Jamal English is a new English instructor from Chicago, Illinois, and serves as a House Counselor in America House. Aside from planning out his lessons, English enjoys nature walks, going to the gym, and dancing along to jazz and hip-hop music.
Why do you teach English?
“Books saved my life. I found words for what I was experiencing as a teenager trying to be who I was, find who I was. I [did not find] books much in school, but [instead] outside of school, that gave words to what it was like being a young Black man in the ’90s. It changed everything for me, so that was the way that the universe told me I was meant to [teach English].”
How have past experiences defined the way you teach?
“I wrote my first poem right around the time I found the books that gave words to what I was experiencing. I would say writers make sense of experience and the world on the page, [by] writing. It’s an act of expression, discovery, and I think learning and teaching [is] a lot like that too. I think what books and words have done for me are what books and words can do for all learners and teachers who are trying to make sense of life. It makes sense that some of that finds its way into any classroom that I’m a part of.”
Do you have a favorite book? What do you like about it?
“The book that saved my life was ‘Invisible Man’ by Ralph Ellison because I saw in words [for] what I was feeling for the first time. The book that I think is pure genius, that I never get tired of teaching or writing about is ‘Their Eyes Were Watching God’ by Zora Hurston… She wrote that in seven weeks. She’s a genius, everything is in there.”
What have you noticed about the students at Andover?
“[They’re] bright kids. I think that’s what drew me [to Andover]… You earned your spot, and I think…being able to ask great questions and wonder and be wrong and experiment…[that’s] the highest order. So I feel a deep responsibility to challenge you all in that way, and at least initially, it’s appropriate for you to be like, ‘Dude. I’m used to getting all As. Don’t come here with all that. Don’t mess up my transcript.’ [But], over time, I hope we grow to trust each other that you’re going to be smarter than a six plus, if you challenge yourself with questions that aren’t easy to answer because that’s what we need. I know colleagues and students right now are looking at me sideways, but it’s tried and true. What I think about the students is that you all are brilliant and my job is to have you teach yourself to be brilliant-er.”
What is one thing that you appreciate about Andover?
“The freedom to do you. The other three schools I was at were smaller, two out of three were boarding. They were a lot smaller. For example, weekend duty. Weekend duty, a lot of things are programmed, there are a lot of opportunities for kids to do…but they’re like school vans where you’re driven everywhere. The way Andover is set up, even when you’re not in class, you can go walk in town, do your thing on the weekend. You kind of aren’t necessarily around until check-in time, cause you’re doing your thing. But there’s a lot of independence, and I think because of the size and that culture, you don’t have to explain just kind of being who you are and doing your thing. So for a strange bird like me, I really respect and appreciate that a lot. I describe Andover as a liberal arts college high school, and it’s perfect for me.”
What is one thing that you think Andover needs?
“Somebody like me…because what I’ve heard is [that] Andover needs [us]… I think Andover recognizes, and I admire this, that it’s enriched by all the perspectives that it brings. I was told by somebody that I chose to be here, and that we all choose to be here, and that’s a privilege… I also believe the other side, that we were chosen and it is a privilege to have us. I think Andover…seems to commit resources to bringing rich perspectives and trying to have us get along in ways that the world struggles to. It’s not always good at making us get along, no place is. But Andover seems to try in ways that I know other schools don’t always have the courage to try. [For example], maintaining a commitment to be stretched by those who come here, as much as it means to stretch people. A lot of times schools are like, ‘Oh! We’re going to push you out of your comfort zone,’ but I think Andover needs to be pulled out of its comfort zone too, and I think it recognizes that, [which is] good.”
How has your experience been so far as a house counselor?
“It’s been fine… They haven’t had fourth meal yet because we got yelled at for not having a clean dorm. I hear that’s not special, [since] other dorms are dealing with that [too]. That just means we have to do a little extra work. Largely around food and cleaning up after yourself. I said, ‘I’m not bringing in more food until y’all handle your food mess.’ I get the sense that that’s not what most people would do, but… I’m kind of a strange bird. I would say I’m adjusting to them, they’re adjusting to me, they’re new to Andover, I’m new to Andover for the most part. But the Prefects are great, because they’re saying, ‘Hey Mr. E, maybe you could do this a little differently,’ and I’m like, ‘Oh, alright…’ Lately I’ve been a little more relaxed, which is important… It’s a learning curve, though. Being on duty a lot, that’s tough. But I love the space [and] I’m happy to be here.”
What areas of civil rights are you interested in?
“I would say that my experience suggests that everything is about empathy. If you know what it’s like to have your civil or human rights ignored, then I think it’s important when you can to not just be an ally but a co-advocate. [I’m interested in] religious intolerance, xenophobia… All of them I’m interested in because they’re the same thing in different manifestations… [For example], the ugly side of the pandemic…how some fools tried to blame some people and some places around the world for [Covid-19]… When the Lunar New Year came, people decided to say some pretty ugly stuff, and luckily, there were people from all walks who knew what that felt like, and they co-advocated with students from that part of the world to say, ‘no.’ I’m interested in all of them because I feel like they’re all connected.”
What are some of your hobbies?
“I’m trying to translate and transfer [my interests]. I used to run a lot, but as I get older, my joints can’t take that, so for a few years, I’ve been cycling. Chicago is flat, so you can do 20 miles cycling a day a few times a week there easier than you can here. Plus, Massachusetts drivers seem a little insane and I don’t wanna get run over. But I have found a couple of loops that I do around here, it’s really hilly, so it’s a neat challenge. You’ll see me walk around the campus with my headphones singing and dancing like a fool, but apparently somatic movement [is a thing] and some kind of therapy.”
What is your gym routine?
“My gym routine is for people thirty plus years old, it’s real simple. Monday is chest and arms, Wednesday is back and shoulders, and Friday is supposed to be leg day, but y’all don’t have no leg equipment, so I’m complaining. I do four sets of 25 repetitions, and every set I go up five or ten pounds. The whole point is that muscular endurance is more important than muscular strength, so high-rep-low-weight is the way to go. That’s how you get swole and how you stay swole… I would say the other part of my routine is almost as important, it’s therapeutic. In between sets, you’re supposed to dance and sing and scream to the music that you’re listening to. That’s my gym routine: mind and body.”
