StoryCorps NTI: Tyrese Graham

From: StoryCorps
Series: StoryCorps
Length: 02:16

Tyrese Graham remembers his first day as a teacher at John Marshall Metropolitan High School in Chicago, IL. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Playing: StoryCorps NTI: Tyrese Graham
From: StoryCorps

Grahamt_small Tyrese Graham is a second year science teacher at John Marshall Metropolitan High School on the West Side of Chicago. When he started teaching, Marshall was among the worst public schools in the city. At StoryCorps, Tyrese talked about his first day on the job.

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Piece Description

Tyrese Graham is a second year science teacher at John Marshall Metropolitan High School on the West Side of Chicago. When he started teaching, Marshall was among the worst public schools in the city. At StoryCorps, Tyrese talked about his first day on the job.

Broadcast History

NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday 5/27/12

Transcript

Tyrese Graham (TG): I walked into my first class, and the kids were talking. They were loud; I couldn’t get a word in edgewise. And I say, “Okay, guys. You know what? I wanna stop talking. I’ll let you finish, but realize, every moment that I’m not talking and providing you instruction, you guys will be giving that back to me.” And one of the kids yelled out, “Oh you must not know what [expletive] school you at.” And I stopped. And I didn’t know what to say. And then one of the kids yelled out, “Who the [expletive] are you?” And I said, “I’m Mr. Graham. It’s nice to meet you.” I went home that first night, and I was like, “What am I doing? Why did I ever agree to this?”

Being a teacher in this type of environment, you’re going to be faced with a lot that you would have never thought you would face. I never thought I would face the death of a student. He was a kid that I had when he was...
Read the full transcript

Intro and Outro

INTRO:

Now for another conversation from StoryCorps' National Teachers Initiative...

This school year, we're sharing stories from and about teachers and their students.

Tyrese Graham is a second year science teacher at John Marshall Metropolitan High School on the West Side of Chicago. When he started teaching, Marshall was among the worst public schools in the city. At StoryCorps, Tyrese talked about his first day on the job.

OUTRO:

That's Tyrese Graham at StoryCorps in Chicago.