The first thing I learned from this lesson is exactly what it means to care for a student as an educator. It is important to have close relationships with students, hold them to high expectations and to respect their families (255). This reminds me of the assistant principal and his personal involvement with my a cousin of mine who was an at risk student. This man was a constant presence in my cousin's life, even to go so far as to attend the funeral of my aunt. I do not know exactly how he tried helping keep my cousin on course, I was younger than him and to be honest our assistant principal attending our family service was confusing to me at first. However, looking back, I'm sure that he had created this close relationship in order to get my cousin back on track. Unfortunately, there were a lot of other factors in my cousin's life that led to him not graduating and later being incarcerated, but it is comforting to know there was at least one adult in his life giving it their all, and it's inspiring to know that it was someone from the academic community.
As a teacher, it is important to scaffold instruction, be available to help students and provide them support. It is also essential to help the student feel a sense of belonging to the school community (256). So much goes into creating a safe, comfortable and supportive learning environment for students. Being a caring teacher is one thing any educator can do to help develop this environment. The definition of caring provided in this chapter reminds me more of "tough love". To be caring as a teacher one needs to set high expectations and hold students to them, provide great support and have rigorous demands that challenge the student (256). It is all about building the student's confidence. Help them believe in themselves and you are in turn helping them develop a sense of independency and competency.
There were many different theories presented in this chapter to tackle the question of what affects a students success rate, but a combination of them creates the best solution because this is quite a complex situation. Some think that genetic or cultural inferiorities exist (257). An important point made in this section is how if a school perceives a student as inadequate for whatever reason, they will only help that student to fail because their perceptions affect how they treat the student and determine to what standards that student is held. Others feel that schools are simply maintaining the status quo by creating future generation of working- and wealthy classes. To me, this sounded a lot like a conspiracy theory and I'm not sure I support it. It seems like to simple and extreme of an answer to the problem. One also needed to consider how the difference between school culture and home culture may affect the student. The school environment may be completely foreign to a student, and this culture shock may affect them, but I do not believe they would be the overall cause for a student's failure.
One thing I would like to research more is the idea that the zero tolerance policy in schools may be having an adverse effect. I would want to see a specific case of of how this policy created an unfair situation for a student and ultimately resulted in their incarceration.
You are very right about the support and caring going a long way to helping students be successful. I have heard other stories similar to your story about the principal, but we do need more people like that in students' lives. Like you said, there is not one catch-all theory, and each student is an individual with different needs. Your comment on zero-tolerance could very well be true. I am not for it, but, to play the other side, a school may not have a place for a student who just does not want to be there and is behaviorally disrupting the rest of the population. I work in a small school, and we have tried alternatives to this problem and what 'works' with one student does not necessarily work with another.
ReplyDeleteHi Jacqui,
ReplyDeleteThere are three areas in which your response stands out: the "tough love" analogy; the personal experience that you've had which puts all these readings and theories into relief; and, your view / questioning of the zero-tolerance policy.
Although "tough love" may sound like a cliché now, it nevertheless has a basis in truth. And, if we equate that "authentic care" truly and fully, we will, in some times, and with some students, ultimately provide "tough love." Of course, being a veteran, I hope we're not considering the "tough love," of say, a drill sergeant. That, after all, could inspire some while distancing others.
Your personal experience regarding your cousin and the Assistant Principal becomes a testament to those teachers who DO maintain "authentic care." And, it DOES make a difference. As I was a little "lost" in school, I have never forgotten (nor will I ever forget) those teachers who obviously were watching and guiding while I sat there oblivious. Because of them, I often think of that "C" student, that private student, whenever I am before a class.
And lastly, I am so relieved to see that other members of the class as well as our readings are questioning the "No Tolerance" policy. As Laura mentioned, disruption can largely affect the class. But, simultaneously, we need to try to create more positive alternatives that the "tracks" that we currently have.
Lastly, I am sorry to hear about your cousin's ordeal; and, I hope he has found a positive path despite his past obstacles, (including losing a family member).
Your story does drive home the point that we, as teachers, do have an influence, sometimes a huge influence in others' lives. It is something of which I've become extremely aware.
By the way, please join me at rsouthern12@blogspot.com.
Jacqui you made some great points about what it takes to be a caring teacher. Also I appreciate you sharing that story because they really is remarkable that a principal would go so out of their way to try and help a student. Although as you noted it didnt work in this case, just the fact that this person would care so much for students may have affected other students. I have had some very caring teachers in my own life so I can relate to this and I see how they make a difference.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that zero tolerance is tough in schools. Like Laura said the school just might not have a place for certain students or even the resources to handle extremely difficult students. The issue with this is what happens to those student? It is sad to think of the reality, that the school gives up on them and they end up in trouble with the law. If schools could find resources to help these students and keep them in school they would be much better off. But with everything else it is much easier said than done and I'm sure it would be very costly to implement these resources.