I began my elementary school teaching career in suburban Seattle, but I didn’t have my own classroom until I moved to Kansas City. I should have been suspicious when the principal offered me a job on the spot, but after two years of long-term subbing, I was desperate for my own classroom. I was dying to make a difference. I liked the fact that the school was . . .um. . . in a financially challenged (some might say “blighted”) neighborhood.
I bounced into school on the first day, determined to bring the joy of learning into the children’s lives. My class was small (as was my classroom), with a wonderful mix of Latino and African-American students. The first graders seemed so sweet and tiny. After getting them all settled in, I called them over to the “reading area” and began to read them poems from my “Multi-cultural Poems” book.
After reading a poem about the beauty of African-American skin, a little boy raised his hand. I was so proud of myself for remembering his name already, I said, “Yes, Trevor?”
“What’s an African-American?” he asked. He was not one of the Latino students.
I didn’t know exactly what to say. I sputtered out some long, lovely descriptive paragraph that basically amounted to, ‘you are’.
“No, Ms.Teacher, I be black,” Trevor said decisively. The other students nodded, looking at me like I was clueless. It was right then that I realized that subbing in the ‘burbs had not been much preparation for my new job.
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{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
I can only imagine how you must have felt. I wouldn’t have known what to do or say.
I can only imagine how you must have felt. I wouldn’t have known what to do or say.
I can only imagine how you must have felt. I wouldn’t have known what to do or say.
I can only imagine how you must have felt. I wouldn’t have known what to do or say.
Good for you for taking on that environment – when I graduated the only positions I could find were inner city baltimore and DC, and I didn’t feel I was up to the challenge, though I might have felt differently had I had elementary instead of secondary students. Well done!
Good for you for taking on that environment – when I graduated the only positions I could find were inner city baltimore and DC, and I didn’t feel I was up to the challenge, though I might have felt differently had I had elementary instead of secondary students. Well done!
Good for you for taking on that environment – when I graduated the only positions I could find were inner city baltimore and DC, and I didn’t feel I was up to the challenge, though I might have felt differently had I had elementary instead of secondary students. Well done!
Good for you for taking on that environment – when I graduated the only positions I could find were inner city baltimore and DC, and I didn’t feel I was up to the challenge, though I might have felt differently had I had elementary instead of secondary students. Well done!
My inner-city school teacher assignment challenged me in ways my middle class, white, suburban upbringing never prepared me for. I had a VERY similar first teaching assignment in much the same way. I remember that eagerness to make a difference and get my own classroom!
Cute story!
My inner-city school teacher assignment challenged me in ways my middle class, white, suburban upbringing never prepared me for. I had a VERY similar first teaching assignment in much the same way. I remember that eagerness to make a difference and get my own classroom!
Cute story!
My inner-city school teacher assignment challenged me in ways my middle class, white, suburban upbringing never prepared me for. I had a VERY similar first teaching assignment in much the same way. I remember that eagerness to make a difference and get my own classroom!
Cute story!
My inner-city school teacher assignment challenged me in ways my middle class, white, suburban upbringing never prepared me for. I had a VERY similar first teaching assignment in much the same way. I remember that eagerness to make a difference and get my own classroom!
Cute story!
great story telling – I would have been just as sputtery to come up with something to say, though I still find it amazing how straight forward and honest little kids can be! (Jenn)
great story telling – I would have been just as sputtery to come up with something to say, though I still find it amazing how straight forward and honest little kids can be! (Jenn)
great story telling – I would have been just as sputtery to come up with something to say, though I still find it amazing how straight forward and honest little kids can be! (Jenn)
great story telling – I would have been just as sputtery to come up with something to say, though I still find it amazing how straight forward and honest little kids can be! (Jenn)
I too went into a “low-income neighborhood” to teach a first-third grade class. At one point one little girl said “Ms. —-. You ain’t white. You’s bright!”
That was the best compliment I could get.
Brava for teaching – and sharing the story.
I too went into a “low-income neighborhood” to teach a first-third grade class. At one point one little girl said “Ms. —-. You ain’t white. You’s bright!”
That was the best compliment I could get.
Brava for teaching – and sharing the story.
I too went into a “low-income neighborhood” to teach a first-third grade class. At one point one little girl said “Ms. —-. You ain’t white. You’s bright!”
That was the best compliment I could get.
Brava for teaching – and sharing the story.
I too went into a “low-income neighborhood” to teach a first-third grade class. At one point one little girl said “Ms. —-. You ain’t white. You’s bright!”
That was the best compliment I could get.
Brava for teaching – and sharing the story.
Dana – There were so many times when I didn’t know what to say, I just learned to talk without saying much of anything!
Fishygirl – I don’t think I could have handled secondary. Though I tutored a few and that was actually fun!
Mrs.Bear – Thanks – and congrats for having survived the challenge!
Jenn – Kids’ honesty still amazes me, and I think inner city kids are especially honest. And so funny.
Soccer mom – That’s a great compliment. White was an insult with one group of kids I had, so when I learned that I told them that I was white – I don’t know how they missed my pasty skin – and they all chorused, “No! You’re too nice, you must be mixed!”
Dana – There were so many times when I didn’t know what to say, I just learned to talk without saying much of anything!
Fishygirl – I don’t think I could have handled secondary. Though I tutored a few and that was actually fun!
Mrs.Bear – Thanks – and congrats for having survived the challenge!
Jenn – Kids’ honesty still amazes me, and I think inner city kids are especially honest. And so funny.
Soccer mom – That’s a great compliment. White was an insult with one group of kids I had, so when I learned that I told them that I was white – I don’t know how they missed my pasty skin – and they all chorused, “No! You’re too nice, you must be mixed!”
Dana – There were so many times when I didn’t know what to say, I just learned to talk without saying much of anything!
Fishygirl – I don’t think I could have handled secondary. Though I tutored a few and that was actually fun!
Mrs.Bear – Thanks – and congrats for having survived the challenge!
Jenn – Kids’ honesty still amazes me, and I think inner city kids are especially honest. And so funny.
Soccer mom – That’s a great compliment. White was an insult with one group of kids I had, so when I learned that I told them that I was white – I don’t know how they missed my pasty skin – and they all chorused, “No! You’re too nice, you must be mixed!”
Dana – There were so many times when I didn’t know what to say, I just learned to talk without saying much of anything!
Fishygirl – I don’t think I could have handled secondary. Though I tutored a few and that was actually fun!
Mrs.Bear – Thanks – and congrats for having survived the challenge!
Jenn – Kids’ honesty still amazes me, and I think inner city kids are especially honest. And so funny.
Soccer mom – That’s a great compliment. White was an insult with one group of kids I had, so when I learned that I told them that I was white – I don’t know how they missed my pasty skin – and they all chorused, “No! You’re too nice, you must be mixed!”
Why do I think this is so funny? Leave it to kids to cut through the PC stuff.
Why do I think this is so funny? Leave it to kids to cut through the PC stuff.
Why do I think this is so funny? Leave it to kids to cut through the PC stuff.
Why do I think this is so funny? Leave it to kids to cut through the PC stuff.
hehe the honestly of a first grader to tell it how he sees it.
hehe the honestly of a first grader to tell it how he sees it.
hehe the honestly of a first grader to tell it how he sees it.
hehe the honestly of a first grader to tell it how he sees it.