“The Stetson Catera is a high Quality Fur Felt Hat included in the Stetson Gun Club Collection. The Catera has a tear-drop crown with a pinch and it has a 3 1/4″ brim which slants down in the front and back. The hat has a full satin lining and a leather interior sweatband.” ~ www.Stetson.com
I am an adjunct business instructor at Marion Technical College (MTC). For the past four years I have been teaching college level business courses at North Central Corrections Institution (NCCI) run by a private corporation, the former NCCI Camp, and Marion Correctional Institute (MCI) a facility run by the State of Ohio. These funny acronyms are all-male prisons in northern Ohio.
I felt compelled to write this story about an incident that occurred at the prison approximately three years ago. This was a true life-changing incident – an example of an old teacher getting schooled – and it all begins with a hat. I was experiencing frustration with one of my classes – and I was taking it very personally. I use a Socratic teaching-method that utilizes loads of open-ended questions. It is a remarkable teaching method – provided there is plenty of participation from the incarcerated students. Without that participation it can quickly become dreary – with a long parade of mono-syllabic answers and little else. This marked the day of my third session with this class and I had yet to truly ‘connect’. If you are a teacher or trainer of adult-learners – then you understand just how critical it is to establish that connection. I hadn’t found it – yet – and I was blaming myself for this failure.
In each class I had taught at NCCI before this one – I had always had several ‘return’ students. Students that I had taught in a previous class. This had helped to establish that important connection. This was an Intro to Management class – a beginning business course. This class contained exclusively new students whom I had never taught before and I had failed to establish a critical component for success. I had failed to establish trust. To truly open-up and fully participate my incarcerated students needed to sense that I could be trusted. After a couple of restless nights following two lackluster classes in-a-row I sat upright in my bed and experienced the famous ‘aha’ moment. I felt like a cartoon character with a lightbulb literally hovering over my head.
The solution – as it often is – was very simple. The solution was The Solution – or The Solution Newsletter to be precise. I would make photocopies of a prison newsletter named The Solution – that contained one of my prison-themed stories. I would distribute them to the members of this troubling class. I was convinced that once they read the story the students would realize I had been around the block more than a few times. More importantly the students would realize that I had paid my dues – and was a person they could trust.
“This is going to work Tom” I mumbled to myself – as I unloaded the precious newsletter copies from my Jeep – in the prison parking lot – “it has to work.” I changed my comfortable old driving moccasins for a stiff pair of black dress shoes – followed by the nagging thought – “What if it doesn’t work – then what?” I don’t have time for this – “Where did I put my darn hat?” The long trek across the windy prison yard required some head coverage. Especially with my balding grey head. My usual headgear – a US Army veteran baseball cap – was nowhere to be found. The only head cover in my Jeep was my beat-up old Stetson. The Stetson was an aging remnant from my high school days in Austin Texas. It was a ‘Gun Club’ issue Stetson. As a young (14-year-old) buckeye transferred from Ohio – I had felt the need to fit in with the cowboys and ranch hands that attended my high school. Several dozen mowed lawns later – I was the proud owner of this same Stetson. I was running late for class – so I popped it unto my head.
I had trampled my way to the prison entrance – carrying two extra-large (heavy) plastic see through containers – full of books and papers. I had just begun the tedious personal property search and questioning process – when my inner voice (I.V. or IVY as I have named him) said sarcastically “Isn’t it a little late for second thoughts?” After passing myself through the metal-detector and my containers through an x-ray machine – I was ready to move forward.
I had trekked half-way across the two hundred-yards by two hundred-yards prison yard -when that pesky IVY started in for real “Don’t you see how arrogant and egotistical it will look for you to bring in your own story?” said IVY rather snidely. I snapped back at IVY “You know that isn’t my motivation!” But what if IVY was right – and that is what my students think? No – could my inspiration make things worse?
“Hey Dr. D” came from a melodious voice beside me “nice hat you are sporting today.” I was still deep in argument with IVY and responded without thinking “It’s not a hat – it is a Stetson!” I looked up to see the smiling face of Smitty (name changed for this story). Smitty was a force of nature. He never ceased smiling. He was well-known also well-liked by everyone. “Whatever you call it Doc – it’s a ku-well brim.” I answered him with a smile of my own “Sorry Mr. Smith I am running late for class and I can’t stop to talk with you today.” He smiled even broader (if that was possible) “Here let me lighten your load sir” he snatched one of the heavy containers from my hand “It will speed you up.” I started walking briskly with Smitty, striding lithely by my side.
