'For some of these kids, it's an achievement just to make it to school'
BY JEFF TAMARKIN

Tuesday, June 3rd 2008, 4:00 AM

Noonan for News
Annan Boodram teaches and inspires at Middle School 206 in the Bronx.

We've all seen those movies about a teacher who takes the wild, apathetic kid and, through a combination of sweat and sheer persistence, transforms the rebel into a student with a work ethic and a renewed purpose.

But how many of us have actually had a teacher like that?

Many of the students who've attended Middle School 206 in the Bronx can answer in the affirmative - if they've been fortunate enough to have Annan Boodram as their English teacher.

But one of the reasons the kids so admire the ponytailed native of Guyana is that he doesn't stop at the required curriculum. Boodram, as his students respectfully call him, believes there's more to education than satisfying a lesson plan.

As the school's principal, David Neering, puts it, "He does an excellent job of establishing relationships and bonding with the kids. They know that he cares about them. He demonstrates that through his actions. He makes the classroom feel like a home."

Neering says that, for example, Boodram invites kids up to his classroom at lunchtime after they've eaten so that anyone who wants to can work on a writing piece or something for their portfolio.

"He'll have upwards of 20 kids in his class for the second half of lunch just doing what they need to do to improve their school work," says Neering. "It's very positive, and it makes a lot of difference. It's inspiring."

Boodram first came to MS 206 in 2002, a decade after arriving in New York. He had taught in his homeland and expected the experience to be similar here, but he quickly found out it wouldn't be the case.

"My first few months were horrible," confesses the 52-year-old, who lives on E. Tremont Ave. in the Bronx with his wife and 15-year-old son.

"In Guyana, it's strict and there's a respect that a kid gives to you, but none of that was here," he says. "And the language! I couldn't believe that kids were speaking like that!

"I asked one kid to do something, and he started jumping on the desk - I didn't know what to do. I thought I was going to give it up and look for another job. But during the summer vacation, I swore that when I came back in September, it was going to be different."

When he returned for the next semester, Boodram had not only organized his work load but honed his disciplinary skills.

"I set up consequences for everything and made sure they were applied," he says.

Once he got into the rhythm of teaching and was better able to manage the classroom, he found that the students were eager to learn as long as a support system was in place for them.

He began spending extra time with them and became involved with other aspects of school life: getting MS 206 enrolled in the Daily News spelling bee, for example, and working with the student council.

"Those are things that broaden their horizons and help them when they make their choices for high school," he says.

He also discovered that one way of reaching the students was to draw parallels between their experiences growing up in the Bronx and stories he'd heard while involved in his major activity outside of school: serving as editor of the monthly Bronx-based newspaper The Caribbean Voice, a position he's held since 1999, using journalism experience he gained before leaving Guyana.

There, as a political activist since age 16, Boodram had reported on - and often participated in - the struggle to bring democracy to the South American nation, actions that led to his imprisonment and his decision to come to America.

After settling in to his new home in New York, Boodram felt a need to pick up where he'd left off as a journalist to, as he explains, "link communities together through information and provide a voice for the voiceless.

"My journalism is premised on activism," he continues. "Investigative journalism and teaching are similar. It's about helping people. This school is located in an area of the Bronx that is socioeconomically depressed. I remember once I was teaching how to write a feature article, and some of the students were struggling to write the lead. After the lesson, I asked them, ‘How many of you know of a murder that happened in your community?' Every hand went up.

"They told me stories of seeing bodies falling from buildings and things like that. What I learned was that for some of these kids, it's an achievement just to make it to school in the morning. I believe that you can only bring out the best in students if you address the issues at the same time that you're trying to educate the child."

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/06/03/2008-06-...s_an_achievemen.html

Tough job...kudos Mr Boodram...

quote:

Originally posted by limer:
Tough job...kudos Mr Boodram...

A teacher is a dream maker-some many lives he will influence.

Cheers and high fives to MR Boodram

what would I have done w/o my excellent teachers!!
May they always be blessed.

[Issue No. 459 Tuesday, 5 August 2003Ambassador Colin Granderson (c) receives an award from Farouk Samaroo (r), of NYS Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin's office. Organizer Annan Boodram is at left.

Hi, Terr, I know where you got that pic.

Nice to know we have Indos who have taken up the task of educating young New Yorkers depressed neighborhoods. Who says Indos are all about money when it comes to choosing a profession?? Anand Boodram's work in the Bronx refutes that claim. I am sure there are many others who are doing a commendable job in the NY communities.

