I was reminded again about yesterday’s post on how experienced teachers tend to avoid schools with heavy Black populations when I came across the following article.
First-year teachers work in schools with high numbers of low-income students
And as we all know, schools located in low-income areas tend to deal with behavior issues more than schools not located in these areas. This is the open secret very few will ever acknowledge.
Like anybody else in any profession, many teachers will opt for the path of least resistance by transferring to districts that have fewer behavior issues. As I said yesterday, teachers are paid to teach, not to play the role of a surrogate parent. The sad reality is that many of these teachers are expected to carry that role, especially in these districts.
Cultural critics will oftentimes label these teachers as “quitters” for giving up on these children. If the teacher happens to be Black, they are given worse labels of scorn. Is this a fair assessment of teachers who simply have decided that being a urban reconstructionist is not their calling?
As a person who has worked with kids with behavioral issues, I can tell you that not everybody is cut out for the job. In fact, I have found that they are most effective when they are placed in more predictable and controlled environments. In many cases, that is not a character issue. It’s just that some people are wired that way.
Three friends of mine happen to be teachers. Two of them have always enjoyed working with kids who most folks would consider “bad”. I have seen them in action and how they are able to turn some of the worst cases into kids who well-mannered individuals. To see them in action, you would know that these two bruthas are gifted in this area. As for the other teacher, her temperament is better matched with children who know how to behave in class. All three love children, but as I described, their temperaments are quite different.
I think what really bothers me at times is that for some, if you are anything less than a Joe Clark you have completely given up on “your people”. The same applies to criticism being levied towards Blacks who move away from the inner-city and relocate to the suburbs. To cultural critics, they have “left their brothers and sisters behind”. This is nothing more than another unrealistic standard that has entrapped so many of us in the Black community. Just because a person happens to be Black doesn’t mean that they have the innate ability two deal with the issues of the inner-city. So why do so many expect this?
The good thing is that in our society, we have many people who have the right giftings to properly deal with the issues that plague low-income communities all across America. You can train people until the cows come home, but it all comes down to the passion of the individual.
Individuals who are passionate about helping troubled children and rebuilding broken down communities are exactly what these areas need. If that is not your cup of tea, then simply excuse yourself and find a place were, with your passion, you can be effective.
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Are we being realistic with ourselves?
by Duane on May 28th, 2009 at 2:19 pmI was reminded again about yesterday’s post on how experienced teachers tend to avoid schools with heavy Black populations when I came across the following article.
First-year teachers work in schools with high numbers of low-income students
And as we all know, schools located in low-income areas tend to deal with behavior issues more than schools not located in these areas. This is the open secret very few will ever acknowledge.
Like anybody else in any profession, many teachers will opt for the path of least resistance by transferring to districts that have fewer behavior issues. As I said yesterday, teachers are paid to teach, not to play the role of a surrogate parent. The sad reality is that many of these teachers are expected to carry that role, especially in these districts.
Cultural critics will oftentimes label these teachers as “quitters” for giving up on these children. If the teacher happens to be Black, they are given worse labels of scorn. Is this a fair assessment of teachers who simply have decided that being a urban reconstructionist is not their calling?
As a person who has worked with kids with behavioral issues, I can tell you that not everybody is cut out for the job. In fact, I have found that they are most effective when they are placed in more predictable and controlled environments. In many cases, that is not a character issue. It’s just that some people are wired that way.
Three friends of mine happen to be teachers. Two of them have always enjoyed working with kids who most folks would consider “bad”. I have seen them in action and how they are able to turn some of the worst cases into kids who well-mannered individuals. To see them in action, you would know that these two bruthas are gifted in this area. As for the other teacher, her temperament is better matched with children who know how to behave in class. All three love children, but as I described, their temperaments are quite different.
I think what really bothers me at times is that for some, if you are anything less than a Joe Clark you have completely given up on “your people”. The same applies to criticism being levied towards Blacks who move away from the inner-city and relocate to the suburbs. To cultural critics, they have “left their brothers and sisters behind”. This is nothing more than another unrealistic standard that has entrapped so many of us in the Black community. Just because a person happens to be Black doesn’t mean that they have the innate ability two deal with the issues of the inner-city. So why do so many expect this?
The good thing is that in our society, we have many people who have the right giftings to properly deal with the issues that plague low-income communities all across America. You can train people until the cows come home, but it all comes down to the passion of the individual.
Individuals who are passionate about helping troubled children and rebuilding broken down communities are exactly what these areas need. If that is not your cup of tea, then simply excuse yourself and find a place were, with your passion, you can be effective.
Sphere: Related Content