Savage Inequalities is continuing to teach me so much. It is revealing different aspects of teaching that have always recognized but never really paid attention to. In these two chapters I have read for this past week, they both discussed a lot about very obvious aspects of educating in different schools that we may not notice. In "Other People's Children", Kozol discusses different situations; but the main discussion is about a teacher named Corla Hawkins who teaches a fifth and sixth grade combined classroom. "Public Education in New York" discusses the difficulties teaching in New York.
"Kindergarten classes almost anywhere are cheerful places, and whatever damage may already have been done to children here is not initially apparent to a visitor" (43). This is one reminder that I really appreciated in this chapter. Young children are so innocent and naive; no matter what is going on at home they still seem so happy and cheerful when you see them in school. I can definitely relate to this because last semester I was in a placement where a young boy lost his grandmother. It was a kindergarten class and he was absolutely torn up about it; but once he got back into the routine with the other students he had a completely different attitude. He was able to play and laugh with the other students after about five minutes of being back at school. Young children have such a free spirit about them and are easy-going.
"The rationale behind much of this writing is that pedagogic problems in our cities are not chiefly matters of injustice, inequality or segregation, but of insufficient information about teaching strategies: If we could simply learn what works in Corla Hawkins's room, we'd then be in a position to repeat this all over Chicago and in every other system" (51). In this part of the chapter, Kozol argues that teachers aren't being educated enough with the situations around them. He talks about how difficult it is for teachers to understand lives that they have never experienced before; and how impossible it is to teach to a student you don't understand. Corla does her best to understand and know her students background before teaching. I think this is an excellent example of what all educators need to do. It's important to understand our students and their needs before we try overwhelming them with instruction. So, one aspect that is important to take away from this is the fact that this isn't just a problem of segregation or injustice, but also the fact that teachers are not getting the proper training on how to approach these students.
"It is part of our faith, as Americans, that there is potential in all children" (67). Kozol discusses how most of the teachers have given up in different areas because they are unable to reach the students. We need to remember, as educators, that all children have the ability to learn. Although some may be quicker than others, or may be able to learn different aspects more in depth; we need to remember that it is our responsibility to work with these students. We need to do our best to help them achieve their best. Without having faith in our students, they will not have faith in themselves. Unfortunately, the different situations we will find ourselves in may include our student's parents not believing in them. Especially if this is happening at home, it is our job to make sure we instill confidence in our students.
"It's amazing to me that these children ever make it with the obstacles they face. Many do care and they do try, but there's a feeling of despair" (90). This is a sad truth that we may find in our students. Especially for me, I plan on teaching in Chicago Public Schools, I know many of my students will have to deal with a lot on a day to day basis. For example, some of them may be responsible for younger siblings, others may have to help work to put food on the table. The students that have to deal with all of that stress outside of school with have a very difficult time focusing on doing their best in school. Although they may be doing their best, they may still have an attitude of despair. We need to recognize this in our students and possibly make accommodations for those that have to be a mother or father to a younger sibling when they leave from school.
I really appreciate Kozol's honesty in his writing. So many of these situations seem ridiculous and unbelievable, but it's important to see that these situations do exist and need to be addressed. I am excited to be able to start working in schools like this where I may be able to help, in the same way that Mrs. Hawkins did. She was discussed in the first chapter, and she did everything she could to accommodate for her students and try to ensure success in every single one of them. She took time to work with them individuality, but focused on their main needs first. I really admire teachers like this, and I hope I will be able to be that inspiration for my students as well.
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