16 Scott Green “First Emphasis is on the Children”

Transcript

Not only the job is more than twofold, threefold because we live in a world now where whatever you do for children, you almost have to duplicate that with the parents because it’s the same way in schools here. We’ve got people that are so frustrated with the teacher, if they can’t get through to the parent, what good does it do? But that’s wonderful but the children have to have, just to say that the children have to have somebody to set an example for them is just to say the least. And if the parents are still left out in the dark, you know, but of course, stay with the children. Hope that their parents can come in the picture. Again, first emphasis is on the children, of course. I live in a neighborhood, I live in a neighborhood, it’s upper Harlem, Washington Heights, and that’s where the Hispanic population gets heavier and some of those neighborhoods and areas, I can hear the N word coming from them, talking to themselves. [laughs] And it’s to a point where all you can do is just I guess do nothing, ‘cuz these are people, the N word. Now, and I mention that, I’m talkin’ about that, I say that for, wow, you would think the parents of these young kids. And these are teenagers. But this habit has been developed where this is how they communicate. And really just to themselves. So, you know, and I always put blame, blame if you wanna call it, the oldest person living in the household that’s not mentally whacked out or doesn’t have something going, if they claim to be together in any kind of way, the oldest person, it starts from there and works its way down, in a household. The grandparents can be physically incapacitated but if they can mentally function, call themselves, you know, functioning people, responsibility starts there. Then it works its way on down to the children. And if you all have a grasp on the children now, don’t let it go. But I’m just saying it’s important, there’s some kind of way, if the parents can be included in this process. Because it’s almost like you don’t wanna lose what you have with the kids. I know plenty of people, I know enough black men teachers. You know my friend Eric, I haven’t talked to him in a while, he’s a young black male. Got a family. Teaches 4^th and 5^th graders in the Trenton area of NJ. And I know of some of his fellow teachers that supposedly gave up teaching because of what they said they had to go through with the students. It’s, but it’s still something that has to be done. It cannot be ignored. It cannot be left docile. It can’t be left with nothing going on. Even if it’s just a little, a little bit. Because you know again, if we’re serious out here, or you all in a, I mean, that part of the world, Rapid City, OK, did I come through Rapid City? After I got out of the Air Force, Charlene and I, we were married and I bought this ’49 Hudson Hornet with a three on the tree. And we could only get as far as Kansas City. Her father had to come and rescue us. But it was fun trying to drive that car. Matter of fact, we were in the Black Hills and it was nighttime and the car was running so I had to, when I stopped, I still had to put my foot on the accelerator even when I’m puttin’ my foot on the brake so the Sting wouldn’t die. [laughs] ‘Cuz those Black Hills, there were a lot of, you know, and that was something. And then it did die in some town. I forget the town. The head gasket blew. And the people put Charlene and I up in their town overnight. Matter of fact, they gave us a break on the rates. Had to send away to Kansas City or some place, for this head gasket to come back, then put in on the car, then we could leave. That was somewhere in, I think it had to be SD because we just, I came straight down, tryin’ to get to Little Rock. A ’49 Hudson Hornet.