MovieChat Forums > The Ron Clark Story (2006) Discussion > Anybody here ever teach in a 'disadvanta...

Anybody here ever teach in a 'disadvantaged are'?

posted 16 years ago by rmancassman
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If so what was it like, how did you handle the students, and did you make a difference? I've had some friends and family members that have or still teach in ghetto areas and man do they have some interesting stories. All I know is that I couldn't do it I figure you either have to have the patience of Job or be a masochist. Taking $hit from a boss who is your peer and is a rational human being is one thing but taking $hit from some child is something I could never do.

[–] alomba1328 16 years ago

I have spent most of my career working in schools like that. The high schools are not as bad as the middle schools, if you can believe it. Here's why: by tenth grade, kids who are trouble tend to stop attending their classes. It is fascinating to see how this plays out. Honors classes have close to 100% attendance every day. Regular classes have about 75%. Remedial classes, 30-50%.

Some of the behavioral aspects were a bit embellished and over done, in my opinion, while other, actual issues were not addressed. For example, coming to school late is a huge problem in these schools. It is such a problem, in fact, that official daily attendance is often not taken until two hours after the start of the school day. Another tremendous problem is the level of literacy of many of the students. I am talking about 17-year-olds who cannot even spell simple words such as "yes" and "had", let alone compose a coherent sentence. There are so many kids who never learned to read and this presents a tremendous obstacle to learning.

[–] deem714 13 years ago

Yes. and my school's area is in an even worse are than the ron clark portal.

Handle the students: It depends on the student. My school's teachers are unfortunately opinionated and gossippy. I have heard "stay away from her" and "watch out for him" stories, and the most important thing I do is to make my own judgment about the student.

One girl I had this year (I was the librarian) would be problematic for everyone in the school. I saw her potential, and her passion and I told her that I saw it -- she changed to a model student with even better-model behavior.

Another boy I had when I taught 3rd -- would take things too serously. To the point of fighting another who just playfully dogged him. I got him to hug his feelings out (to me) and at the end of the year he was another model behavior student.

I make a difference with just a couple of students at a time, and that is all I am aiming for. That donesn't mean that I don't do all in my power to help the others, but if I can see the child's desire to change their ways they are the ones I focus on.

ps your boss is never your peer!

You're laborers, you're supposed to be laboring! That's what you get for not having an education!!