My first day at John Bartram High School was not what I
expected. I had learned about schools like John Bartram through my education
classes and through readings and discussions for the trip, however, I don’t
think I processed the information until I began to experience it first-hand at
John Bartram High School. I was shocked by the number of students on their cell
phones during class, walking into class late, leaving class early, and speaking
disrespectfully to their teachers.
I was also surprised to find how frustrated and apathetic some of the
teachers had become. I was amazed to find out that most students have jobs in
addition to school.
One question I am interested in exploring this week is why
the students are not performing well and sometimes appear or act unmotivated. I
think it is easy to immediately blame teachers and call the students lazy and
unmotivated as explanations for the failing scores of many students and the
high dropout rate. However, I am learning that so many other factors contribute
to my students’ inability to learn including the racial discrimination they may
face, the poverty in which many of them live, their parents who are not
encouraging, and their need to work to help their family financially.
It makes me sad
to see students with so much potential and who are incredibly intelligent and
do not have the economic means to go to college. Schools were created to
educate students and provide everyone with an equal opportunity in life;
however, schools are only perpetuating the inequalities and failing to provide
for the students needs.
I hope we are able to impact these students throughout the
week and encourage them to continue trying hard and striving for a better life
because they definitely deserve better than what they have right now.
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