Anyone considering a move to Memphis should read. (Collierville, Liberty: mattress, neighborhoods)

[London79]

Looks more like a revenge/hate crime.

[Deck]

No idea. But there are a lot of people on the department who don't think this matches the smell test. Then again, they say the investigation is ongoing, there could be more arrests.

Nothing in this place phases me anymore.

[Dexx]

I realize that (for the most part), you all are discussing the many problems that exist within the city of Memphis. As a young college grad that is about to move down to Collierville (from upstate NY) for biomed work, should I expect life to be absolutely terrible, as described in this thread?

I know that this is a fairly vague question, but I'm just looking for something to help me sleep at night before moving down there. Thanks in advance.

[London79]

Dexx, Collierville is nice. Southaven is nicer to me though. People are friendlier than Memphians to me. But I can't live down there and work where I work.

[London79]

My bad, Deck. I know you can't discuss these type issues. What was I thinking?!

[Deck]

Without knowing your personality, likes/interests, values, etc, it's really hard to say.

I'm going to share a true story that took place last fall.

I rent an apartment in Harbor Town - an overpriced, but safe, pretty peninsula that juts out into the Mississippi River just north of downtown. I was in the apartment office talking to the manager, when a girl in her mid-20's was signing her lease. She was moving here from Buffalo, NY to start a job in teaching. She had just obtained her degree and this was her first job. Moving here myself without knowing anyone, I offered to help her move-in and gave her my number if she needed any help getting adjusted or had any questions, etc.

About three weeks later she calls me in tears. She was miserable. She was wanting to teach elementary ed, and wanted to be a kindergarten teacher for the nurturing/creative aspects. In Memphis, you have to be more of a drill instructor. They assigned her to one of the many, many rough schools. She was white, and the school was 100% black. She drove by it her first night here, excited to see where she would be working, and drove a block behind it where she said a group of kids started chasing her car. And this was at 10 o'clock at night. She said she ran stop signs just to get back out onto a main road. Her first week there, one of the students (kindergarten mind you) called her a *****. The second week, she said she had to meet with one of the parents who had tattoos on her neck, and gold teeth and was threatening toward her.

She had trouble adjusting to the faculty and adults she has met as well. Not only being a racial minority, but being a northerner trying to adjust, she said people were very unfriendly. As December rolled around, they were about to plan a Christmas party, and a fellow teacher told her, that the kids aren't allowed to take the toys home, because when they used to do that, the toys ended up missing because the parent pawned them.

She went downtown one weekend to ride the trolley and see the sights, and said someone attempted to rob her.

She said she was going to bed with knots in her stomach. So after sticking it out for just over a month, she decided it wasn't worth it. She would lose nearly $3,000 over her lease as well as all the moving costs. She was worried about breaking her contract with Memphis City Schools and was most worried about a lawsuit. She said she felt bad for not being able to stick it out, but the culture shock was too much. However, in the postive side to this story, they acted like it was no big deal. She said she couldn't believe how well they took it when she gave them her notice. Then, she found out why from a fellow faculty member. She was the 6th teacher those students had already had since the beginning of the school year! That's six different teachers from August - December!!

Now keep in mind, this was also her first time living outside of her hometown, she was in a much different profession, and she might have had other factors going on that kept her from adjusting as well as you might.

Your experience could be totally different. Collierville is a safe area of mostly middle and upper-middle class. There isn't a lot to do out there. It's your every-city-suburb, so if being in close proximity to cultural happenings and events is your thing, you might not be satisfied.

Incidentally, I have her contact information and her myspace because we wanted to keep in touch, if you are from the same area and would like to talk to her.

[Pearlbob]

Deck - I hear you. I think you'll find a lot of people with "horror" stories like this. But that's not just in Memphis, that could be anywhere. You can find millions of people with good stories too. Some people experience more problems than good things, unfortunately. Especially in teaching - no one claims that is an easy profession anywhere. It's horrible in Memphis. However, if you accept a teaching job in Memphis without doing any sort of research, that's your own fault. Most schools are near 100% black. You can't blame the kids for having an issue when all the students are black yet the teachers are white. Regardless, if you are not a teacher and have no kids, than the problems with the school system will have little direct effect on your daily life.

I think it's very sad that this person is losing sleep at night over the idea of moving to Memphis. He/she's been given a horrible impression and he doesn't even live here yet. He's read through the forum, he's seen advice....let him learn on his own if he hates or loves the city once he gets here. (and Deck, I do not mean that towards you, but in general. I think you were honest and fair in your post to him.)

[Deck]

Yeah, he definitely shouldn't lose sleep over it. He lived in Southaven for six months, so he shouldn't experience that 'shock' that some have. Even if he doesnt like it here, unless he's signing a 50 year contract, it's nothing to lose sleep over.

And incidentally, no most of the teachers weren't white. There was only one other white teacher. And I don't necessarily blame the kids who have issues with white teachers, I blame their ignorant parents and racist surroundings. Just as I would with white kids who would have a problem with a black teacher.

[Pearlbob]

I agree with that. But if kids grow up around all black people, then having a white teacher all of a sudden might cause issues for them. Same goes with kids who grew up with all white surroundings, and all of a sudden having a black teacher. Kids do as their parents do, and they do as their peers do. If one kids gives an attitude, every other kid feels as though it's okay for them to do it too. It's hard to say with kids if it's their parents fault, or if they are just not as worldly yet

[Bowyer]

Dexx-I'd be very surprised if you don't really enjoy living in Collierville. Great people, safe and plenty to do. Don't be discouraged. PS--i moved here from NJ!