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Season four of the critically acclaimed HBO television series "The Wire" focuses on the public schools in the city of Baltimore. Each season of this program focuses on a different part of the city, including the police department, the ports and dockworker unions, the drug dealing organizations, and the newspapers, in addition to the public schools. "The Wire" shows how all of these organizations intersect and affect one another. Season four chronicles the lives of four eighth graders at Edward Tilghman Middle School: Michael Lee, Namond Brice, Duquan "Dukie" Weems, and Randy Wagstaff. It also focuses on two former police officers who have become teachers at the school, Roland "Prez" Prezbylewski and Howard "Bunny" Colvin. Prez was forced to resign from the police force after he accidentally shot another police officer during a late-night chase of a fleeing suspect. After resigning, he became Michael, Namond, Duquan, and Randy's math teacher. Colvin was also forced to resign after a policing initiative he instituted in his district got out of control and was discovered by his supervisors. Colvin then began working with a social science research group that was studying repeat juvenile offenders and using Edward Tilghman Middle School as its focus group. During this season, the writers and producers behind "The Wire" show both the good and the bad aspects of inner-city public schools. They show the lack of funding and resources and the students that can slip through the cracks. This is evident in Prez's classroom, which is using a textbook that is two editions behind the latest one. Many of his students cannot do math at their grade level, and become disruptive when they get frustrated. When he first starts teaching, Prez has a great deal of trouble controlling his students, who often storm out of his classroom screaming profanities. However, "The Wire" can also show the positivity in inner-city public schools. When Colvin and his research team begin their work, they identify a group of students who are too disruptive and hostile to be in the regular classrooms, because they make it impossible for the other students to pay attention or learn. When Colvin and his team take these students and put them in a special class, they are able to relate to them and get them to focus on their studies. The students' behavior gradually improves and they begin showing respect towards their teachers, something that they never did before. Although not all of the students stay on this new path, some do, including Namond Brice, who was one of the most hostile and disruptive students in Prez's class before Colvin and his team pulled him into the special class. Colvin and Namond eventually develop a friendship and mutual respect. Namond's father, a drug dealer and hit man serving a life sentence in prison, even allows Colvin to adopt Namond after Colvin speaks to him about Namond's potential. This story arc shows the power of individuals to effect change within public schools by working with troubled children and working hard to relate and empathize with them. Looking for information on Battle Creek public schools? Discover what FBR Charter Schools have to offer at http://www.oneamazingclass.org/arbor-academy/.
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