I think that Perry summarized best the interaction between literacy and culture and the reason why what we are discussing is crucial to student learning. Perry says “…what people do with language and literacies is patterned by social relationships as well as by cultural values, beliefs, attitudes, and identities. Language and literacy practices, including storytelling, therefore are infused with purpose and meaning for individual actors and communities. Literacy practices are shaped by and respond to political, historical, social and cultural forces and as a result, they are dynamic and malleable.”
One of the things Perry stated that connects to this idea is that, “the study’s participants ascribed great importance to literacy, in part because they believed education and literacy were the keys to improving both their own personal lives and the collective future of the Sudan.” The value these students placed on education influenced their motivation, how they saw learning tasks, and their goals for the future. Ezra put this in his own words when he said, “I would do anything I could to become one day a professional…” He saw what literacy would do for the future of his country and how it would allow his culture to be preserved for future generations.
I think we as teachers are fighting against a culture that no longer values education. In my school attendance is always a problem. I had two students last year with 70 plus tardies and more than twenty absences each. When I ask why my students missed school, they often shrug or say they missed the buss. Having visited several third world countries I cannot help but juxtapose this attitude against families who scrimp and save to buy uniforms and books. Families I know have sacrificed meals to pay tuition. In Belize the kids stand on the street and beg for money to buy their books and uniforms. In contrast, we send busses to pick students up, feed them two meals a day and offer access to educational materials to take home for free and they still don’t bother to show up. One of my parents set up and missed seven conferences this year (and yes her son had missed almost thirty days of school and was failing). There are always excuses, but it really comes down to how important the parent believes school to be. Education isn’t worth much to a lot of people in our country, despite the studies that cite the benefits to the individual and to the community. Bok, for example, was able to use his education to help educate others about his nation’s plight. His education benefited not only himself, but also his future of his people. If you start in first grade missing twenty days of school (a month of school), don’t do your homework or makeup work, and put little effort forth in class since what you are doing is not valued or praised, by the time you get to high school it is too late to catch up. These students have neither the study skills nor the discipline to be successful in a challenging academic environment, so they drop out and become society’s burden. When Perry says, “context plays an important role in shaping these practices.” she is speaking of storytelling, but I think this quote applies to literacy in general. The context, environment, values, perspective, and culture of a child, will determine how they view learning, their willingness to participate, and ultimately their willingness to persevere in their education.
-Rebecca Ashby
Comments (5)
Rebecca,
It is very frustrating as a teacher who cares so much about the education of our students to see the ways in which our society takes for granted the education in which their child receives. We are a spoiled country. I can relate in your experience of students who are tardy and absent. ( I had one student miss over 60 days of school this year). I am afraid that the responsibility of one's education falls strongly on the teacher, and not the child or parent. I do not believe that teachers can educate a child on their own; it takes a team (child, parent, teacher). How do we encourage and help children and parents know the importance of education and become more responsible?
Posted by Katie Johnson | June 16, 2010 9:59 PM
Posted on June 16, 2010 21:59
Rebecca, I grow frustrated with the lack of concern over an education too. I teach a tested curriculum and had a child that missed 45 days this year. That is an entire 9 week grading period. That doesn't take into account the number of days he was tardy or left early. Yes, he failed the EOG. These situations are out of the teacher's control. Parents must be held accountable for the actions of their children. I hate having a conference with a parent who looks at the team of teachers and says, "he's your problem when he's here, I can't do anything with him at home either." If the parent has lost control when he is 12 or 13, what kind of future does this kid have? Lots of children do not take pride in their education any more. I have traveled extensively in the Caribbean and seen first hand the pride those children take in getting an education. Katie said it correctly, we are a spoiled nation.
Posted by Karen Chester | June 17, 2010 1:01 AM
Posted on June 17, 2010 01:01
Rebecca, You are correct in the fact that we are a privaledged society that takes our education for granted. The numerous reality shows on television reflect this. Instead of a person with a particular talent working his/her way to be recognized for his/her hard work, he/she is "discovered" on a TV show and is then a star! People look for short cuts these days. We have developed a generation of young people who expect instant rewards for limited work. We as teachers have to try to find engaging and "fun" activities to keep our studnets involved, rather than the student engaging himself to stay focused to learn. Now, we know this is not true for all of our students today, but it is a majority. The lost boys had a purpose for learning and this drove them to succeed. I think a challenge for us in education at this point is to help sutdents and parents find that purpose.
Susan Hines
Posted by Susan Hines | June 17, 2010 12:51 PM
Posted on June 17, 2010 12:51
I know that it can be frustrating when you, as a teacher, pour out your heart and soul and a family disregards your advice. With low income families is can be difficult to look to or plan for tomorrow. I am not making excuses for anyone. I grew up extremely poor and no one in my family took the time to make sure my homework was done. I had an internal drive to succeed and in first grade after failing several spelling tests I began to study on my own after my teacher explained how to study. I am the first member of my family to graduate from college and they still can’t understand why I would want to work toward a master’s degree. My desire is to help other children understand the importance of working toward a goal and that by 5th grade it is time to take some responsibility for themselves. I just finished reading “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls and she describes how lazy and unorganized her parents were. She began working to remove herself and siblings from untold poverty. Her parents ended up “choosing to be homeless” and she had to learn how to accept that. My point is that not every child knows how to plan an escape and it is up to us, TEACHERS, to help them formulate a plan and work toward a goal. You also must remember that “we” cannot save them all!
Elizabeth Achor
Posted by Elizabeth Achor | June 17, 2010 3:07 PM
Posted on June 17, 2010 15:07
Katie, Karen and Susan, It doesn’t take until thirteen or fourteen! I hear the same thing and I teach second grade! If you can’t control a child you outweigh by 100 plus pounds, you can forget ever having control! Ultimately we are the only part of the education equation that the state can control. They can’t control the parents, or the kids, so the burden falls to us. Unfortunately society seems to have accepted the idea that the school system is responsible for the totality of a child’s education! Schools have continued to take over what were traditionally parental responsibilities, including teaching sex education, character education and life skills, providing vision and dental screenings, bussing and feeding kids twice a day (and even three times a day in many tutoring programs and over the summer). The argument is that parents aren’t teaching these things, but the more we take over the more parents seem to be abdicating their rights and responsibilities!
Elizabeth, I have read that book too and it does exemplify how one’s values in life can determine the course you take. I agree, we have to help our students see the world outside of their experiences, set goals and find motivation. It must be very difficult for you without your family’s support, but maybe through your confidence and example your family will see the value of what you are doing!
Posted by Rebecca Ashby | June 19, 2010 1:03 PM
Posted on June 19, 2010 13:03