Billy, Nice to know WE as humanity can accept the challenge to educate the world no matter where. I see no reason to single out Indians as educators

quote:

Originally posted by Nippy:
Billy, Nice to know WE as humanity can accept the challenge to educate the world no matter where. I see no reason to single out Indians as educators

Some single out Indians as canecutters.

the world is wide .... why go by their yardstick

always a joy when an excellent teacher is discovered or highlighted

somebody needs to tell that man to change his shirts. that man has an atrocious sense of style and he is totally oblivious to it. Its very shameful to see two random photos of him and he is like a Berbician just come to town. Doesn't he have teenage children who can take him to Macys and Lord and Taylor and get him a few calvin klein, nautica and polo shirts to wear?

And he needs to drop that pony tail.

quote:

Originally posted by Billy Ram Balgobin:

quote:

Originally posted by Nippy:
Billy, Nice to know WE as humanity can accept the challenge to educate the world no matter where. I see no reason to single out Indians as educators

Some single out Indians as canecutters.

don't be fooled, with a harsh NYC economy, many folks are going into teaching because it gives a nice $55k salary plus summers off. Many lawyers, accounts etc are trying to get these jobs. Don't write nonsense that these guys are teaching out of some altruistic need. They are not. They are only out for the pay check and the luscious benefits.

That is alot of BULL. You people are truly illiterate and spew Hot Air. There is a shortage of Teachers in NYC. If you have nothing to say, simply SHUT UP!!

quote:

Originally posted by Nehru:
That is alot of BULL. You people are truly illiterate and spew Hot Air. There is a shortage of Teachers in NYC. If you have nothing to say, simply SHUT UP!!

unlike you, I have acquaintances that work in public schools.

Let me see if I get this one right "has acquaintances that work in public schools " and the other has never seen the inside of a school.

Who to believe?

And the other one is one BIG JACKASS!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Nehru:
And the other one is one BIG JACKASS!!!

Pavi Bhai, why are you angry with me? You are the one who said you never went to school.

quote:

Originally posted by BLACKBEARD:
Let me see if I get this one right "has acquaintances that work in public schools " and the other has never seen the inside of a school.

Who to believe?

Yuh raas wotliss

quote:

Originally posted by BONUS:

quote:

Originally posted by Billy Ram Balgobin:

quote:

Originally posted by Nippy:
Billy, Nice to know WE as humanity can accept the challenge to educate the world no matter where. I see no reason to single out Indians as educators

Some single out Indians as canecutters.

don't be fooled, with a harsh NYC economy, many folks are going into teaching because it gives a nice $55k salary plus summers off. Many lawyers, accounts etc are trying to get these jobs. Don't write nonsense that these guys are teaching out of some altruistic need. They are not. They are only out for the pay check and the luscious benefits.

Yes, many people are going into the teaching profession because of a harsh economy, but Mr. Boodram has been in teaching during the good times and bad times. He was involved in educating people in his native land where teachers' salaries are a pittance. He could have chosen to do something different like many others, but he did not. Mr. Boodram does not fall into that category.

quote:

Originally posted by BONUS:

quote:

Originally posted by Billy Ram Balgobin:

quote:

Originally posted by Nippy:
Billy, Nice to know WE as humanity can accept the challenge to educate the world no matter where. I see no reason to single out Indians as educators

Some single out Indians as canecutters.

don't be fooled, with a harsh NYC economy, many folks are going into teaching because it gives a nice $55k salary plus summers off. Many lawyers, accounts etc are trying to get these jobs. Don't write nonsense that these guys are teaching out of some altruistic need. They are not. They are only out for the pay check and the luscious benefits.

the article suggests Boodram is doing this with dedication.

the principal said "He'll have upwards of 20 kids in his class for the second half of lunch just doing what they need to do to improve their school work," says Neering. "It's very positive, and it makes a lot of difference. It's inspiring."

you said:
"Don't write nonsense that these guys are teaching out of some altruistic need. They are not. They are only out for the pay check and the luscious benefits"

since when , and who made you a heart surgeon ???
you went into Boodram's heart and saw it engraved "only out for the pay check " ???

the world still has millions of Boodrams who do charitable deeds to any and all regardlesss of race, religion, citizenship.

you having a hard time digesting that is understandable

I have known Mr Boodram personaly and he is a wonderful person very committed to Carribean culture as well.
Well done Annan!

quote:

Originally posted by Chief:
I have known Mr Boodram personaly and he is a wonderful person very committed to Carribean culture as well.
Well done Annan!

OK. Am sure he is.

But, please buy him a decent shirt.
His attire is embarrassing.

The man does buy he mashramani shirt and tie from guyana.

Even Farouk is well dressed