I’ve worked as an after school lead teacher at a low income elementary school since coming to college. My podcast emphasizes more of the experiences I’ve had while working there, however, I wanted to specify the exact instances where socioeconomic status impacted the lives of Hastings elementary students. In addition, I hope this blog acts as a call to the Hastings community to fight for more funding, better education, and fewer students left behind.
I remember interviewing for the position and my (now) supervisors telling me that Lincoln elementary had the highest rates of free and reduced lunches. The students struggled with poverty, mental health, and behavior issues. It was nerve-racking to say the least- especially as someone who’s only real job experience was babysitting. And my first day was a complete disaster. Kids were jumping off of tables, punching other students, screaming cuss words at various teachers, and tearing the decorations off the walls. It was my first perception of low income students but I’m so thankful that the first day did not deter me from the position altogether.
I remember interviewing for the position and my (now) supervisors telling me that Lincoln elementary had the highest rates of free and reduced lunches. The students struggled with poverty, mental health, and behavior issues. It was nerve-racking to say the least- especially as someone who’s only real job experience was babysitting. And my first day was a complete disaster. Kids were jumping off of tables, punching other students, screaming cuss words at various teachers, and tearing the decorations off the walls. It was my first perception of low income students but I’m so thankful that the first day did not deter me from the position altogether.
What I disregarded (for an embarrassing amount of time) was the fact that aside from their struggles outside of school, these kids were just that- kids. They were hyper and fast, emotional and frustrated, funny and awkward. They were still processing and developing the world around them and I was simply one person to help get them where they needed to be. I think that the nation’s perception of low income students is completely distorted. They succumb to the racial and harmful stereotypes that define their education as well as their livelihood. Because of this misunderstanding, we don’t give low income students the same resources or educational material. We continuously leave students in low income developments to fend for themselves and repurpose the blame towards their parents or educators. Oftentimes, low income and diverse schools are looked down upon for their low academic scoring. This leads superintendents to believe that the students have a harder time retaining information. The problem, however, is the way in which we are not challenging our students. They have been given an easier school curriculum that does not require critical thinking, social-emotional learning, and deep analysis of textual information. The National Library of Medicine states, “as a consequence of structural inequalities in access to knowledge and resources, students from racial and ethnic ‘minority’ groups in the United States face persistent and profound barriers to educational opportunity” (2016). Dylan Garity and his poem “Rigged Game” provides his own perspective on low income schooling and the rules set in place to keep students from succeeding.
What I love most about this poem is the anger and passion. Garity crafts the perfect argument that’s persuasive yet admirable. It’s a call to action to individuals everywhere. Once we know what to look for, there will be no more hiding. For the sake of our children we must get angry and use that to better advantage the children who are kept silent.
Among the Hastings community, there are five elementary schools and Lincoln elementary has the highest rates of free and reduced lunches. Many students come from a background of abuse, addiction, and poverty. This can lead to all sorts of behavior problems and without the proper resources, it can impact the rest of their lives. Students who are constantly in flight or fight mode and have trouble retaining information. This leads them to fail classes and eventually fail out of school altogether. They join gangs or resort to drugs as a way to cope and begin the vicious cycle in attempts to survive a system built to tear them down.