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Show Forum Summer September 21, 1993 Student Spends Summer Teaching To Inner City Youths Jennifer Thompson Forum Copy Editor Everybody says that teaching in an inner city school is something no one would want to do. But there' is such a need there, it was worth some sacrifice, said Sam Salinas, a senior in Spanish and philosophy. He taught Spanish and algebra summer school classes to mostly Hispanic, inner city youths at a private high school located east of L.A. Students attended the five-wee- k summer school after failing the subject(s) during the regular term at Cathedral High School. Teaching in L. A. was more gratifying for Salinas than the student teaching he did in the Granite School District. The students in L.A. had to pass his course or get kicked out of the school. These kids are on the edge, said Salinas. You can see that youve made a difference or you can see them go down. The kids come from gang families, poor families, and a lot of people have given up hope on them. Theyre trying to stay in school and , at the same time, have real, personal struggles with gangs, drugs, family problems and poverty, according to Salinas. The students were different from those at Granite. They have a lot of emotion. Theyre very physical and straightforward. You never have to guess where theyre coming from, said Salinas. One of Salinas best students came, from a hardcore gang family, but he studied hard and stuck around campus. It seems hes chosen not to join them, Salinas said. The students in Salinas two Spanish classes and one algebra class accepted him as a teacher. I was up front with them. I guess they respected me for that, said Salinas. I was fighting against the mentality that these kids arent going to make it. These are the lost kids. Very few people give a damn about them. All Salinas students passed but one. Some graduates of the school go on to college; others dont make it. Two graduates were shot in gang related violence, said Salinas. Salinas is an alumnus of a Christian Brothers school in San Fransisco. The Catholic organization also runs Cathedral High School and asked ' Salinas to get involved in the summer school program. Salinas lived on campus with the other teachers. One day, as Salinas was walking through a crowd of young guys hanging out at a bus stop, one of them asked him for a quarter. The kids crowded around and started harassing him; one of them put his hand in Salinas pocket Salinas then started hollering obscenities in Spanish, and the kids backed off. Salinas said he didnt realize it was a scary situation until later. Its weird that such young people are the ones carrying the guns and committing the crimes, said Salinas. F I i wurwjy Jr"- - ipm - f A. . r - , V-- Salinas has taken every Spanish course Westminster offers. He said the classes helped him a lot with the grammar he needs to know to teach. He said he learned more about speaking and understanding the language in two months in Cuernavaca, Mexico than he did in two years of college though. He went there with a group from Westminster for May term two years ago and ended up continuing ? his classes for most of the summer. Most of Salinas students in L.A. wanted to learn Spanish because 95 percent of them were Hispanic, and people on the street assumed they could speak photo by Alex Ferguson Spanish. I understood where they were PhilosophySpanish major Sam Salinas taught students who faced failing school. All at because my parents didnt teach me of his students passed but one. either, said Salinas, who is still working toward becoming fluent. . After Salinas finished his classes in L.A., he went to Tijuana and volunteered his services. He helped at a I worked my ass off at IHC as a bill day camp in a very poor community or no had running collector and went water skiing a lot that electricity water. In the evenings he taught En- -, Robyn James glish classes to Mexicans of all ages sophomore, chemistry and helped to paint the school. Westminster doe3 not offer Spanish I worked at a Research Library in OrX X as a major, but Salinas said he may go to egon. I surfed and windsurfed. jr for Spring Gus Phillip the University of Guadalajara macontractual a to semester complete freshman, aviation a on and to wants teaching He get go jor. P certificate, but one is not offered in Utah schools for Spanish or philosophy. Salinas said after graduation he may go to jk. California to graduate school to get the certificate in Spanish. f ' ," 33 What Happened During Your Summer? K , , Vv 3f?3 V - .V' Salinas summed up his L.A. experience as an eye opener. The kids there are important Society shouldnt give up on A sophomore, communications them. Theyre worth caring about said Salinas. Thekids appreciated and responded to the fact that Salinas did care about them and their lives. Salinas tried to improve his I know I gave at students least a few kids that extra boost that says I can do this, Im OK, he said. & I had front row seats at Chicago conI 3 cert. , V 7P-- ' c v A M ' i ; ,, ' h self-estee- The experience for Salinas was very worthwhile, and he said hed definitely like to do it again. I went to Firey Furnace near Arches. Melissa Janko , - ri I i f I got out of Utah and drove all over Texas. Heather McGinley sophomore, undeclared Amy Nosack junior, psychology "I worked, went on a cruise to Jamaica, hiking, camping, and biking. Erin King -- went freshman, undeclared Tamera Evans Forum Staff Writer Photos by Alex Ferguson Is something neat happening in your life departmentclubetc.? The Forum welcomes articles from contributing writers. Or you could choose option B: Let us know and we'll write it. |