Jon Hogge '10 - My experience in the Chicago Public Schools has been awesome. I have been placed at Rauner College Prep. My host teacher is Jeremy Robinson ’04. This is much different than all of the other guys that are on this trip because I have the privilege to be with a Wabash alum. I have thoroughly enjoyed our daily conversations about the many different aspects of teaching: the joys and frustrations that students bring to the classroom, planning, interactions with other teachers, and how Wabash has prepared the both of us for teaching.

Jeremy and I have the chance to talk during his prep period every day for a good length of time because the school is on block schedule, that is, their classes are an hour and a half a piece. When we speak, I do not feel that he is a teacher and I am a student. I feel that we are both Wabash men talking with one another and we are on the same level. It is really cool because the line of communication between us is much more open than it would be if we did not attend the same college. Jeremy has even mentioned that he feels the same way about our interactions throughout the day. I feel extremely comfortable in his classroom and at Rauner.

The school itself is a charter school that was established only three years ago. It is apart of the Noble Street Schools that are located around Chicago. The school system runs a strict code of conduct and dress code unlike any other school that I have observed. Jeremy informed me that the school does this because if the students are given any sort of slack, they will exploit it and push the rules until something is done. Although this system is very strict, the students do not complain nor do they seem unhappy about the school. One student I observed received a demerit and there was not a single complaint from him about his punishment. The students here understand the consequences and for the most part understand that their misbehavior will lead to their punishment. I have been thoroughly impressed by Rauner and the smoothness of their system.

Outside of school, I have had the chance to walk around different parts of Chicago from Chinatown, the Maxwell St. Market, to the Polish neighborhood on Milwaukee St. Chicago is such a diverse city; so many cultures are represented here. Today, Tom Wade, Max Bader, Matt Ward, and I all traveled to Chinatown after school was finished. There, we had the chance to stop at grocery store. Max was looking for Wasabi peas and the rest of us were simply curious to what we would find. To mine and Tom’s delight, we found quite a bit of Chinese candy that we had had when we were younger but haven’t been able to find in places like Wal-Mart or Kroger. Tom and I made sure to buy a good portion so it would last us the remainder of the trip.

This week so far has been fun. I have had the chance to observe Jeremy Robinson ’04 and learn from him daily and I have seen many cultures that I do not see on a day-to-day basis in Indianapolis. I am looking forward to the remained of the trip and what it will bring me each day.

EDITOR'S NOTE: File Photo of Jeremy Robinson. Robinson was a standout Teach for America teacher before winning a Rhodes Scholarship and studying in Oxford, England. Hogge in photo at left.