Monday, June 1, 2009
reminder of where I am
Today after school I was talking with one of my 8th grade girls in the hallway about her coming after school for some tutoring. Before our conversation ended, she turned to some girl who had walked a little too closely by her, they started yelling at each other and getting in each other's face, and before I knew it they were punching each other in the face.
Sometimes I forget what is going on in my students' lives. I forget that my students have these types of experiences - either as observers or as participants. I forget that a successful school must address these experiences in a relevant and meaningful way. How do I acknowledge that this is my students' reality without making excuses for them? How do I let them know that their task is extremely difficult, but still hold them to that high standard?
In an effort to not make excuses for our students, Bell (and now Lincoln)tend to ignore the reality of our students lives. There needs to be a way to meet in the middle- to make school healing as well as rigorous. Otherwise we will lose girls like Diana.
Sometimes I forget what is going on in my students' lives. I forget that my students have these types of experiences - either as observers or as participants. I forget that a successful school must address these experiences in a relevant and meaningful way. How do I acknowledge that this is my students' reality without making excuses for them? How do I let them know that their task is extremely difficult, but still hold them to that high standard?
In an effort to not make excuses for our students, Bell (and now Lincoln)tend to ignore the reality of our students lives. There needs to be a way to meet in the middle- to make school healing as well as rigorous. Otherwise we will lose girls like Diana.
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