3. Keep your judgement at home. It’s so easy to judge a child, family and home once you find out everything isn’t perfect like the 80’s sitcom, The Cosby Show. Â Instead of looking to blame why some one lives in poverty, take that time to hear a child’s story. Growing up my story was that despite my father being a small business owner, it was hard to provide for two household with four mouths to feed. Â So we struggled. Since I grew up in a small community, many teachers already knew my story from my older siblings.
I’m not sure if any of teachers judged me, but I never felt judgement when I came to them with an issue. Instead I felt compassion and love. I remember my AP Literature teacher sitting down with me to have a discussion about college and financial aid. She didn’t cringe when I told her that I needed financial aid, instead she showed me what to do to quality. Â As teachers it’s our job to teach and nurture children and judgement has no place in that space. Click here for rule #4.
Teaching in a high-poverty school is definitely different than teaching in a rich or even modest suburban school. I’ve just finished my 13th year at a rural school in Michigan with an 80+% free and reduced lunch rate. We received PD on the Culture of Poverty to help us better understand our clientele. Those of us with real-life experience growing up poor were able to add an authentic stamp on what we learned. I highly recommend reading A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D. There is so much insight in this text.