School Culture

Site: http://teachers.net/mentors/middle_school/topic13722/9.16.09.19.14.07.html
Teachers.net (Middle School Teachers Chatboard)

Topic: School Culture

Dates Blogged:
09-16-09 to 09-18-09

Body:
On September 16, 2009 a middle school teacher posted a question about standards in inner-city schools, titled: School Culture. He explained that he was raised in a strict Catholic school and was now teaching in an urban school, where many kids talked a lot and were not accustomed to structure, in which, he was familiar with. His question to the site was if he should "adjust his standards and his expectations for them?" Another respondent indicated that the reason he was having trouble was because he was a new teacher and the kids were testing him. Therefore, he should keep his standards and prove to the kids that he's not a pushover. At that point the kids would realize he means business and find respect for him. A third respondent suggested to read Ruby Payne's "Framework for Understanding Poverty" because it defines their background and gives some foundation for why they behave in certain manners. She was from a middle class area herself and found it useful in understanding. She also suggested to talk to the children about middle and upper-class lifestyles in order to bring the children closer to understanding his methodology and approaches in life. She addressed that in order to create a workable environment, both parties need to understand each others background.

Everyone who addressed the issue the teacher faced agreed to keep his standards and expectations. Inner-city kids have different standards of living, in which are developed in their environment. For example, in poorer urban areas, women tend to be more concerned about their physical traits as opposed to accomplishments in contrast to middle or upper class areas. However, the issue of adjusting to and accepting the situations at hand do not have concrete answers; but theoretical answers.

Responses I Posted:
I responded that inner-city kids have different goals and priorities that extend beyond in school but into the household. However, the kids will respect you regardless if you show you have their best interest at heart. Therefore, my final suggestion was to keep his standards, though, to increase his tolerance, in which the way the standards are achieved. Furthermore, perhaps, adjusting standards to their needs and conditions may help in finding mutual satisfaction between the teacher and the students. I responded to this person's post because I've been teaching at a title one school for four years and still have to adapt in different ways. However, he must find his own way of dealing with his particular group of kids and see what works in order to advise the next teacher.

Useful Information for My Teaching:
After questioning my own teaching styles and wondering what solutions apply to the kids I teach, other's concerns to the same problems have helped me realize it's not just my own issues but a broad case that many deal with. This post helped me see my understanding develop on how to adapt to inner-city culture because his question was one that I asked several years ago and I have newer questions that others haven't recognized yet.