TiredTeacher
NY Metro Area, NJ
Female, 37
I teach English to 11th grade inner city students. I love my students and do whatever I can to help them succeed, which is quite a mission. These kids face obstacles most of us cannot even imagine: gangs, incarcerated parents, domestic violence and much more. Everyday I read journal entries that would curl your toes...and often I feel I compromise my ethics to get these kids to pass, which I am very conflicted about. Many pass who, frankly, should not.
We don't have to but believe me, I wish I had paid more attention in my Spanish class in high school. You tend to pick up a lot of Spanish just being around the kids and they are more than happy to help you. One of these days when I'm not so stressed I plan on purchasing a Rosetta Stone guide and try to help myself. The problem is also that there are so many different dialects: Puerto Rican, Dominican, Venezuelan, Peruvian, etc. that they all speak differently to each other. You'd be surprised to know that many of the Spanish-speaking kids struggle in their Spanish classes because of the dialects. Gracias for the questions! :)
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I can't think of one! We do have security guards on each floor and there are police officers around but in an inconspicuous way. As the teachers I have spoken to were devastated at the news of what happened in Connecticut, not one said that we should go the armed route. We have constant drills and feel safe as anyone can feel...I mean, what happened there really could happen anywhere, right? It's just very sad that we even have to have this discussion...
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Love your question! I do think that there is a very special bond among our teachers. Only when you have taught in a school like ours, can you ever understand what we experience on a daily basis. I tell my family and friends stories from the trenches, and they are incredulous at what I tell them. There has to be a very high level of empathy and dedication (not detracting from other teachers in other schools; who are a very dedicated bunch) yet burn-out is very prevalent in inner city schools. The frustration and exhaustion levels are out of sight, and this struggle bonds us. I do see, like in any profession, undesirable teachers who are simply collecting a paycheck, and I don't mean to lionize our staff and staffs at other inner city schools. However, there is a sort of "calling" for those of us who work here, and it takes a certain kind of person to prevail despite all the obstacles. Today was our first full day and I am ready for an early night, as I didn't sleep much last night anticipating what our first day would be like. I have been doing this for quite a few years, and I still get butterflies on the first day of school. I guess that's a good thing, right?
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Yes, there have been a number of times. One comes to mind concerning a girl who was cutting herself. She would come to me on a daily basis and show me her scars, and tell me how distressed she was. I went to her counselor who told me that cutting is not considered a "life threatening" situation and that the proper authorities would be contacted to help her. I gave her my cell number and she would text me on occasion telling me she was obsessed with cutting and I would reply with some soothing advice to calm her down and tell her we would speak the next day at school. I was later told that by giving her my number I was putting myself in a precarious situation since it was "stepping over the line." And another time I gave a student a ride to school during a rainstorm who I know was having an especially tough time at home, which is a definite no-no, since the student can always claim that something untoward happened in the car. I am a very trusting person and sometimes you have to just realize that no matter how much you try to help, the unfortunate truth is that you still have to look out for yourself and "CYA" in case it backfires in your face. Sad, but true!
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Inner City English Teacher
What was the saddest student journal entry you've read?
Literary Scout
Can a novelist achieve huge success through self-publishing?
CBP Officer
How cooperative are Mexican authorities re: US immigration and border control?
Students say the n-word all the time. It drives me crazy. Even the Hispanic kids use it. When I hear it in class, I give my speech about the history of that word and how unacceptable it is in my presence. They laugh it off saying "Miss, we all say it, it's no big deal." Whoever says it makes no difference to me...I've never heard it used in a derogatory way towards another kid, like calling them the n-word as an insult; the use of it has become so watered down and endearing in their own community I just don't get it. It seems to bother me more than them... it's inexplicable to me...
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Are you a teacher?
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There are no white students in our school. Not one. It's about 75-25 Hispanic to black, which has changed greatly over the past few years with a strong influx of Dominican students to the city. There does seem to be a pecking order, however, within the Hispanic community, and even the black students: who is Dominican, who is Puerto Rican, who is Peruvian, who is Colombian, who is Mexican. With the black population, it's who is Jamaican, who is black who grew up in this country. It gets a bit crazy, and sometimes during the course of the year there are fights between the races, but nothing that really alarms anyone. There still is a large white population amongst the teachers, though. If a light-skinned Hispanic student is mistaken for white, they immediately put that to rest. It truly is a universe unto itself.
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