Literacy with an Attitude by Patrick J. Finn

 After reading this article, I couldn't be happier knowing that I will be an art educator and not a general educator.  The upper-hand we have are never having "correct answers."

    I found it to be an interesting read with all the demographics, location of schools, and families class levels.  As unfortunate as it is to prepare students for the work their parents or even grandparents may have done, even if they are still living in a poor neighborhood, that they still have potential to do great things.  Part of me does understand where their parents are coming from however, if you have two working parents who may have to walk to work, maybe all they can afford is to put food on the table once a day.  I totally understand that they would want their child to start working and gaining income as soon as they can to help out but then they are being taken away from their education.  It is a hard decision they have to make.  On the other hand, families who are wealthy put pressure on their children to follow in their career path as well.  I am not sure if they expect them to go to a prestige college first or what but some families find it very offensive if a child doesn't wish to follow in their footsteps.

I thought of Morgan and Morgan...probably because I hear their ads every day. If you haven't heard about them, they are a law firm who is fun my a husband and wife who had three sons who also work as lawyers. 

While in schools though, I do not think it is right for the teachers to lower their expectations just because of their backgrounds...do they really know where every single one of their students home life is like? Why group them with lower expectations when you can raise them to a higher standard and watch them succeed?

I just wanted to share my school's data because I haven't stopped thinking about it since we first looked at them last week.  I am volunteering at Alfred Lima Elementary.  I am curious to find out where the majority of these kids go to middle and high school, to see if any scores improve...

    I find it funny whenever I read stories of terrible teachers like those mentioned in this reading....why did you become a teacher if you hate kids? Why become a teacher if you want to yell at them all day?

    A quote I've mentioned before and will probably say again is: 

"Be the role model to your students they may not have at home."

    I do realize it is important for teachers to familiarize themselves with their students backgrounds but not if its main usage is to group them as a whole and to lower the expectations just because they are low-income or come from a specific area.  

Fixing the school system is going to take very small baby steps, along with everything else in this realm I am not picturing any quick progress.  As mentioned in previous blogs, I think as the newer generations become teachers or administrators there will be progress....out with the old in with the new ;)