved her desk near the office where he could keep aneye on her. When she complained, Greg countered that the custodian

needed to be near the office. He told her that by putting her in the hall,he was saving the taxpayers money because he hadnt requestedanother portable.

He told her that reading specialists were unnecessary anyway. Hesaid any lay person could teach a non-reader to read. He reminded her that most remedial work in the district was done either by learningdisability teachers or school volunteers. She countered that a learningdisability teacher didnt know as much as she did about readingdisabilities and that volunteers knew nothing at all. He told her to becareful or he would try again to get her fired.

Donna had no choice but to spend her teaching day in theclassroom because the hall is too noisy and distracting for teachingreading.

Couldnt she transfer to another school? asked Linda.She tried to do just that. She applied to every school in the district

that had a woman principal, but all transfers must be approved by the building principal and Greg wouldnt give his approval. She evenapplied for a job in another district, but they insisted on arecommendation from her present principal and she knew what kind of


24/30


23

recommendation Greg would give.Why is Greg allowed to be a principal? questioned Linda.

Doesnt the district realize what type of a man he is?Im sure they do know his type, replied Beth. He is the type that

will do anything they ask him to do with no questions asked. He isexactly the type they want.

What kind of a place is Lincoln? asked Linda.Beth gave Linda a penetrating look as she said, It used to be a nice

city, but the people dont seem to be in control any more. It is asthough an unseen power has taken over, she mused. Youd better becareful, Linda. You look like a sweet kid. I hope you, too, rejectedGreg; but if you did, look out or else get you a boyfriend in a hurry.

Why a boyfriend? Linda was bewildered.Greg is a coward. He doesnt have the guts to face a man. It is only

women who have no male to protect them that Greg picks on.You mean he stays away from married women?Well, not always, admitted Beth. But a married woman has to be

either on the prowl or have such a rotten marriage that Greg is certain

hell have no trouble with her husband.Linda was astounded. What about you, Beth? she found herself

saying. I noticed you seemed very nervous when Mr. Burke bawledyou out about not showing me how to check in.

Beth took a second look at Linda. Boy, you dont miss a thing.Well, my trouble with Greg isnt the same as yours. Ive got a goodhusband and five wonderful kids. My husband is a hard worker. Heowns his own gas station with a mini market in it. He works long hours

but it isnt enough money, especially when youd like to send your kidsto college. We wouldnt make it if it were not for my additionalincome. That is why Greg pushes me around. But then, thats jobsecurity, she added philosophically. Greg wouldnt be happy with asecretary that he didnt have power over.

Linda could understand Beths need to work. She remembered howhard her father had toiled in the fields to send her to college. He sent

her everything he could, leaving practically nothing for himself. Themen with whom he worked thought he was crazy sending all thatmoney to educate a girl. Linda had never had the heart to tell him hismoney did not cover half of her educational expenses. She couldnt tell


25/30


26/30


25

would be teaching. Behind hers were the two other fifth grade classes.The advantage of having the first area in the section was that it was theclosest to the multipurpose room and the lavatories. The disadvantagewas that the other two classes only access to their areas was throughhers. They would be disrupting her class when they needed to use thelavatories.

Linda asked, What do we do for a fire drill, since the only exits areat the front of the school?

They are sufficient, answered Beth. We really are not in danger of a fire in this school. It is protected by the earth and constructed withcompletely nonflammable materials.

The answer did not have enough logic for Linda. She could not getover the feeling that this school was not safe. What about anearthquake? she persisted.

This is not an earthquake area.A bomb, then?Good grief, Linda, replied Beth. Do you always expect the

worst? Lincoln is a safe community in which to live.

Linda would have asked concerning the danger of radon; but seeingthe annoyed expression on Beths face, she decided to refrain fromvoicing this concern.

Beth seemed happy to depart, leaving Linda to organize her area.Linda had just started to investigate how to move the three

accordion-like partitions in her area, when an attractive woman walkedin. Immediately this new arrival started talking.

Oh, you must be the new fifth grade teacher. I teach fifth grade,too. Im Grace Low. Whats your name?

Linda had barely told her her name when Grace was back to her chattering. Linda reflected momentarily on how worried she had beenthe past two days about being accepted. Northside seemed to quietthese apprehensions. Of course, Mr. Burke had been too accepting of her, but both Beth and Grace seemed to be genuinely friendly.

She saw that Graces clothes were very expensive. She wondered

how she could afford them on a teachers salary.Grace was a tall, slender, and very attractive brunette. Linda thoughtshe looked like a model in a fashion magazine. This made her feeldowdy in comparison. But Grace didnt seem to resent Linda for her


27/30


26

inferior dress, her ordinary face, or for being short and a little on the plump side. Linda was happy that she was obviously sociallyacceptable to this stylish woman.

However, it soon became obvious that although Grace wasaccepting and gregarious, she was also very proud of her social status.As she rattled on, she let Linda know exactly how important she wasin the community.

My husband is Jeremy Lowe, Grace stated proudly, the finestattorney in the whole state. Everyone from all over gets him to taketheir cases. Of course, you have to be rich to afford him.

