Some Teachers Make Us Feel Low

By Author: amandda
Total Articles: 60
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Throughout the year, however, Erika said repeatedly, "You are too smart!" These words are in my notes frequently, and the students knew that almost all of them would pass the state test at the end of the year. Erika's students have that distinction. Regardless, the system bothers them, as we hear in a paragraph from Zharlaine's essay:

The right of getting an education is one of the most important things that make me proud to be an American. [However, there] is racism in education because whites get placed in higher-level classes. The school mostly Cartier Roadster Replica separates the whites and blacks and puts them in different classes.... There are more whites in advanced and honors classes than blacks. I think it is the school's fault that education is not equal between all people.

I asked Zharlaine to tell me more about blacks and whites at their high school, and she said, I remember last year, one day in English class our whole class was talking, a bunch of us blacks and a few whites, about the chemistry class across ...
... the hall. It was all white girls and about three black kids. The white people have higher learning ability. Us blacks like to play around and act dumb. It's not our fault.

Zharlaine paused and I asked, "You said that white people have a higher learning ability. What do you mean" Zharlaine replied, the white kids can get everything right away. I have to understand everything one by one, and I can understand anything. Mrs. Pierce says things more than once. Other teachers don't do that. They treat you way different. Mrs. Pierce makes us feel smart. I want to be known. I'm here. Some teachers make us feel low."

Whew! She said, "I'm here." Some teachers didn't acknowledge her. I asked what she meant when she said, "Some teachers make us feel low." Zharlaine replied, "Even though the white kids don't read better, they Cartier Replica Watches get put in a higher level. That gives us blacks the feeling that if we try we don't get anywhere, so why try" That was a strong, informative statement. I looked in her eyes, nodded, paused, and asked what she meant by an earlier comment, "It's not our fault." Zharlaine stated, "I mean black people like me. My mom is not behind me, not pushing me. It's up to the teachers to push, to have fun, to make sure we have what we need to pass." And, Mrs. Pierce made sure, as we shall soon see....