Three years ago, James Smith retired from the Plant City Police Department. That was on a Friday, and his teaching career began four days later.
These days, his Durant High duties are greater than ever. Since taking over the school’s criminal justice program, enrollment has nearly quadrupled as the program has doubled in size.
“To me, it’s not work,” Smith said. “Getting to come here and be a part of these kids’ lives is more than I could ever ask for.”
Smith — generally known as “Mr. Smitty” — and first-year instructor Stephanie Garrett are preparing for an increase for the upcoming 2016-17 school year. According to Smith, there will be 12 classes for an expected 360 students, covering four levels of education.
These are possibly the busiest days for a program that has been around since the school opened over 20 years ago.
THE PROGRAM
The criminal justice program is divided into four levels, numbered one through four, and has a pyramid-type structure.
Six classes make up the CJ1 curriculum. CJ2 students have to take three classes. CJ3 students take two. CJ4 students need one class before graduation.
“They’re going to learn more in the academy, in law enforcement,” Smith says. “We just kind of scratch the surface. That way, when they get there, they’re going to go, ‘Oh, I remember doing that. Now, I can really focus on how to do it even better.’”
There’s plenty of textbook work, but students also learn how to use handcuffs, analyze fingerprints, use defensive tactics and work through role-play scenarios.
There are even occasional target practice sessions with BB guns, which take place at a designated area of campus. Equipment is donated by the Plant City Police Department and Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
“Not all of these students are aspiring law enforcement officers,” Smith says. “Some of them took a class because they thought it would be a neat class. But, once they get in there, they learn what law enforcement’s about.”
THE INCENTIVES
The ones who do wish to go into law enforcement have a sweet deal waiting for them at the end, if they finish all four levels of the program. These graduates — of which there are 25 this year — have the opportunity to graduate with six credit hours at Hillsborough Community College. If they can pass an exam, they receive a Class D security guard license.
Smith said when he arrived on campus three years ago, there were 90 students enrolled in five classes. His biggest challenge was getting out of what he calls a textbook-heavy atmosphere and using his own experiences to help students grasp and relate to concepts.
“The curriculum was there, but I had to re-write it so that they could understand how it works in the real world,” Smith said. “You take that information provided in the book and put it in the real world.”
He taught the courses by himself until the program grew to the point where he had to have some help. Garrett, he said, has been a great addition to the program.
“I’m teaching these kids to respect law enforcement,” Smith said. “Whether they ever aspire to do that or not, they’re learning to respect the career. That’s a big part of it.”
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.