Replies

I work in a low income school. Within five (5) more years, the white population will be the minority.

I teach, by CHOICE, students who are in the lower classes. The straight to work kids, y’all know ‘em. These are the blue collar kids, from blue collar families.

I would not dream of teaching anything else. I love those kids.

Pay me 125K a year will not change the fact that some kids simply will never achieve. Period.

Case in point. There is a student at the school, she is attractive (models...really models) has a mom for a teacher, and a two parent home. Ideal situation for a student.

She is, at best, a high mentally impaired student. Her total IQ is probably 65. She qualifies for special services, but does not get them. She cannot balance a check book, even with a calculator.

There is no amount of teaching, differentiation, alternative assignments, or ANYTHING that will get this student to pass state mandated tests. Simple as that. The best teachers in the world could not get her to do much better than what she is doing now. Even a one on one tutor could not get her to do better. Sad, but true.

This is what I have a problem with when it comes to paying teachers more money to do the same job. Sometimes it just don’t work.

Well, my friend, since I teach special education, also by choice, I know what you are saying. We celebrate in my 6th grade reading class when someone goes up a level. One girl, who has made it to 6th grade this year is the 'rock star' of the class. EVERYONE, and I do mean EVERYONE wants to be like "S" because, as I have heard over and over, "She's on the ORANGE level... oooooooh,,,,, ahhhhhh," and they stand at my desk counting their lessons and averaging their scores over and over trying to forecast when they will be 2 levels or "OMG!" 1 level away.

Compare this to the GT kids who are doing gawd knows what type of brainy stuff. I'll keep my guys, thanks. I LOVE their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn. Even though they are slower than the average bear, they are my babies, and they know I love every one of them dearly.

shag377, I teach the same sort of children you do (also by choice), but the majority of our students are already minority. I agree that some students will never achieve no matter what...

But it seems to me (and SoftballMom's post is an example) the GT kids will probably do well no matter what, and it's our lower-level kids who will see the biggest difference with really good teachers.