It is annoying that although we teachers deserve celebrity status, so often we lack real star power in the eyes of our students. We have the talent and grit but not the fame or fortune that lends credibility to people like, for instance, Busta Rhymes.
Busta Rhymes is a widely admired Grammy-nominated rap artist with 9 albums to his credit and millions of devoted fans worldwide. In 2006, he witnessed the murder of his close friend, confidant, and bodyguard Israel Ramirez. In a statement released to MTV, Rhymes expressed his deepest condolences for the loss of the man he described as "one of those rare friends you come across that you can trust your life with." Yet Busta Rhymes released no statement to the police investigating Ramirez's murder. He was there, he saw it happen, but he would not "snitch" even to put the man who murdered a close friend behind bars. It was not out of distrust of the police or the threat of retribution that Rhymes kept his silence. Rather, it was an effort to maintain his "hard-core" image that helped him sell his records.
Today, seventh grade Ethics teacher Gretchen Schell boldly took on Busta Rhymes with all his gold and platinum records and throngs of fans. It was a classic teacher v. celebrity showdown, except this one was even more rigged than usual in favor of celebrity. Not only did Ms. Schell have to take down Busta Rhymes but she also had to contend with the whole "stop snitchin'" street culture that so many of our younger students want so badly to identify themselves with.
Yet Ms. Schell did not flinch. After her students read the Busta Rhymes story, she calmly, matter-of-factly stirred the pot and then let her students do the talking.
"Well, maybe if it was a family member I'd talk to the police," began one student. We'll call him Caleb. "But for a friend I wouldn't. I don't snitch. It's just something I've been taught."
Some snaps and some nods, mostly from the boys in the group. Sheila had her hand up and by the look on her face, she has a counterpoint.
"How would you feel if the tables were turned? If your were shot or hurt or something and your friend was a witness? I know you'd want your friend to have your back. You'd want someone to pay the price for hurting you."
All eyes were back to Caleb. "I'd want someone to pay but not by the police. I'd want my friend to--"
"But that's just going to cause more violence." Sheila was not going to let him off the hook. "You know you would want someone to help you, so why wouldn't you do that for someone else?"
"I guess I would eventually have to tell to get it off my chest," admitted Caleb. "I wouldn't want to carry that weight."
Ms. Schell then focused the discussion on the choice Busta Rhymes made. "What should be more important to Busta Rhymes, his hard-core reputation or standing by his friend and his friend's family?"
"This reminds me of something Mr. Dobberfuhl wrote on the board," announced Jasmine. "Would you rather be famous for something bad or not be famous but be a good person?"
Nods and snaps signaled consensus. Busta Rhymes was busted. At least for the ten minutes that remained in Ethics Class.
But it's a start. In years past, Busta Rhymes has almost always won this one.
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