Blog 8: Unequal Childhoods

Blog 8:

In reading Unequal Childhoods, the differences among social classes are what most stand out. It is incredible to see how each individual’s life differs in so many ways, when compared to one another. I believe that the main purpose of reading these texts is to make us more aware of these differences. One of the most important traits of becoming a teacher is having the ability to distinguish the needs of each student in helping them obtain a good and beneficial education. Factors such as after school activities, parental support and supervision, living conditions and economic stability all have an undeniable effect on a child, and therefore, all become relevant when assessing a child’s needs. It is crucial to understand that a child’s education is not limited to the classroom. The experiences that a child deals with on a daily basis, directly or indirectly, all contribute to the way in which the child functions.

What is interesting about Unequal Childhoods is that the children described, while approximately the same age, all have drastically different personal lives. I find this to be important because it displays an assortment of family living conditions, and chances are that this type of variation can be found in an inner city setting. Because a child’s learning experience can be influenced by home environment, it is important to be aware of the diversity that exists in an inner city setting, as opposed to a suburban setting for example. More often than not, children that receive education in the inner city are experiencing a multitude of challenges both at home and in their schooling, which suburban children are not exposed to. In inner cities, it is common to see financial difficulties, housing issues, and families that are forced to neglect their children’s needs while trying to provide for them. Aside from the adversities they face at home, these children must also face the consequences of insufficient funding in their schools, which in turn limit the essential materials and supplies needed to provide them with the quality of education that students in other communities enjoy. In most cases even the school buildings are in such a run-down state that these children’s concentration in undoubtedly affected.

This text has already begun to help me understand the different challenges a teacher must face when teaching in the inner city. It has made me more aware of the impact a child’s personal life has on their studies. In reading this text, any assumptions I may have made about a student’s life are now more real, and this in turn has made me question the ways in which I would deal with the issues that directly affect the student’s academic development. It has also made it clear that a parent’s encouragement or lack thereof is vital in accessing a child’s motivation to succeed. Although achieving changes at home that will help support a child’s academic success will not always be possible, this book has inspired me to look for alternatives that will help me reach my goal of helping each of my students succeed. This book has also made me more aware of the advantages that some communities have over others in terms of funding, and of the activities students tend to participate in. This has motivated me to be more creative in providing the same level of opportunities that inner city students are too often denied. Being more perceptive to the factors that affect a child’s academic development, will help me to determine the ways in which to reach and provide the support necessary for each student’s specific needs.