AdvanceBlog

Technically, Greater Grace Temple Christian Academy no longer exists.  It has been refashioned into a charter school.  However, as long as I am – GGTCA is, because I embody life lessons learned at that small school on Schaeffer Highway.

Edwina Bell Payne was our new principal and we became acquainted rather quickly.  She witnessed my Stevie Wonder impersonation during class and used the occasion to introduce me to what would become my second homeroom – her office.  Yet, unlike the popular misperception of the principal’s office – Mrs. Payne’s office was an unofficial classroom.

She felt that since I was frequent visitor, I should learn to answer the phone.  So for several days, I had to practice in her office while she worked.  Imagine a ten-year old, using a ruler as a substitute phone and attempting to add some bass to his pre-teen voice, standing at your desk saying repeatedly: “Good Morning, you have reached Greater Grace Temple Christian Academy.  We are so glad you called.  My name is Sabin, how can I direct your call?”

This went on for a few days before she allowed me to answer the phone (thankfully, my parents never had the urge to call the school).  Not only did I have to answer the phone, I was required to do extra assignments in addition to those given in class.  The alternative was Mrs. Payne’s paddle – her very own board of education; needless to say – answering the phone and doing extra schoolwork was an easy choice.

Yet, those extra assignments set the course for my future.  My public speaking debut was done in Mrs. Payne’s office.  I had to read the mail aloud and with conviction (the phone bill was always the hardest – “a 15 minute call was made to 555-7777 at the cost of $1.50″).  However, when I had to learn Paul Laurence Dunbar’s In The Morning, everything changed.  Mrs. Payne allowed some room for question and I wanted to know why the poem had those funny words.  Imagine a child seated at the foot of a griot because Mrs. Payne went on a heartfelt dialogue about the history of our culture.  The “funny words” were a commonly used dialect; but in addition to that, Mrs. Payne taught me that they symbolized where we were, how far we had come, and how far we have to go.

That poem was also childhood favorite of my mother’s.  When I recited it at home, her face would flush with the delight of memories and the pride from my accomplishment.   Today, my six and two year old daughters are eager to recite the poem they learned at Grandma’s.  They chuckle at the dialect.  They think Grandma is being silly.  In due time, I will get the opportunity to deliver Mrs. Payne’s story about the history of our people and the importance of understanding language.  Because knowing one’s history, understanding how context shapes culture and accepting the challenge of advancing the culture … well, those lessons aren’t taught in most schools, but learning them took all the Payne out of being in the principal’s office.

Paul Laurence Dunbar