The culturally competent teacher involves and works with families and community resources, understanding the differences in families, the important influence of family participation in students’ learning, and the benefit of collaborating with the wider school community. Imagine that you are the teacher of this classroom. What challenges might you encounter in collaborating with the parents of your students? How might you address these challenges? How might you demonstrate respect for the concerns or contributions of parents?
At this point in time, with the notice that my school is not closing, but being reassigned to a elementary school, I think it is very difficult to talk to parents. While these kids will still obviously be attending school, parents will now have to find ways to get them there and pick them up. Since a neighborhood school is being "broken up" there is a much concern for splitting up friends and the effect that it might have on the students. All these issues are effecting the family structure and im sure it is very stressful on everyone. Ive noticed that there has become a sort of bond between the parents, students and teachers in my school because no one seems to be in favor of the teacher firings and redistricting of these schools.While it is a very challenging time for everyone, it is bringing the community together but im not sure if it is in a positive way or not...
The school closings and teacher firings are very discouraging in the way they break the bonds that people have developed over the years. It sounds like your school has a great connection among teachers, parents, and students and it's really disappointing that that bond has to be tampered with. It is already very hard for young kids to find friends that they really connect with and teachers that they feel comfortable with. It sounds like your school has that and its too bad that they are being reassigned.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to find a positive in all of this. While there are most definitely some really awesome teachers, there are most certainly some not so great ones. Everything happens for a reason, so the school closings may be a great learning opportunity for the students in terms of making new friends, learning to adjust to a new school and location, and learning under the new teaching style of other educators :)
ReplyDeleteBoth Brett and Bianca make good points here. Sometimes it takes something really upsetting for people to want to know more and get involved, and for "movements" to develop and grow. While it is true that everything happens for a reason, it is hard to believe that 1928 teachers in Providence schools are "bad?" It seems very much like the essential reason for school closings and teachers' firings is financial unfortunately. Funding for public education has become a gigantic struggle over the past twenty years in this country while many resources are being invested in wars abroad and corporate and financial interests at home now rather than the health and education of future generations.
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