Meth and the Classroom

I once watched the police go into my neighbor's home. I could hear the yelling, crying, and pleading through the walls. I watched the mother and her friend leave in handcuffs and my friend and her sister were carried out. I was five.  

I was too young to truly understand what had happened. We had another boy in my kindergarten class. He lived in the same building as I did and we did NOT get along! Most days he would decide he didn't want to be there anymore and just get up and go home. If the teacher tried to stop him he would threaten her and cuss. Eventually, she stopped trying. Or maybe he just quit coming. I'm not sure. My mother used to talk about her or refer to her as "that woman". I'm not sure what all she did, but I whenever I see a picture of a strung out drug addict, I think of her. 

It is important I know as much as possible about each child's home life as I can. If the child is in 4th or 5th grade when their parents become users, they are more likely to become caretakers for younger siblings, meaning that they will get less sleep and may sacrifice whatever food they have for their siblings. With worrying about siblings, food, and lack of sleep, learning will be the least of their concerns. They will probably be much more irritable, if they even come to school at all. They may become bullies and take lunch money or food from other kids. They may try and steal from the cafeteria, classmates' book bags, or from a neighborhood store. Older children are less likely to come forth with such problems and because they understand the stigma or have been threatened or are ashamed. 

Children of users are more likely to have poor hygiene and less likely to have clean clothes subjecting them to teasing from their peers. Also, if a child is exposed to the drug and it gets into their system, they may have no idea what's happening to them, causing a great deal of stress, especially when they begin to crash. If such an episode happens in the classroom, we owe it to our children offer some explanation. Chances are their may be another at-risk child in the classroom.  

Poverty and Homelessness in America

Did you know that the most prosperous developed country has twice as many homeless children as any other developed country? Did you know that country is America? 

Homelessness is on the rise and homeless families are rapidly becoming the norm. 

This poses several problems for America's youth. 

Eldest children of homeless and poverty afflicted families find themselves forced to grow up and take on the role of caregiver. This can mean they are losing sleep and missing meals as sacrifices for their siblings. They often work, clean, launder, and cook, leaving little time for homework and adding stress. While one girl may be thinking about which pants would look best with her new top, this girl is thinking about her empty stomach, and wondering how to fill her little siblings' plates. Because healthy food is more expensive than fatty, processed foods, health problems are common among poor and homeless children. Emotional and mental health also deteriorates as children battle feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and abandonment. 

As a teacher, I will have children who cannot focus because the rumble in their stomach is distracting, or because their mother never came home last night, or they had spent the weekend in a homeless shelter, if they were so lucky. 

I may have a new student who has been relocated for the third time that year. 

How do I address these issues? 

Establishing a relationship with my students and their families is essential to understanding their behavior. For example, in a 1st grade classroom I noticed one of the students was extremely needy. I later learned that she was the middle child in a family of six. Another child was rarely bathed and had a learning disability. His mother was incarcerated, his father was absent, and he lived with his physically handicapped grandmother. 

As a teacher, it is important I know of organizations within my community that help poor families. Perhaps an organization exists that would pair an employee or volunteer with that family to help ensure the child is bathed, fed, and helped with homework every night. Save the Children helps find organizations in the community that help poor families. Understanding rules and procedures for filing reports of suspected abuse/neglect is also important, as well as not jumping to conclusions. 

We have been discussing the historical events and eras that have shaped the course of education throughout history. Reflect on an event in your life that has shaped the course of your life with relation to education. It could be an event that affected your course as a student, your decision to enter the education field or your ideals as a future teacher. Include the event, at what age the event occurred and the manner in which it affected you.

I cannot recall any pivotal moments when I decided, "I'm going to college." In my family, it was never a case of "if you go to college," rather, "when you go to college." Looking back I realize that I was fortunate to have been raised with that mentality. I lived in a poor neighborhood with my Mother and younger sister. My Daddy called once a month or so; not because he didn't care, but because it was all that was allowed. Even within those short conversations, he ALWAYS inquired about school and asked about college. I also happened to be blessed with wonderful, caring teachers. Teachers who took the time to work with us individually and encouraged creative thinking, problem solving, independence, and group collaboration. Academically, I excelled. Statistically, I was dealt a losing hand. I believe what set me apart from my peers is that I didn't know I was losing. I didn't understand the rules of the game. Fast forward. Scene: Freshman year of high school. Two girls become pregnant. Best friend moves away. Sophomore year: Four more pregnancies. Gang violence breaks out. Several peers begin to drop out. Junior year: Best friend drops out. More pregnancies. Drugs become a second language. I move to Indiana and my little sister and I become very close. Together we realize that we do not want to live the way we were raised. At the time, "A's" came easy for us. They weren't a big deal. It wasn't long before we realized that those easy "A's" were our Golden Tickets to Freedom. To Success. To Happiness. Homework took on a new meaning. I was working for my future. Senior year provided me with the opportunity to Cadet teach with first graders. The school I was in reminded me of the neighborhood I had lived in. When I asked one of the kids what he wanted to be when he grew up, he told me, "oh, I'll probably work at McDonald's with my Mom." At that moment I knew I had to teach. As adults, we need to lay the foundation for success down early. I want every child to know that it doesn't matter where you come from or what your parents do. YOU can do ANYTHING you set your mind to. 

Week 1- Introduction

Week 1, 2nd Semester= COMPLETED!!!
Well, almost. I will be here, at the library, for several more hours completing assignments from all my classes so that I might enjoy a stress-free weekend. On that note:

The purpose of this Blog is to reflect on the ideas and disscusions presented in my Elementary Education 231 Course: Family and Community Relations.
My instructor, Mr. Emery J. Peck, will be viewing each and every one his 52 students RIVOTING weekly reflections.
If I were to learn only ONE thing from my education courses here at Ball State, it would be how to reflect. Goodness knows it is included in every single course.

This week our instructor "humanized" himself. I will forever have an image of him chasing his little spoiled dog around the block, thus making him late. He was not late to THAT class, but one day he will be, and regardless of his excuses, I will blame it on the dog, unless of course the REAL reason is much more entertaining, then he (YOU, Mr. Emery) must share!

We also went over the syllabus. I am looking forward to this course because it covers issues that have been mentioned, but not practiced in my other classes (maybe that's why it has it's very own course and specialized instructor? hmm... food for thought).
I LIKE that we have several work days. All my courses this semester are going to be time consuming.
Finally, today, exactly 2 1/2 hours ago, we had our first discussion on the importance of parental involvment in the classroom. My group made a list of reasons why parents might hesitate to donate their time/resources, and I am pleased to say that my group had thought of ALL the reasons he mentioned, and then some! While the lesson contained much valuable information, I was not surprised by anything I heard.