Moral Imperative

Wow, two posts in one month. I better be careful or this could become a habit.

Today I organized and ran a meeting of administrators and teachers focused on our school attendance policy. Several interesting things happened in this meeting.

For the first time in a long time I witnessed an honest discussion about how to handle some of the most frustrating issues. This isn't to say that there was not some eye-rolling and self righteous smirks, but for the most part there was a judgement free exchange of suggestions. I hope that the school becomes filled with these types of conversations. Teachers are so afraid to admit that they don't have complete control of the classroom and that they don't know how to handle some issues that we isolate ourselves. I feel deficient and instead of having a place to go to get help, I cut myself off so that others won't learn about my deficiency. No one has this entire teaching thing all figured out. We all struggle with engaging students in learning and managing the classroom/school environment. Let's stop pretending everything is good and that you are inferior if your students act out and you don't know how to deal with it. This job is too tough to make more problems for ourselves.

The other interesting event was an exchange of ideas that went an unexpected place. As we discussed the attendance policy, it sounded like we should punish kids so harshly that they do not want to be tardy. In doing this we are teaching them to be responsible by being on time to class. Maybe it is my subversive nature, but I can see students welcoming this policy. If you suspend me from school for being tardy and then not serving my detention, I win. I (the student) have now confirmed that you don't really want me at school because I am no good. I (the student) can now blame the school for making to so hard to get an education, "look you put me out for being late to class. How am I going to learn now?"
The idea of responsibility, respect, and values kept coming up. Statements were made like:
"Students don't value being in class on time"
"Students that are late have rationale reasons for being late. The reasons aren't rational to the teachers, but they make sense to the students and parents" (I'm not trying to be late, but I just got here. I have to go find X to get my folder and then I have to find Y to get my phone charger. Then I am going to go to class, I promise. )

It got to the point where it was said "that is the way their (meaning children of poverty) culture is" and we can't change that.

How disappointing. I am sure that this teacher did not fully mean what was said, but it is an easy trap to fall into. We need to create a school culture that prepares kids. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with the culture of the low-income, urban area around the school. It is a rich culture that I love. I loved it when a student taught me a "ghetto" word of the day to complete my "academic" word of the day. But I have to believe that most of the parents want something more for their kids than they have. If the parents don't want that, then our job as the school is still to prepare them to be as successful as they want to be. That means we prepare each kid as if he or she is going to college. That doesn't mean a student is a a failure if they don't go to college. It means that the school has failed the child if they want to go to college and find that they cannot.

Culture is a powerful force. The school has to create a culture within its walls that prepare kids for the next step. The school needs to be as clear about the facets of its culture as it is about the classes being taught. It is a tough job, but we (the whole society) needs it to be done and done well.