A watch and a video game were exhibits A and B.
James Via obtained them on a search for an answer to two questions: Why hadn’t he been hearing from his son’s teachers? And how was he doing in class?
When we last left the father of three King/Robinson students, James Via, he was enjoying the basketball performance of his son, fourth-grader Michael, in a losing effort against the Wexler-Grant five. This next installment is a brief tale of the surprises that always accompany parenting, even that of the most committed and involved dad such James Via.
(The Vias are one of three city families the Independent is following this year for a series on parental involvement in the schools.)
The second marking period parent conferences at King/Robinson Magnet School began at 5 last Thursday, but James Via took off from his job managing the Burger King out on Dixwell Avenue and Arch Street so that he could talk to his son’s teacher at 3:30. This time, he wanted be sure not to miss her.
Over the last month what had pleased Mr. Via even more than Michael’s athletic prowess — he’d come to expect that — was that Ms. Robinson and Michael’s other teachers were not calling him in the evening. Michael was doing his homework, often helped by sisters Nate’ (holding that strange pale blue watch in the photo above) and Jameisha, and always checked by James Via too.
Via had become accustomed to receiving evening calls from Michael’s teachers that his son was not focusing sufficiently in class or listening to instructions. So this telephonic silence from school was encouraging, but also a little puzzling.
When the teachers had called over the years, Via said, he’d always come in to talk with them so that all the adults in Michael’s life would be on the same educational page.
“I thought things were going great,” said Via in the King/Robinson cafeteria, after he had visited Ms. Robinson, Michael’s fourth-grade teacher. This was obviously an important visit for Via not only because he was expecting some positive news, but also because in touching base with the teachers of his two daughters, Jameisha and Nate’, during the first marking period conference, he had missed Michael’s.
Sure enough, he walked away from the conference not only with a report that Michael had been less than obedient in class, but also with the back-up evidence: a pale blue digital watch and a small video-playing device, which Michael had repeatedly been bringing into class.
“Ms. Robinson said he’d been warned not to bring these in,” said Via, “because he’d been playing with them, and this seriously interfered with his concentration. When he kept doing it, she confiscated them.”
Via said he told Ms. Robinson he wished she had called him immediately about the matter. He always tells, even implores the teachers to call him when there’s a problem, especially in Michael’s case. “Michael will try and try until, you know, all the forces are against him. So now Ms. Robinson is going to be in more regular touch.”
Academically, however, there was at least some good news to rival the achievements of Jameisha and Nate’, whose grades were going up, and even his cousin, also a King/Robinson student, Ga’nazhia Bennett (pictured on the far right, along with King/Robinson Assistant Principal Keisha Redd). In math Michael’s grades were going up. However, in language arts and especially writing additional help was going to be needed.
With regard to language studies, Via had hired privately one of King/Robinson’s regular substitute teachers to tutor Michael in English. That had been making a positive difference since September. But in January she relocated to Arizona. So now Via is in the market for a new tutor.
And what’s going to happen to the evidence, the watch and the video game player? “Oh, he’s not going to have these for a while,” said Via in his quiet but firm manner. “In fact, he’s not going to be able to play any video stuff at home for a week. That’s his punishment.”
Michael, we were informed by Nate’, was off in the King/Robinson gym in a rematch with Wexler-Grant, and was not available for comment.
For previous installments in the Independent’s series on parental involvement in local schools, click on:
Son Gets Pills; Suspension Policy Targeted
Dad Goes To The Top, Gets Results
Parents, M&Ms Join In Math Lesson
Brandon Aims For The Blue Shirt
Night-Shift Waitress Hangs Up Apron
Dad Meets The Teachers. All Of ‘Em
Ms. Lopez Moves Brandon’s Seat
Night-Shift Waitress Gets Xena To Class On Time
Fifth-Graders Get “Amistadized”
Board of Ed To Parents: Get Involved!
Task Force Hones Plan for Kids
The New St. Martin DePorres Comes Home
Good-Bye Recess. Hello Take 10.
