Holler if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to teach at an inner-city school.

Author Gregory Michie spoke on Monday at McMurry Hall about his book “Holler If You Hear Me: The Education of a Teacher & His Students.”

Michie spoke to aspiring teachers in EPFE 200 and 400 classes about how his book started as a video project and turned into the longest piece of writing he’s done.

“The longest thing I wrote before this was a 14-page thesis paper, and that was a struggle itself,” Michie said. “But I decided a video wouldn’t be appropriate for what I wanted to say.”

Sarah Harnden, a senior mathematics education major, met Michie through the Golden Apple Scholarship program.

“When I saw Michie’s book was on my EPFE reading list, I told my professor Linda O’Neill I knew him, and we got the whole speech set up from there,” Harnden said.

Michie’s book includes stories of seventh and eighth grade students Michie has taught and how they have changed because of his teaching methods.

“The student and teacher should be able to flip roles and see what it’s like for the other person,” Michie told the audience. “When they do that, then both of them can appreciate more what the other person goes through to do what they’re doing.”

A review of the book from a Macon State College student taken from Amazon.com said the book is too narrative and that there wasn’t enough focus on the issues Michie was trying to convey.

Michie’s defense is that the issues are discussed within the stories of the students who live the issues and deal with them every day.

“The inner-city schools get a bad rep,” Michie said. “When I tell anyone back home what I do, they ask me if I’ve ever seen a gun.”

Michie discussed the ineffectiveness of standardized tests and the problems with labeling students as “problem learners.”

“To be the best teacher you can, you have to build relationships with the people around you,” Michie said. “Fellow teachers, students and parents help you understand more about people and prevent you from labeling them.”

Wilma Miranda, chairwoman of the Department of Educational Psychology and Foundations, was happy that Michie could speak to NIU’s aspiring teachers.

“It’s wonderful to see students interacting with a teacher who’s taken risks and is dedicated, and who can also be a critic to the system he works for,” she said.

During his speech, Michie showed the audience several short films made by students at the Hispanic Seward Academy in Chicago.

“I gave this as an assignment because one of the biggest mediums people learn from is TV, music and video games,” Michie said. “Being a former media production student, I was able to help the students out.”

The assignment was not only successful, but it brought another idea into the minds of Michie and his students.

“If more educators saw that media helped shape people’s ideals and views on life, then it should be a no-brainer to find an easy way to teach certain things,” Michie said.

The one thing Michie hopes people get out of his book is that everyone makes mistakes.

“There is no perfect teacher, and I’m a good example of that,” Michie said. “The reality of teaching is that not everyone will succeed.”