tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504843750797812002.post1029599493953667821..comments2022-11-09T07:08:09.883-05:00Comments on teachingdaisy: My Fourth Very First Day of Schoolteachingdaisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05017173975596130364noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504843750797812002.post-83597412958126362612011-09-29T16:50:53.475-04:002011-09-29T16:50:53.475-04:00To Kate -
I hope you look back at this blog and re...To Kate -<br />I hope you look back at this blog and read this comment. I know Margaret, and I taught her for two years while she was going through the elite IB program at Cocoa Beach. She is accurate in her statements. She is NOT condescending nor judgmental. <br /><br />Somehow, it has become "okay" for people to discuss disadvantages they have had and how they find it difficult to relate to the norm because they grew up in communities where everyone was disadvantaged. However, people are criticized for acknowledging that they come from so-called privileged backgrounds, which ironically are usually just middle class backgrounds where middle-class values are promoted. When did accepting and acknowledging middle-class values become elitist, anyway? <br /><br />The students in the IB program were (and still are) the top students in the district. They are hand-picked, intelligent, and high-achievers. That was Margaret's world. She should neither be ashamed of her background, nor apologetic for it. <br /><br />Margaret's acknowledgment of her background actually demonstrates she is well-grounded and understands her past, both good and bad. It is obvious that she is aware that her past experiences and upbringing have left her unaware and sheltered from many of life's issues - issues that she is now becoming conscious of in a very personal way. This demonstrates great growth on Margaret's part.<br /><br />Margaret is one of those truly gifted, intelligent people who could have chosen any field and been successful (including teaching gifted students, college after earning specified degrees, and/or becoming a scientist). However, Margaret has chosen to teach - to teach disadvantaged children. We, as a society, are very lucky to have people<br />of Margaret's caliber willing to give back to our communities via teaching. Instead of earning a six figure salary, Margaret is giving a six figure education to children. Only people who truly care and are committed to making our world a better place do this.<br /><br />Instead of criticizing Margaret for her background, which is exactly as she described, applaud her for being a caring person who willingly serves others.J.G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03883491779808206038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504843750797812002.post-5031461791763186592011-09-06T09:12:05.580-04:002011-09-06T09:12:05.580-04:00Margaret,
I'm a bit concerned that you view yo...Margaret,<br />I'm a bit concerned that you view yourself as never been around "normal" students, never experienced average, never faced a struggle...these statements can be viewed as quite loaded, judgmental and possibly condescending. As you enter the unfamiliar, you might want to open yourself to the similarities you share, rather than the differences.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04083495828068776332noreply@blogger.com