Small Victories
JOHN GIPSON

Seward Park High School is an over-crowded, under-funded, dilapidated public school in the slums of New York's Lower East Side. The kids who attend are a cross section of Seward Park as a whole -- Hispanics, Asians, and a few blacks, from families that are working class at best and case studies of social dysfunction at worst. Here, one is looking at the specters of ghetto life–poverty, violence, and drugs.

The school building is fifty-eight years old. It is squeezed among stores, a parking lot, and a housing project. It is one block square and six stories tall, unadorned except by wire-mesh window guards. Even at that, there are two hundred broken windowpanes staring out at you from their empty sockets. There Is a huge hole in the roof. It is here that one boy ran for student government on the slogan, "Are you ashamed to go to Seward?"

This is the picture Samuel G. Freedman presents in his book Small Victories. It is through the eyes of a dedicated English teacher, Jessica Siegel, that we get a glimpse of what goes on inside this school. But before one steps through the door, he sees Jessica, age 38, unmarried and childless, as she arrives at the building on her bicycle which she will take to the basement storage room for safe-keeping. Periodically a young drug dealer, someone Seward Park has lost to the streets, will circle the school in a BMW or a Mercedes. "The dealer will drive slowly, less to conduct trade than to impress and recruit." But it is inside where you will find the victories born of caring, determination, drive, and commitment. It is here that you will discover the power of teaching. From this slum school more than ninety percent of its graduates go on to college, trade school, or the military.

Teaching is so powerful that it can overcome almost insurmountable odds. It's stronger than poverty, mightier than drugs, more powerful than peer pressure. And it can work in the most adverse situations.

It's no wonder to me that when Jesus set out on his program of world conquest he told his disciples, "Go teach!"

Teaching works. But there is a price to be paid. Listen to Jessica Siegel: "I understand I'm doing really good work," she says, wiping her eyes, "But I'm sacrificing my life." Of course, Jesus knew that too!

Eleventh Annual
Labor Day Lectureship
Tomorrow - Monday - September 1st
Sixth Street church of Christ - Lakeland, FL
Theme: "Christians Standing Firm on The Bible In A Changing World"

Schedule of Speakers:
9:15 Devotional Comments
9:30 Ben Radford "Standing Firm on Christian Morals"
10:15 Daniel Stearsman "Standing Firm On Christian Worship"
11-11:30 Inspirational Singing
11:30 Alan Cross "Standing Firm on Christian Discipline"
12:15 Brian Kenyon "Standing Firm on The Christian Woman's Role"
1:05 Lunch (soul food)

The Pantry
Due to recent usage the pantry is bare and in need of restocking. We are in need of canned veggies, canned fruits, and canned meats, etc.. Please be sure all containers are of the bug-proof variety. Help out so that we can be prepared when another need arises.

Fellowship Tonight
Our regular monthly last Sunday Fellowship is planned for this evening after the PM worship services. Members and visitors are invited to attend and join us in honoring the August birthdays and anniversaries.

September Calendars

The September edition of the Orange Street Activities Calendar and Men To Serve List is available today in the foyer. Be sure to get one.

Those who attend the worship of God seeking after comfort and strength will find solace and inspiration. Those who attend church seeking anything less than God will find that, too!