Photography by Taylor Ringenberg
• I don’t look at why students are in here. I’ve had murderers in the classroom. You could never pick them out.
• You have to be structured, to have routine. These kids don’t have that.
• Once students feel you care—that you’re looking out for their best interests—you’ve got them.
• Sometimes they might curse you out, turn over desks, say they’ll beat you up. You have to control yourself; don’t go down to their level. They’ll be flabbergasted when they see me the next day, and I’m still the same. You know what they’ll do? “I’m sorry, Mr. Brown. I was wrong.”
• I always tell them, “If you fight each other, you’re not gonna get a penny. If you’re going to box, get some training in it. If you’re going to be a comedian, write down your jokes. Get paid for it.”
• If you’re a teacher, you’ve really gotta like kids. Otherwise, you’re not gonna make it.
