What's it like to teach in an inner-city school?
It is very rewarding and challenging at the same time.A lot of my students remind me of myself, as I was the first in my family to go to college. They don’t want to continue the cycle of poverty and they know having an education is their only way out.When a student enters my class my demeanor and the way I interact with them, allows them to know, that I identify with what they are up against. They are a lot of times untrusting and defensive but, with patience and time, they let go of their inhibitions.The rewarding aspect of teaching inner city kids however, is seeing them finish what they started.
As a teacher, have you taught at both an inner city public school and a wealthy private school? How do the top students in each school compare to the other?
I have taught at both ends of the spectrum, and in between. Wealthy and/or privileged students have issues. And, as is often stereotyped, poor, urban students do, as well. When I am asked what I teach, I answer, “humans.” That includes all of them.The top students in both populations tend to obsess with pleasing the teacher and staying out of trouble (at least getting caught). Whether it is the pressure from parents, or their heritage, to succeed, or some inappropriate entanglements in their personal lives, including those at home, or if it is just an intrinsic push the individual has to obtain something that they feel good grades will gain for them, regardless of what they learn or how they “make” the grade, the top students are pretty much the same.The issue is to meet them where they are and challenge them to achieve beyond their present existence. If grades are their focus, then the challenge is to lead them to see that grades are artificial measures of intelligence and success. If survival is the focus, sometimes just providing a safe place for them to be whoever it is they are becoming, is the best a teacher can do.Grades, or wealth, or the environment in the home (however that is defined) are not what define a young person. They are all like clay — moldable. I have found that the most useful exercise to build character, which is what I believe is not only the jobs of educators, but also the definable essence of success, is providing a rich environment where a student learns to survive, or think for themselves, when outside their comfort zone, e. g., to adapt. Public service, volunteerism, being valued as a human being, and knowing that this one person, outside what they call family, sincerely cares about them as a person, far outweighs poverty, affluence, home life, handicaps, or other hurdles.As Forrest Gump’s mother said, “Life is like a box of chocolates.” So are the young people we educate. That is the excitement of beginning a new year, a new semester, and being in the profession of educating. We have to take what we get, and do the best we can, with what we have, where we are.
Is it hard to get a job as a teacher at an inner city high school?
Thanks for the A2A!I would say it depends on a few factors:Do they need a teacher for the subject(s) and grades you’re qualified for?Does the city have a high crime rate? If so, you’re more likely to find a job in he city, due to the risk.Is the school bad? You’re more likely to get a job in a bad school, because they require a ton of work to improve.How many candidates are more experienced than you?Overall, it can actually be quite easy to get an inner-city teaching position, as long as you don’t have too much competition. Good luck!
Why are so many teachers in inner city schools white?
So I went to 2 of my kids parent/teacher conferences today, and as I was walking thru the schools I couldnt help but notice that like over half the teachers are white. Now mind you, these schools actually have like no white kids, its something like 60% black, 30% mexican, 7% asian, and 3% white. Seems odd to me to go into a school that has hardly no white kids and see a majority of white teachers. Are blacks just not pursuing careers in education or what?
Would you rather spend a year as a cop or a teacher in an inner-city neighborhood?
Teacher!I love teaching.I teach whenever i get a chance.I love teaching more than self study so i revise the topics mostly by teaching.I have taught my younger brother - JAVA.I have taught my cousins.I have taught my friends one night before exams.
White inner-city teacher?
I've worked for 21 years with inner-city teachers, mostly white. In ALL schools, race is not the issue, it is social class, or socio-economic status (SES). (See Noam Chomsky's comment about "The unmentionable five-letter word" in *The Restless Few and the Prosperous Many*!!) That is, if a child has a doctor father & a lawyer mother, it doesn't matter what is the child's race!! African-American students respond well to teachers of any ethnic group who offer: 1) Respect for them as individuals, 2) Fairness to all students in the class, 3) Teaching from their starting point but with high expectations & standards, never assuming someone is too "dumb" to learn the subject, 4) Offering extra help if needed, 5) Never humiliating anyone in the class, either alone or in front of peers. This is true of all ages, K-12, in my experience. You will meet some racist parents (against you) and some parents who will accuse you of racism at the drop of a hat, but usually the students recognize respect when they see (and feel) it.
Why do you want to teach specifically in a high-need school?
I taught in an inner city school my first three years of teaching. I could not afford a car so I took the job as it was in walking distance to my home. Around the middle of my second year I realized that I loved my job! The only reason I left was due to marriage and relocating. I want to make it clear that teachers in a high need school need to be MORE qualified! They are a special breed of people who are willing to give of themselves.They find themselves spending longer hours at the work site. They also will need to be prepared to supply some basic comforts for their students such as snacks, tissues and supplies as the parents are not able to do this and the school is on a tight budget. Most of the children have learning problems "up the kazoo". This may be due to poor nutrition,or mothers who took drugs, used alcohol and smoked during pregnancy. You will find yourself working with many specialists. The reading teacher, speech pathologist, math specialist, physical therapist, and possibly an audiologist quickly become your new best friends and colleagues. They will mentor students who have many emotional, physical and social problems. It comes with the job. The school psychologists, social workers and pediatricians become not only their advocate but yours also! It is harder to teach these children as they usually are not socially aware of the world. All in all, however, I look back with great pleasure on those years. I truly believe I made a difference! So to answer your question-- Why would one teach in a high need school. ? You do it because you truly want to. Those teachers who go into this type of teaching solely because they want loans paid off soon fall by the wayside. Check out this link for some interesting reading. http://www.successinhighneedschools.org/...
What are the benefits of working in a inner city school.?
If you are going to work in an Inner City School you have to have heart, you have to care, and you have to be resilient. Please do not go and work in an Inner City school just for the Loan pay off....Those kids are struggling and they need someone who really cares and has passion and who believes they can succeed... The BIGGEST benefit for working in the inner city is the pay off with the students. Watching them succeed and the joy of knowing you are helping them. BTW- The government will pay your loans if you just teach anywhere for 10 consecutive years...