Reply to Can Gentrifers Use Their Skills and Resources to "Make" a Great School?

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Reply to "Can Gentrifers Use Their Skills and Resources to "Make" a Great School?"

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[quote=Anonymous]I'm a teacher. Here's what I would suggest. 
First of all, go in assuming competence. Assume thwt the parents, teacher, admins are all not only doing their best but also know what they are doing. You may later find that this is untrue- but if you don't start there you're not going to get anywhere.
First thing: ask the teacher what she needs. Some teachers can do wish lists, other can't or won't for good reasons. So start by asking.  I often need supplies thwt you wouldn't think of necessarily- masking tape, kid pencils. Posterboard. Or maybe the teacher wants parents to help with recess or reading groups or whatever. But maybe not- as any teacher will tell you, sometimes having parents in the classroom is far more trouble than it's worth.
After that, though, I think your best bet is more policy based. Use every resource and connection you have to push for better training for teachers. Or for a better free breakfast and lunch program, or better and more comprehensive counseling and sped services, because even the greatest teachers in the world are stymied by kids who are starving, abused, homeless. Look at programs that truly offer wraparound services and see what you can emulate. Fundraise for more 1:1 aides for the kids who really need them.  Make sure, though, that you are talking to your kids teacher in all of this. Teaching is HARD. it's almost impossible to describe how hard to people who've never done it. It's easy for us to feel attacked because we so often are- but meanwhile we are thinking about your kids constantly, waking in the night to contemplate ways to help them, throwing our entire selves into helping other peoples children. So talk to the teachers, first. Make sure you aren't making them feel attacked even more. Teachers usually know what they need, what their school needs, and should have invaluable suggestions. [/quote]

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