Chapter 2 Summary Peter Kreten

I just finished reading Chapter 2 in See You When We Get There. Chapter 2 focuses on Liz Kirby, who is an African American studies teacher at Matheson Public High School in Chicago. Matheson is one of the premier Chicago Public School, however over the past two decades the school has experienced a phenomena known as white flight. The book states that: “By 2001, white student enrollment had shrunk to less than 5%.”

Even with this, the school is still one of the premier CPS schools in the entire city. Ms. Kirby is an advocate of social justice in the classroom and challenges her students to not just accept society the way it is. She wants her students to make society better and more just. She encourages debates on crucial “real world” matters such as credit card debit, slavery and its affect on today’s society, and what it means to be an African American.

The chapter describes a class in which the subject of religion is brought up and Ms. Kirby has an honest conversation with her students about Christianity’s impact on African-American culture, both positive and negative. She is fearless in the discussion as she mentions her own conflicting feelings on the subject matter. (Pages 33- 36)

It seems that no topic is off limits for discussion in her classroom. Ms. Kirby brings in articles about police brutality, why it is important to improve impoverished communities, and other real world topics. Her teaching methodology includes student accountability, no matter how small the infraction is. Assessment through various strategies, the text describes how she has her students write a poem in response to a topic they covered in class. She assigns readings outside of the history textbook, as she has her students read the autobiography of Malcolm X.

As I was reading the chapter, I found myself nodding my head in agreement with many of Liz Kirby’s philosophies on education. I loved how reading was such an important part of her class. You can tell that she really cares about her students and their success. There is a line at the end of the chapter where Ms. Kirby is states: “That’s why a philosophy of love and hope is so important. You have to believe that people and things can change for the better.”

This chapter does an excellent job of showcasing a dedicated and inspirational teacher. I found that many of Ms. Kirby’s teaching methods and philosophy are very similar to my own. This was a very insightful read. It shows me that even in the public school setting, you do not always have to teach to the test. You can have real moments of learning transpire. If you want them too, you have to make them happen.