Ignorant Teachers: It's not your fault, it's the system.

Very often people believe children do not care about school. Therefore they have a negative view of school. What if they have this negative view because they were told they can not achieve anything great? In this post I want to explore the space in which teachers have a negative view of students expectations and abilities.

In Joanne Larson’s book, Literacy as Snake Oil, there is a chapter by Patricia Irvine and Joanne Larson titled, “Literacy Packaged in Practice” that looks at the effects of negative stereotypes. Quoting a first grade teacher who says in regards to students not being ready for kindergarten: “They do not come to kindergarten ready for kindergarten. So I’m always looking at children who aren’t ready to learn yet.” (56). I feel that this understanding is rather negative. It can be true that students entering kindergarten do not have the proper skills needed because they were not read to or went to pre-school. If students are labeled as unable to teach then that child will think they cannot rise to higher standards. Therefore students are thought to have a learning deficit. This deficit is also thought to occur as a result of a students inability to speak correct Standard English (56). Therefore it can be concluded that students of color, who language often conflicts that of Standard English can have a greater deficit.

From this we can see that teachers have negatively constructed their students academic performance.without giving them a chance. I begin to question whether teachers are consciously constructing these images of students or are society’s rules situated in such a way to form negative images of students of color. This idea is emphasized by Lisa Delpit in her essay, “The Silenced Dialogue”. In regards to job applicants she states:

“A white applicant who exhibits problems is an individual with problems. A person of color who exhibits problems immediately becomes a representative of her cultural group.” (38).

This state emphasizes the overarching theme of racism and why students of color are at greater risk of being viewed a deficit. Now I’m not stating that teachers who don’t give colored students a chance are racist. Simply, I’m suggesting that students of color can be easily marginalized to have lower academic abilities.

The issue of teachers automatically viewing students as having a deficit may also be a teachers lack of confidence in their abilities. In addition to the lack of culture awareness of students in a given community. This idea comes in the form of literacy packages that schools purchase by corporations. According to Irvine and Larson:

“Packaged literacy materials have long been criticized for the limited view of literacy they promote and because they attempt to script teachers’ behaviors, deskilling them in the process.” (50)

Therefore if teachers do not feel skilled or are called upon to use their skills towards students they cannot produce culturally relevant materials. In addition for Kindergarten students, if a teacher does not know the cultural of the community that the students live they will not understand where the students are coming from. Therefore they will have a stereotypical view of students.

Is there hope for the future? There is certainly hope, but it is not going to come without conscious revision of the current laws that are in place. The No Child Left Behind law standardized education but in the process created an education system that was void of meaning and character. Also the neoliberalism epistemology is one that would prefer to have a federal system of education, because that is one that could support the culture of power as it currently exist. Delpit states in the same essay listed above: “I further believe that to act as if power does not exist is to ensure that the power status quo remains the same” (39). Therefore we do not do anything and ensure that education becomes grass roots we are only continuing the neoliberalism objective. As the No Child Left Behind law comes up again to be re-evaluated have a standing voice. Call congressmen and legislators and voice concern. Teachers should be the first place where lawmakers look for their advice on future policies. Know where and when to speak up and your voice will be heard.

To see the effects of negative influences of education see Sir Ken Robinson's video: "Do schools kill creativity":