As we approached the Education Building (EDU) I spied 25 tense looking prisoners in faded blue denim loitering by the front door. They looked impatient waiting for their tardy teacher (me) to unlock their classroom. As we merged into the larger group – I heard several students “Yo-Smitty” and “Wassup-Smitty.” Smitty, gave the group a full-blast of what made his grin famous in the Yard. Everyone seemed to loosen up and relax. I heard an inmate named Johnson (one of the youngest of my students at age 19) pipe up from the rear of the crowd “Mr. Davison what have you got on your head? He then proceeded to answer his own question “Is it an Indiana Jones hat?” I could hear a few soft chuckles from the crowd. “Gentlemen” I began to respond, when from my left side I heard Smitty chuckling “Hey you guys – Dr. D is ku-well!” “followed by “He isn’t wearing a hat – he is wearing a Stetson!” I gave Smitty a quick appreciative grin. His opinion carried weight in the Yard.
Another inmate Mr. Brown (a class informal leader) asked me with a big smile “What’s a Stetson, is that some kinda cowboy hat Dr. D?” As I began unlocking the series of security doors to the education building IVY spoke in my head “They are waiting to see how you handle being teased – are you going to be defensive about it – or seize this opening you big six feet four-inch dummy?” Darn it – I thought to myself (not for the first time) that IVY is right again. I began speaking in a loud and cheerful voice “Mr. Brown calling a Stetson a hat is like calling a Maserati a car.” My statement was followed by immediate grins and chuckles from the entire class.
Finally, I thought – the proverbial dam has broken. I was peppered with questions from all sides: “What is so special about a Stetson?” and “How old is that thing Dr. D?” Followed by “Does it come in different colors?” and my favorite “What is that thing made from – a beaver?” Ten minutes later we were all secure in the classroom and the conversations were still going strong. Fortunately, with a little nudging I had managed to smoothly transition from hats to introduction to management – topics. I guess I learned more then I taught (as usual). I smiled to myself – as I listened to the loud and busy noises of ‘learning’ occurring all around me.
That was almost three years ago. I wear that old Stetson every day now – to all my classes. My students say things such as “We always know when you are in the Yard Dr. Davison – cause you can see that thing on your head from a mile away!” Prisoners (who are not attending college) always point me out – with statements such as “See that guy in the funny hat – that is Dr. D.” Prisoners who I have never met before will nod and say ‘good morning” to me (or to the hat – I’m not sure which one).
About two months ago I was visited by a prisoner I had never met before, a complete stranger to me named Mr. Jones. I do a lot of volunteer work at the prisons – especially working with the Toastmaster’s and the Writer’s Clubs. Smitty, the former President of the Toastmasters Club – had recently been released back into the World. (He stays in touch with me – and we email back and forth frequently.) Smitty’s newly elected replacement was the stranger who had come for a visit. Mr. Jones wanted to reassure himself that with Smitty gone he could still depend on me for sponsorship and support for the Toastmasters. As he entered the room Mr. Jones stopped abruptly and stared at the Stetson. The Stetson was resting in its place of honor – on top of the right corner of my desk. “Wow” said Mr. Jones “that’s the famous hat I have been hearing about.” “Oh no – here we go again” muttered IVY. “You must be Mr. Jones” I stated firmly. “Well let’s get something straight up front – that is not a hat – it’s a Stetson!”
Thomas Davison obtained his doctorate degree as a Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership, and his MBA from Franklin University in Columbus Ohio. Dr. Davison has been teaching entrepreneur focused business coursework as an adjunct instructor for MTC (Marion Technical College). He is currently teaching at two prison facilities in Marion Ohio, including: NCC (North Central Corrections) a prison run by a private company, and MCI (Marion Correctional Institute) a state-run prison facility. Dr. Davison has been deeply moved by his personal observations and interactions with his incarcerated students. While teaching in the Ohio prison system he has been motivated to create poems and short stories about the day-to-day lives and experiences of his students.