Laurie's perceptions of her own power seem to be what caused her to fail or succeed in the school setting. When she felt dominant and flirtatious with boys, she felt good about herself. When she went on meds, she felt bad about herself. When she was praised for being an obedient girl, she felt good, but when her mom's fiance didn't work out, she felt bad. Laurie felt in control when things were going according to her storybook discourse. This is the power of stories, Hicks writes, "they assume moral weight and influence in the context of our histories." (page 85)
I found three things of special note. First, we have to teach girls that it is okay to be feminie and smart. It is okay to mess up sometimes. It is also okay, even desirable, not to be so docile and mothering. I don't think I ever felt conflicting feelings about this, but I was acculturated to be a people pleaser and an obedient student. Second, Laurie was called a disabled reader in a "context that defined reading according to grade level expectations." She was not on grade level and that automatically made her disabled. I think this is where high stakes testing is taking us. All the kids have to be on the same level or there is a problem with them or with us. Third, on page 96 Hicks says that what teachers and schools perceive to be a lag in development might just be a "manifestation of a complicated web of class-specific relations." How hard it is for middle class teachers to identify problems related to a lower socio-economic class!! I see this with several of my students. A parent is in jail, the mom is stressed, and there is no support at home. Clothing and food needs are met but only basically. Life does not seem fair. The student cannot concentrate due to these issues. Could you concentrate? So we label him a disabled reader and try to get him on meds. What he really needs is some counseling on how to handle all these family issues.
This chapter made me so sad for the thousands of kids who live stories similar to Laurie's. I think we can do something about it by fostering relationships with students and by exploring diverse literature combined with class discussions. I think it also helps to tell the kids outright, "This is how middle class white people make schools. It doesn't look like your home life but you can learn to negotiate this system until the playing field is level."
Ashley Catlett
Comments (2)
Ashley,
High stake testing makes me so ill. What ever happened to developmentally appropriate practice and understanding that all kids develop at different stages. It is something that is preached and practiced in preschool but then thrown out the door once kids get to elementary school. Laurie had a lot on her plate and was still making gains, personally I thought her growth was obvious in her writings. She might not have been on the level that the state mandates is grade level but does that mean she is truly disabled?
Posted by Amy Spade | April 9, 2009 6:14 PM
Posted on April 9, 2009 18:14
I, too, have wondered why we cannot accept the fact that students' literacies develop at different rates. It seems we can accept differences in physical development and social development but differences in academic development are not tolerated. Does a doctor ever suggest a "treatment" for a child who wets the bed after he or she is potty trained? Just as a doctor might recommend that a child with this problem refrain from drinking a lot in the evenings, I would much rather parents and educators try dietary and environmental changes that might affect change instead of medication for a student who struggles to pay attention.
It does seem that so many of the students who are diagnosed with ADD or ADHD also have an unbelievable stress level. I cannot even fathom what it must be like for a child to have a parent in jail! Reading a story, finishing an assignment, sitting still in one's desk or walking quietly down the hall must seem so insignificant to that student. As you mentioned, I think it is vitally important that we foster authentic relationships with our students in order to ever get a chance to meet their needs.
Posted by Lisa Rasey | April 14, 2009 8:07 PM
Posted on April 14, 2009 20:07