He makes so much money that I dont have to work. I only do it because I want to. I get so bored staying home. I dont like to clean andcook, so I have a maid to do all of that, she said smugly.

Jeremy and I never wanted children. Oh, theyre all right for partof the day; but twenty-four hours, every day, seven days a week, twelvemonths a year? That could ruin your life and marriage.

Linda wished Grace would quit talking so that she could get towork, but Grace had a captive audience and wasnt about to stop.

I like teaching, though. Im one of the few teachers here who canget to school late, leave at noon, go home early, stay home sick, have

personal calls, and yet never receive any demerits. Why, my record isso good I get the most money that is allowed for the merit bonus at theend of the year. Of course, I dont need it, she added, but it looksgood to have it in my files.

Greg wouldnt dare put anything bad on my record, Graceexplained. My Jeremy would fix him good. She paused to take a

breath and then went on.I shouldnt say this, she said confidentially, but my Jeremy

knows a lot of dirt about Greg, Dr. Brown, and most of the important people in this school district, including the school board. Hed ruinanyone whod try to blackball me.

That doesnt mean Id take advantage of my position as his wife,she continued nonstop. But when you teach, you do have emergencies

come up. Actually, all teachers should be treated as human beings andenjoy the freedoms I have.Linda felt breathless, trying to absorb all this strange information.

Then attempting to be more relaxed, she told herself that she could


28/30


27

learn a lot by just keeping silent and listening.The audible words kept rushing to her ears and mind.Ive told Jeremy that, Grace was saying, but he just laughs and

says, What can you expect when your administrators are small-timecrooks? The only way to deal with them is to treat them like thehoodlums they are. I dont know exactly how he handles them. Hesgot something on all of them, but he wont tell me anything about that.He says I blab everything I know.

Probably so, agreed Linda inwardly, but how can such accusationsbe true of administrators, who are supposed to be above reproach?

With a patronizing tone in Graces voice, she stated almost self-righteously, I asked my Jeremy if he couldnt do something for theother teachers in the school. He looked at me as though I were crazyand told me to be grateful that he was able to look out for me. Of course, hes right. Jeremys always right.

Grace chattered on and on until Linda thought she couldnt standmuch more. Then she felt grateful that Grace suddenly stopped talking

because a woman of about forty and a man about Lindas age arrived.

The young man was helping the older woman carry books. The womanwas very aloof and acted as though she didnt want anything to do withLinda. But the man was warm and friendly.

Hi, Im Leonard Richter, he said, and youreLinda, Mr. Richter. Im Linda Garza.For goodness sakes! Call me Leonard. Everyone around here calls

each other by first names.He gestured toward the woman with whom he had arrived and said,

This is Frieda Kepler. Shell be teaching fifth grade in here too.Frieda still refused to acknowledge Linda. She growled at Leonard,

Dont you have work you need to do?What do you call carrying books for you? he countered,

Loafing?Then he turned to Linda and said, Dont let Frieda get on your

nerves. Her bark is worse than her bite. Then he added under his

breath, I think.In a normal tone he said, I teach sixth grade. Im in the nextsection. If you need anything he looked at Frieda before continuing such as someone to carry heavy books, be sure and let me have first


29/30


28

place for that honor.He gave Linda a warm, friendly smile as he left the room.As soon as he had departed, Grace began chattering again.Oh, how lucky you are to have Leonard go out of his way to speak

to you, she sighed. Isnt he handsome? And wow, what a body!Doesnt he make your heart pound?

Linda hadnt thought he was especially good-looking, although shedidnt voice this opinion to Grace. It was true that he had a tall, athletic

build, golden-blond hair, and very blue eyes. But he was not the manfor her. Her man would have black hair, black eyes, and a warm brownskin.

Grace continued her prattling. The girl who nabs him is going to belucky. Hes such a gentleman, so refined. And to top it off, hes never

been married. Im surprised some woman hasnt handed him the rightline to snare him. After all, he is thirty-two. Someone should havecaught him by now. Id do it myself if I werent already married. I betI could hook him.

Disgustedly Linda said, Hooks are for fish. Why should he swallow

a line that would pull him to his death just so some fisherwoman can brag about her catch?

Grace appeared surprised at this sudden and pointed comment. My,you are a philosopher. Youd better watch it. Youre soon going to betoo old to get a man. Men want the young girls.

You know, Linda, Grace counseled, its not good for a womanto spend too much time thinking. It gets her all confused. Men are theonly ones who can think clearly. Thats why theyre here on this earth,to protect women from difficult decisions. If you start doing your ownthinking, youll never attract a man. The reason I was able to get a greatman like Jeremy is that he knew I couldnt survive without him.

Inwardly Linda cringed at her words. She had heard them fromwomen of her own race. She was glad she had had a mother whothought differently. Armida Garza had taught her that a woman wasintelligent and should think for herself. She hoped she could be like her

mother. She didnt ever want to be like Grace in spite of her physical beauty. Linda reflected, All the great men in the world are not worththe disaster that happens inside a womans soul when she is less than

she can be.


30/30

the little black schoolhouse ch.1-3

Documents