Hey, It's Okay...
to teach at and/or let your child attend a school that is not A-rated. I may ruffle some feathers with this one, but I know there are others out there who have thought the same way. *Private schools are the exception here.*
This one's for teachers like me who've struggled with the feeling that we aren't doing our best as teachers or aren't teaching at the best school. For parents like mine who weren't afraid of diversity, neighborhood schools, and fighting for soap in the bathrooms like the rich schools had, this is for you. Love you!
When I went to elementary school, there weren't school grades. We just went to our neighborhood school and what do you know, we survived. Sure, a small portion of my parents' friends could not believe we were going to "that" school. So those few parents would drive them to a "better" school or up and move to a "better" area where they would go to a more desirable school. I loved my neighborhood. I loved my school. I had no idea I wasn't at the best school in the entire world until people started talking smack about it later in life.
These days it's a bit different. Now, every school is given a school grade and for the most part it goes a little something like this:
A-Rated: Wealthy, mainly white students
B-Rated or Lower: Everyone else
When I began my teaching career four years ago, I took a long term substitute position at a local elementary school. This particular school was an A-rated school. Naturally, I walked in there (with my new teaching wardrobe on I must add) thinking that they had the best of the best. The best students, the best parents, and the best teachers. And boy oh boy did I hit the jackpot. The students were ahhhmazing and the parents were even better. I had a room mom! Yeah ladies they exist! Fancy, right? The kids were extremely bright, 99% of them were well taken care of, supplies were brought in, kids were bathed, fed, and loved. To make matters even better, I was there to receive all the Christmas Break gift spoiling. "Ellise, you are the next contestant on the Price is Right, come on down!" Eeeeek! This was so fun to get all sorts of gifts that I actually liked. FSU themed goodies and gift cards galore. I freakin' L-O-V-E this place!
Three months later my position ended - booooo! But I got extremely lucky to find a job at another local school for the remainder of the year - score! This next school was not an A-rated school. When I mentioned my new adventure to teachers at the A-school, they gave me that look. You know thaaaat look. The look of "Aw bless your heart, sweetpea. Good luck with that. " And that was when I knew I had been "warned." Oh super. What's so wrong over there? It's only a few miles from some of these A-mazing schools. Seriously, how different can it be?
Very. Different.
(Now, before I proceed let's get real. This county is great! We are blessed to live here. We don't know ghetto or poor like some other districts. But I do think sometimes we forget that and get a bit too big for our britches, just like I started doing when my fairy tale teaching bubble was popped. )
After my first week at my "just average" new school, I wanted OUT and I wanted out ASAP. I wanted to go back to the sweet life. Where were my perfect children? Excuse me, no room mommy!? Why wasn't I filling out a survey about my favorite things? I like Almond Joys, the color blue, and Bonefish Grill. Should I include this in my All About Me letter? What's going on here? Bad dream? Waking up in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...
I took a deep breath. I had committed to this school for the rest of the year. But I swore the minute that year ended, I was going to apply like a wild woman to all of the A-rated schools in our district because this challenging teaching stuff was for the birds. I left more exhausted and defeated in the first week than I did in the three months I was at the A-mazing school. Every single rotten day I would think, How do these teachers do it here? Do they not know that there is an easier way? They MUST be getting paid more. That's totally it. No? Dear God please let me be at a school where I belong. This cannot be it. I wished and hoped God would answer my prayers. And who learned the hard way because she was hard headed? This gal.
Surprisingly, that first class really grew on me. I knew that if I was able to survive the NYC and MIA dating scenes, I could surely handle 24 ten year olds with occasional on-the-verge-hormonal outbreaks. Was I going to give up on kids like these because, well it was more challenging? Challenge is my middle name! I eat challenges for breakfast! Most of my parents and students were just like those of the other schools - Smart. Outgoing. Determined. Persistent. Problem Solvers. Hungry to Succeed. Generous. Involved. And some of my parents over the years have showed more love to kids they don't even know than I've ever seen. Yes, I'm now bragging about the same people I was dreading to meet.
Teachers: Here is what I know for sure. Teachers are no better at an A-rated school than they are at a non A-rated school. And I can say that because I know this is a fact. Most teachers are AWESOME. At all kinds of schools. Switch our staff with an A-rated school staff and their A-team reputation will not change our school score miraciuosly to an A. And some think it's too much to handle and would never set foot at our school. I know this because I've been there and experienced that.
Parents: It's not wrong to want the best for your child/children. Most people do attend their neighborhood school. But you are not "protecting" your child by trying to keep them away from "those" kids. You are not being a savior by begging for certain neighborhoods to be zoned to our school instead of yours. These are CHILDREN. It hurts my heart to hear parents talk like that about 5 year olds! I even hear kids talking about it, which definitely means their parents are talking about it... in front of them. And I hate to break it to you, but those same kids you are so afraid of are coming to a middle or high school classroom near you. Gasp! They might even play on a sports team with your child. Double gasp! No! Say it isn't true?! But parents don't fret because bad things are only talked about at the "bad" schools. Ha, that was a joke. Do you have any idea who taught me about drugs and all sorts of other things? You guessed it - kids from the "better" schools. I'm not saying this is how it always goes. I'm not calling out any one school. I'm not putting down your school or your decision. I just ask that you stop putting down my school and my kids.
Just because some of our kids have to walk to the dollar store to buy a project board and then only have a pencil at home to use to decorate that board, does not make them bad kids.
Just because our classrooms are filled with noses in books instead of finger swipes on kindles, does not make them lazy or worthless.
Just because our kids need hugs and handshakes every dang day to feel loved, does not make them future criminals.
Just because it's their parents fault does not make it their fault.
Just because we don't get fancy gifts to show that we are the best teachers ever, does not mean that we aren't the best.teachers.ever! (And yes, I've received soap, yard sale finds, a single stick of gum, used coffe mugs, and half filled perfume bottles. Good thing, I love a good yard sale find! Good Lord, I love this job.)
These are God's children created specifically by him. Some of us are called to love on all of them no matter their color, behavior, disability, or bank account. How dare I or anyone else think for one second that we are too good to be around them. Jeez I just admitted how shallow I used to be. If anything, you have to be really freakin' amazing to be there.
I love teachers! I love kids! I love competition! I certainly hope we do achieve that A-rating one day. Some people just have to work a little harder, but we are definitely up for the challenge.
This journey continues to be the most emotional ride I've ever been on. And I don't plan on getting off this roller coaster to cruise the lazy river. Hey it's okay - just keep your head up, your hands up, and thank the big man above for putting you right where you, and some A-mazing kids, NEED YOU to be.
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