Ask an urban teacher anything

[Azul]

I was originally going to write a damn near essay on the positives (and many negatives) of urban public schools, but I figured it would be easier to just take questions and answer them as truthfully (with as little bias as possible).

When I get home I'll be happy to answer

No trollin' ass questions like "have you ever had sex with a student?" either

 

[Shogun]

how important is parental involvement to a kids success?

Has your district adapted the Common Core yet? If so, thoughts?

 

[LordTaskForce]

Do you sell drugs to any of the kids?

 

[Brown_Pride]

does your job leave you fulfilled?
Do you ever feel helpless?
What's the SINGLE BIGGEST piece of advice you could give a father of 3 in order to ensure their success as students?

 

[88m3]

How strong is your union?

 

[Blackking]

What city do you teach in? Is your school set up like a prison preparation camp?

Smash a students parent in the past? Do you feel you are making a difference?

How do you feel about common core and national standards?

 

[boskey]

What is your race and what are the races of your students

 

[Towlie]

what are you doing to close the achievement gap?

 

[cleanface coney]

do you look out for the kids outside of school?

 

[Mr. Somebody]

Are you an atheist?

 

[Azul]

how important is parental involvement to a kids success?

Has your district adapted the Common Core yet? If so, thoughts?

I know kids who have succeeded without parental involvement. However, this is the exception, not the rule. A parent imo doesn't have to be a genius or a tiger mom, but they should always encourage their children to have a better life than they have. If you were a kid on the verge of being a knucklehead, if you saw your mom/dad was like chances are you'd be like too.

Yeah we have common core. Problem is, in social studies ppl can't agree and what material is common core. We don't even have a common core approved book and they want to have common core aligned exams.

does your job leave you fulfilled?
Do you ever feel helpless?
What's the SINGLE BIGGEST piece of advice you could give a father of 3 in order to ensure their success as students?

After a good day I feel soooo fulfilled. I remember last year I had a student pass her regents will one of the highest scores in her grade. It was a pleasure calling her dad and letting him know. They wanted to mainstream her (she is a special ed student) but I asked her parents to let her stay with me just one more term. They trusted me and it paid off. That is a great feeling.

Unfortunately I feel helpless a lot of the time. Mainly because imo, the system sets A LOT of these kids up to fail. It hurts to see kids who you want to save so bad, but you know there is NOTHING that you can do. When you have vindictive folks who want and will try to see you fail. Sadly, the bad is beginning to outweigh the good.

Man I know being a father of three must be tough. Don't compare your kids to one another too much. One may be talented in math. If the next one isn't, perhaps they may have a knack for English. Encourage them to be active in extra activities. Keep in touch with their teachers. Ask to see their homework and don't assume that they did it just because they said so. Reward, but don't spoil. Get them free SAT tutoring if you can.

How strong is your union?

I think my union is to be honest. Good benefits, but that isn't everything. There are of usually no help when you need their assistance.

What city do you teach in? Is your school set up like a prison preparation camp?

Smash a students parent in the past? Do you feel you are making a difference?

How do you feel about common core and national standards?

NYC.
Nope...never seen a dad that made me go and even if I did, that is a no go.
It some ways, common core ain't all that bad particularly in social studies. I think they need to revamp the English because it takes away the importance of literature. All in all, poorly planned and currently being rolled out poorly too.

What is your race and what are the races of your students

I'm black. Most of my students are black, latino, and Asian (Guyanese as they are officially classified as Asian)

what are you doing to close the achievement gap?

It depends on how you define "achievement gap." It is a case by case basis to me. Until we work on society as a whole, there will always be a gap based on socioeconomic status.

do you look out for the kids outside of school?

I work in a different borough from where I live. However, my students have my email and when they use it, I always respond.

Are you an atheist?

No....but they don't know that.

 

[Brown_Pride]

are inner city schools broken and if so how do we fix them?

 

[Towlie]

It depends on how you define "achievement gap." It is a case by case basis to me. Until we work on society as a whole, there will always be a gap based on socioeconomic status.

the achievement gap is the difference of performance amongst races

no matter what income bracket, black and latino students perform the absolute worse

so it's not a case by case basis

 

[Shogun]

@AgentT

I teach high school social studies in the burbs...we're about to adopt common core.

It seems that content takes a back seat to literacy skills. In other words, they're not as concerned with what your teaching as long as its heavily focused on reading for information, and writing skills.

I don't have the full picture yet, though.

 

[Azul]

the achievement gap is the difference of performance amongst races

no matter what income bracket, black and latino students perform the absolute worse

so it's not a case by case basis

The achievement gap can be based on structural as well as cultural differences. Therefore income is a factor. I don't think race is the defining factor in whether or not a student does well.

Not sure you'd be satisfied with whatever answer I give you.