URBAN TEACHINGDispelling the Myths of Urban teaching

By Regina Powers ISU 2012

Urban Schools Defined:

•Urban education refers to educating students in public schools in metropolitan areas.

•These schools often operate in a context of poverty, diversity, and crime.

•Urban schools typically exist within large, possibly bureaucratic school systems that may lack the resources to handle the challenges faced in educating every student given the diversity they represent.

http://www.sitemaker.umich.edu/rosman.356/funding_

HOW DOES GOING TO AN URBAN SCHOOL AFFECT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT?

Urban schools are at an extreme disadvantage, especially to the children that are

attending these schools. Inequalities in education exist from the textbooks

provided to the teacher qualifications which in turn affects the quality of

education that inner-city children are receiving. Neighborhoods are being segregated

by social class and the impoverished population is not getting the same

educational opportunities as the suburban population.

To read the entire article please visit: http://www.sitemaker.umich.edu/rosman.356/urban_education_

What have NCLB put in place to ensure that ALL students get an adequate education?

Increases Accountability for Student Performance

• Puts quality teachers in the classroom

• Develops a district improvement plan

Reduces Bureaucracy and Increases Flexibility

• Consolidates programs and expands eligible activities.

Focuses on What Works • Employs scientifically based interventions

Empowers Parents • Informs the public on teacher quality

Please visit for more information http://www2.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/nclbreference/page_pg17.html#ii-a

How can an urban teacher be prepared?

• Sensitivity and deep appreciation for children, their circumstances, and theiruniqueness are essential.

• Teachers require administrative and economic support as well.

• Don’t get lost in rules, anonymity, lock-step programs, and standardized examinations that drive curricula.

• Resist the forces that strip them and their students of both individuality and communitywhile denying them the opportunity to deal with each other in human terms (1999, p.16)

Rentel and Dittmer (1999)

The following reading resources related to the field of teaching in respect to urban teacher recruitment and retention.

.Resources for research

Atkinson, P. (1993). An African American View-Brown vs Topeka: Desegregation and Miseducation. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard Publishing.

"Although the older generations have not been unaffected, for the past several decades, African American youth have been

the primary victims of deracination and dehumanization imposed by White America.

Young African Americans are required increasingly to function within the context of the value system of the dominate

society".

How I will apply this information:

The more I come to understand the professional terminology of what is happening in our school systems and society, and

the “powers the be”, the more I am able to apply it respectfully and reflectively to my research.

Hale, J. E. (2001). Learning While Black: Creating Educational Excellence for African American Children. Maryland: John Hopkins University.

“Given the racialized treatment of African American in the United States, learning while black can be as dangerous to

one’s mental and physical well-being as driving while black”(Hale, 2001). The author demonstrates that the

racialized treatment of African Americans helps account for the low levels of academic achievement among black children

from middle-and upper-income families, as well”.

Myth

We must not continue to accept what the media feeds to us. Negative information about our students can be damaging to our minds and thoughts about our students and their abilities

to learn. For so many years there has been this idea that African American students do not have the capacity to learn

as well as the Caucasian student, but this is a myth.

Rethinking Schools (2011), “Keeping Quality Teachers Teaching: A Special collection on teacher recruitment, retention, and quality.” Retrieved from: www.rethinkingschools.org . 2/14/2012.

“New teachers are leaving the profession at an alarming rate and there is no single reason or easy solution”. This text is an amazing eye opener to the condition of United States ability

to retain quality teachers.

An African American teachers interview of state of urban schools:

Lack of support for the teachers and the students, and financial support and emotional support.

20 year old books with chapters missing out of them.

The teachers fighting among themselves.

Every fall districts hire 270,000 to replace the ones who are leaving the profession.

Half of new teachers leave within 5 years of teaching because of the lack of support and training on their districts part.

(Rethinking Schools 2011)

The following videos are resources related to field of teaching in respect to urban teaching. These are success stories and information for success in this area of expertise.

Video links related to urban teaching.

Urban Teacher Education Program

Educate yourselves:

A Brighter

future.

Urban Teaching Videos and Research

Check out these videos .

Powers Family

Regina's Facebook page. Urban Teaching Videos .

My testimony

The more I am learning about the problems that are happening in urban schools, the more I want to plan my

studies around teaching in this setting.

I understand the urgency of the need for quality teachers in this setting. Being raised in an urban school setting, I

understand first hand the obstacles that most be overcame.

With determination, motivation, and understanding teachers, I was able to find passion and joy in learning and now in

teaching.

Thank you for viewing.