DOCTORS' LOUNGE
LOUISVILLE DETENTION CENTER AUTHOR Timir Banerjee, MD
M
r. Dennis Wachter, a teacher
in the Jefferson County Pub-
lic School System, asked me to
teach in the Louisville Deten-
tion Center. This houses juve-
niles who have committed anti-
social acts which resulted in loss
of life or damages that could not be written
off as “just a mistake by a kid.” These young-
sters were placed in the facility by court order and live there for
different durations. I spent one to two hours every week for almost
four years with them, with anywhere from five to 15 students in
my class.
I am the founder of the Society for the Prevention of Aggres-
siveness and Violence Among Adolescents. (SPAVA). I prepared
my lessons carefully with the full understanding that I might have
to change things in class to win them. I taught mostly in Mr. Glen
King’s classes and sometimes also in Mr. Wachter’s class, where
there were older youth. I have taught at the detention center in
Bowling Green as well.
I decided to share some life lessons with my students, along
with information about famous people. I always added some fun
stuff. I invited different guests, like community activists, attorneys,
judges, doctors, business professionals, bankers and students from
Bellarmine University, Spalding University and the University of
Louisville. I had to be very flexible and always make the classes
interactive, asking them to share readings and answer questions.
We always ended the classes with a vow: “I will not harm another
human being, I will not harm an animal, I will honor God and the
rules of our nation. If we don’t like the rules, we will change them
in a civilized manner like Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. and Rosa Parks.”
We talked about different peacemakers and their struggles. We
talked about athletes such as Myron Rolle (1) Ty Cobb (2), Eluid
Kipchoge (3) and the Everest mountaineers and their sherpas. We
talked about scholars who influenced the writing of the American
Constitution, the importance of honoring women, the difference
between love and sex, the importance of our names, and how to
please our mothers. We discussed the difference between being
successful for the sake of being rich versus other ways to success.
We went over concepts of xenia (kindness to strangers) and hon-
or, empathy and integrity. We identified areas on the world map
from where people have come to the US. We listened to music of
Michael Franti, Louis Armstrong, Dolly Parton, Frank Sinatra and
even Don Giovanni in D minor. We often listened to Nat King
Cole’s "Fly Right."
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LOUISVILLE MEDICINE
We read poetry and learned about the people who created the
dictionary, the computer and the internet. We talked about dis-
cipline and how in the English language the same word can have
different meanings. We learned three new words every day and
we learned to make sentences. We practiced speaking well and
compared it to inflammatory and incendiary language that causes
fights. We learned how not to bully and how our behavior is per-
ceived by others. We got at the difference between perception and
reality, and the importance of communicating clearly so we could
not be misunderstood.
We talked about the difference between a wide receiver and
a quarterback. We discussed the importance of giving in life. We
talked about channeling anger in a non-hostile manner or learn-
ing to dribble the ball for longer, in a metaphorical sense. I wrote
sentences on the board such as, “From the smoldering ember of
bad decisions, sprouts of new life can grow only if we change our
attitude and nurture positive ideas,” and then they would have to
say it in a simpler way. We stood straight and understood the value
of good posture and eye contact. We always talked about cultural
differences and the importance of honoring diversity.
After being in that facility and being with the teachers who are
totally dedicated, I thought of Ken Stills, Houston wide receiver. I
think he has a good point about doing something different than
detention centers. However, there has to be more than education.
The mental health issue has to be addressed. Instead of guards, the
parents have to volunteer in rotation. Many of these children are
doing drugs (with help of plugs), stealing (hitting a lick), and some
others have committed more egregious crimes. Some are making
babies without the ability to provide support. There has to be
training for attitude change. They cannot be allowed to waste time
by saying, “Yeah I’m good,” just keeping their heads down during
learning time. Those that cannot be taught higher skills have to be
recognized early and should be sent to learn a trade they’d like to
try. I have tried very hard to impress upon these children the value
of time.
Some need situational change because their parents are in pris-
on. I would be the first to donate if we doctors and teachers can
take over the building and have the parents of the children tell
us how they would like to participate in the process of re-edu-
cation to build our lost boys and girls into useful citizens armed
with skills to build a better society. I think there is an opportunity
for Metro Council to operate the building for expenses for better
management.
Useful, interested, employed people are more likely to avoid
jails. All of them have some potential: to see it neglected is sad.
Dr. Banerjee is a clinical professor of neurosurgery at the University of Louisville.