"Tell your students that many Berendo students go on and have a good life...that's what I tell mine."

Date: Mon, 15 Dec 1997 00:43:08 -0800
From: ivan diego (idiego@khsd.k12.ca.us)
To: Richard Geib (cybrgbl@deltanet.com)
Subject: Berendo Jr. High

I went to Berendo in 1981. I then went on to Belmont High Class of 84 . My parents still live on Lake St. I grew up very poor in that "hood". I believe that many children use the fact that they are poor as an excuse not to finish school or accomplish the simple reality of graduating from any school. I know what it is to be poor, I don't let my students use that old line.

This gang mentallity is not new, what it comes down to is this, if a student wants to live in and raise a family in that area they can. Many others prefer to have the riches of life.

I am now a math teacher at Foothill High in Bakersfield. I still go down into that hood, I understand the streets, because I lived it. Kids will do what you let them, my students believe that they will be somebody. Because I know they can overcome any problems along they way. This is my eight year teaching, I love my job and I do not allow a few kids spoil what is the right of all student...they must learn.

I have two brothers teaching in LA Unified they also don't take any garbage from kids. They live on Lake Street because that is where we are from, If my wife did not force me to leave, I would still be there. My brothers grew up the hard way, no excuse. It is not the area it is the many educators who say that these kids can't make it.

Kids know when you are real, they know that I don't preach. Tell your students that many Berendo students go on and have a good life...that's what I tell mine.