“I teach fourth grade in Harlem.”
“What’s your greatest struggle as a teacher?”
“I worry a lot about the kids.”
“Why’s that?”
“Not all the kids. Just the ones that aren’t on the ‘college track.’ Many of them just don’t have a culture of expectation at home, and it’s hard work to lift yourself out of an underprivileged situation. I actually just finished going to a trombone recital for a former student of mine. I used to coach him in hockey on weekends. He’d practice with me from 4 AM to 6 AM. Then he’d go practice trombone from 8 to 10. He did all this just so he could get into a good high school. That’s what it takes, really. Hard to do without a culture of expectation.”
s'how i feel about a lot of the circus kids. the only high expectations their parents have, is for them to be performers. maths and reading is tertiary.
Teaching and care jobs are difficult because you end up caring more than you either intended or anticipated.
Oh look, some culture of poverty bullshit. From an educator. Well done.