The Duel

.For my students, the battle to do good is just that, a battle. It is just as hard in prison as it is in the world to do good continuously, and for all the right reasons. In trying to correct my students thinking I would always be reminded by them that the world does not run fairly. I agreed with that but I would add, “that doesn’t give you the right to break the law in pursuing of what you decide to be fair.” Usually, that got me a blank stare and no response. My students view that they would get what was due them was always a one way approach to life. I kept pointing out that when you combine the “what I am owed” with “I’m going to get mine,” that would usually end up in a long prison sentence. Unfortunately, with some of them, self evaluations were not completed regularly, or based in reality. They seemed to be heroes in their own demise, being the victims of their predator mentality, and then making victims of those deemed weaker. Some would find the answers to fix their damaged integrity, and mend the relationship fences they destroyed while being assholes. Still others went on to become bigger assholes. Sometime you just can’t fix stupid.

.I expected my tutors to have integrity, and for the most part they could be relied on to due the right thing. However, on occasion I would have an out layer. On one hot August morning while supervising the garden work my students were completing, they began updating their journals and turning in their garden tools. I had only two long handle cultivators to account for. A student and one of my newly hired tutors were having and animated discussion in the garden. I reminded them it was time to start wrapping it up, and as I began walking towards them I watched in horror as they swung their long handle cultivators at each others faces with the clang of the sharpened iron prongs interlocking inches from their heads. Only their strength prevented the other from inflicting a devastating wound. In shock, I was able to grab both tools and rip them out of their hands. I used the handle of the one tool to hit my tutor in his fat ass and told them both to “get inside my classroom NOW!

.Once inside my classroom I completely went berserk as I realized how wrong this could have gone had one of those tools found their mark. They knew they messed up bad and would only look at the floor. Once I collected my thought process, I informed them they have now officially lost any garden privilege they had. They would only be allowed clerk responsibilities, and I expected them to write a term paper, while my students completed their assignments in the garden, on what this program means to them and the negative consequence of their actions. I figured if they were really interested in the program they would complete what I had asked of them. I was amazed later that the tutor took full responsibility for the incident and appreciated me not writing a ticket. After speaking with the student I allowed him back into the garden, he completed his garden project, passed the exams, and graduated from the class. I would eventually allow the tutor to help us winterize the garden for next years crop. He was truly remorseful, and his term paper showed it. I told him to hold on to it it, and any time he loses his temper again, reread it. Prison Stories To be Continued…