The name of my site is the result of a broken foot acquired while on a school field trip. The foot is taking forever to heal and I'm stuck in the house.
Baba is Chinese for Daddy, and I'm the Baba.
I'm a special ed teacher in an urban school. 90% of our students are minority of color/accent. More than half are below the poverty line.
I was designated school photo expert on my first day. We had a store room lab next the chemistry lab, 3 sad enlargers, no funding, no cameras, and 30+ kids who reported an hour early to learn photography.
With the help of "friends" we expanded to 10 enlargers, a camera for every kid, hand built computers, and serious community support.
Our motto: "No kid who needs a camera will be without one."
Sadly our little "extra" photo class is no more. Sacrificed to boost test scores. We have been rationalized and morphed into double reading and double math for all.
It must be working. Every June we graduate 400+ seniors who qualify for university admission. Every September we admit 1,000+ ninth graders. We are looking good and our scores show it.
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Photography continues as a lunch club. We have produced two, almost three, books of student work (at no cost to the school!)
The analog processing is off campus (my home garage lab). The kids do digital on their own. All of our supplies are donated.
None of this would have happened without a lot of outside helpers.
Their are too many helpers to name as individuals however special thanks goes to:
cvug or Cosinavoightlanderusergroup and
Stephen Gandy of Cameraquest.com
A very special thanks to co-conspirator and mentor, John Gasser of Gasser Photo in San Francisco (415)495-3852.
Lastly: A very special thanks to Ron Colbert my assistant teacher, digital genius, and "don't ask and I won't lie" specialist.
Also my students, my pets, my hoodlums, and wascals, future heroes all. |
