http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/they-schools/index.html?ref=opinion
I believe this article shares some views we will be discussing in class soon. The author, with the help of lyrics from a rap group, share’s his opinion about the apparent failure of inner city schools. He believes that the curriculum is irrelevant and that the skills and knowledge students are getting are doing not much more than preparing them for the “menial labor force”. To be honest I was quite emotional after reading this article and you will probably have to read it to make much sense of my comments. At first I wanted to say a lot of the problems mentioned in the article are not the schools or the teachers’ fault nor necessarily their responsibility, but after taking some time to think it over I feel both the school and society have a part to play in the solution.
First of all, I think control of the classrooms and halls is necessary. No teacher can teach or student can learn in an environment that is chaotic and unsafe. However we do need to explain the purpose of the rules better to students even if they seem pretty clear. The goal we should desire is to have a controlled class environment due to students that are interested and engaged in class instruction and not because they are afraid of the consequences of breaking the rules.
In response to school not being relevant because, according to the rap lyrics, it does not teach “how to get crack out the ghetto”, “how to get our rent paid”, or not “teaching our families how to interact better with each other”, I first thought that although these are problems that need to be addressed they are social problems that are not necessarily the schools responsibility. After continuing to think about this I came to the realization that in many of these inner city schools teachers may spend more time with these students then anyone else. If we truly want to see changes in the lives of these students as well as their education, the teachers and the school administrators need to be involved not only with the students but with their families and the community as well. To achieve this change it will require personal and probably some professional sacrifices as well. I’m not sure many teachers are aware of the sacrifices required or willing to take them. I’m also not sure that those teachers willing to make these sacrifices will find the support they need from administration and society.
I think if society truly desires a change, and I am becoming more aware that some members do not, then drastic changes may be required. The school systems may need to take a step back from standardizing curriculum and test and reach out to the local community to find what the real needs are and how they can meet them.
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3 comments:
Having coached and worked with kids from inner-city schools, I am qualified to shed some light on this topic. Many teachers and those in education, especially those who haven't worked in inner-city schools, tend to view them as no-win situations. They don't want to go there for numerous reasons. The kids there tend to be very spiteful and feel oppressed because of the burdens of growing up in a bad environment, many are involved in gang activity, many of them have no father around, and merely surviving on the streets seems to be the most prevalent thing on their mind; not learning algebra or conjugating verbs. The administration is the bottom line in terms of discipline. Many good administrators don't want to go there because they feel it is unsafe and the kids are headed for doom. It takes a certain kind of teacher to be able to teach in a school with all those issues; it also takes a great amount of patience. It takes a teacher who is tough, not at all intimidated by the potentially violent nature of these kids, and one who can relate to them. To be honest, most of these kids are not "bad" kids. They just aren't getting loved anywhere else and will do whatever it takes, they feel, to get attention. If you can go into a situation like this where the administration has a positive attitude about making a difference, they will support you and you will be able to make a positive difference in these kids lives. If not, then it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for you to do your job as a teacher.
February 24, 2008 4:43 PM
Excellent Post, David.
(and nice comments from Joe).
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