[MCP] minority kid burning

[Paul C. Gorski]

Alicia,

I've tried desperately to stay out of this discussion, but I can't.

Question: How can you argue that we should stop blaming teachers when  
you're so ready to shift blame completely onto parents? A bit of  
humility might be in order here. You're not a perfect teacher. Like  
all teachers you contribute, even if unconsciously, to the problems  
you abhor. And it this is really your attitude--that it's all parents'  
fault--then you undoubtedly have ways of unintentionally demonstrating  
that to your students and parents. Why would a parent want to come  
meet with you--especially a parent who, themselves, was likely  
brutalized by the education system, by their own teachers, by their  
society?

So before you start demonizing parents, why not redirect some of that  
energy into some of the key social problems that underlie all of this:

1. a lack of living wage jobs, meaning many of these parents are  
probably working multiple jobs, and not the sorts of jobs for which  
they get personal days to attend meetings. Instead, many of them are  
probably working jobs for which they simply won't be paid for time off  
to attend a meeting.

2. Systemic racism and classism. Even when parents become more  
involved in their kids' schools--if the parents are from marginalized  
groups--they STILL don't get a fair shake. I know this for a fact,  
having collected data on it myself. Capitalism requires poverty, it  
requires a certain level of unemployment. After being beaten down  
again and again and again we act all surprised when we perceive that  
somebody has given in (even though usually they haven't given in at  
all, but instead are dealing with life, with survival, in ways that  
may seem problematic to the privileged, who are in denial about what  
they have caused).

It concerns me deeply when somebody turns to deficit theory so quickly  
and consistently. And this is what you do here. You have both primary  
ingredients: (1) the use of common stereotypes, and (2) ignoring  
systemic inequities.

Paul

Quoting alicia banks <ambwww at yahoo.com>:

> lisa
>   thank you so much!
>   teachers are dogged daily by politicos and citizens who never set   
> foot in a classroom!!!!!
>   ___
>
>   our most absentee parents live in an apt complex that literally   
> sits on our school grounds!!!
>
>   they cannot walk 5 feet to 3 conferences per yr
>
>   but they can drive to distant clubs and bars nightly!!!!
>
>   this is my reality as an educator
>
>   blaming teachers will never help students
>
>   our silence will never protect us
>
>   when we visit and phone too often
>
>   they withdraw their students in protest/retaliation
>
>   ie
>
>   i have a new student today
>
>   she is 6
>
>   this is her THIRD SCHOOL SINCE AUG 19!!!!!!!!
>
>   this is a national  epidimic of PARENTAL abuse
>
>   yet only teachers are being blamed
>
>   why????!!!!!!?????
>
>   it is only worsening as such unfair abuse drives the very best of   
> us away...
>
>   public ed is doomed by the arrogant ignorance of those who blindly  
>  and cluelessly blame teachers and toxic young parents
>
>   bill cosby is being far too kind!!!!!
>   it is all 1000 times worse than he dares to describe
>
>   fyi
>   ab
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Paul C. Gorski
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