for A, who was the neighborhood dealer of record

[ulysses]

at 16 and in the eighth grade, who told me once that I'd better not rat him out to the cops but who came to my class (when he skipped all the others) because he said he liked how I taught math.

For K, KiKi, the tall girl with the sweet smile and soft voice, who was in the JROTC last I saw her and who gave me a bubble-glass paperweight that had been hers for Christmas my first year at that school.

For J, sharp kid who undoubtedly partied hard at Obama's election and the one who really kept me on my mental toes.

For M - was that her name? She was only with me for a few months before she skipped school and let herself be taken to a hotel where she was brutally raped. A few weeks before, after our first serious adoption match fell through, she wrote for an assignment that she wished I could adopt her.

For A (different A) in particular, a good guy and big but gay - and in denial about it - in a community that didn't tolerate that. At all.

For T, with the personality and voice of an 18-wheeler, who kept trying.

Even for R, especially for R, who drove me absolutely fucking nuts. Slept through class (stretched out across a table, mind you), cursed me in ways I hadn't known were possible, started fights constantly and, on the last day I had him, tried to strangle T and then proceeded to tear holy hell out of the main office. I hope he isn't either in jail or dead, but I suspect he's one or the other.

For those kids, understand what they taught me. That poverty isn't simply the lack of money.

[leftyclimber]

1. Thank you, ulysses.

Some of them come to me when they make it into college, struggling to work two jobs and go to school full time.

They fall asleep in class, in the front row, and still manage to pull out As and Bs.

Some of them grind out the hardest-earned Cs I've ever seen, and impress me a lot more with their grit and desire than the kids who have never missed a meal and think an A is their birthright.

When I ask a question, they give me an answer from the heart instead of telling me what they think I want to hear.

They keep me on my toes and make sure I know my stuff, because they are the ones who challenge me.

They are always my favorite students.

You help send them to me.

A lot of them make it.

:hug:

[ulysses]

3. thank *you*.

I want to believe mine will make it to your classroom. :hug:

[teach1st]

2. And before they get to you they come through me...

In fifth grade, longing to remain innocent, but itching to make their adolescent debut.

To X who was the sweetest thing and came in at six in the morning to help me set up the class. Who now, just few years later suffers from OCD and who has been raped and abandoned by those who should love her. And yet who messages me each day for homework help because she wants so badly to to do well in school.

Oh, I could write forever. My heroes are all of the kids who grow up and make it despite very difficult circumstances. I've known many. And this is a great thread.

[ulysses]

4. I'm teaching fifth grade now.

I think I had in mind trying to catch them earlier, but it's like trying to catch ghosts with a net.

[ulysses]

5. I love all y'all who've recommended,

but I'd love to have your comments as well. :)

[GoneOffShore]

6. Just saw a film that you would like.

The Class or Entre des murs. Filmed in Paris -with real kids, based on a book by the guy who appears as the teacher.

[ulysses]

7. I'll look for it.

I'm not a big movie guy, though.

[GoneOffShore]

9. I think you'll find it apposite to what you wrote.

And moving.

[ulysses]

11. I may need to track it down and watch it tonight

if I'm going to generate any traffic to this thread.

[GoneOffShore]

14. It's in 'art house' release but may be available on Netflix.

We saw it at the Ritz in Philadelphia tonight.

[ulysses]

8. kick, goddamnit.

[ThomCat]

10. That's a real collection of personalities.

But you definitely have it right. Poverty is not just a lack of money. Poverty burns itself into your life, and after a while it burns itself into your personality.

It's worse for kids because their personalities are Formed in poverty and formed by poverty. :(

I was a dirt poor kid, grew up on public assistance, eating government surplus food, and I was even homeless for a while in college. So I guess I know something about poverty.

I took a few Social Theory and Sociology of Education courses in grad school, and one of the big recurring topics was low achievement of children in poverty. Schools still haven't figured out how to reach poor kids.

The big reason, I think, is that they know they won't get anything out of it. Schooling is supposed to ultimately lead to success in a career all the school is done. If they already know they won't grow up to get the good jobs then there's no point caring about working hard in school. If you already know you're going to be low paid and abused like your parents then schools a waste of time.

It's even worse if you think you're getting cheated. If you think the rewards will only go to the rich kids, then not only won't you try hard in school, you'll resent school. And if anyone tries to tell you school is worthwhile you'll "know" they're lying and resent them and school even more.

It's the rare teachers who can break that negative expectation and convince those kids that there is any point to paying attention and learning for the sake of learning. Apparently, you were able to break that expectation and get through to them. You got their attention and taught them that Math was worth learning just because it was worth learning. :)

:applause:

[ulysses]

13. and that bunch was just my first year there.

:) They were a trip.

All best to you, Thom.

[JeffR]

12. K & R.

:kick: