Connecting to our communities

Just last week I had the pleasure of taking food and toys to some of our children who have demonstrated a need for such things. A few of us loaded up a car and drove around to homes I had selected based upon my observations of both the students and from being in the community.  Two things struck me....first the absence of awareness from some of my car mates regarding the living conditions of some of our students. Secondly, the uneasiness I sensed when we were delivering to some homes. I recognize that everyone has different comfort levels with poverty and having experienced situational poverty growing up, that my comfort level is probably much higher than someone who has never experienced such struggles. Nevertheless, these are our children and families, the ones we are charged to serve and educate and we must embrace and accept them at every level, including their dilapidated housing and rundown neighborhoods. Now, more than ever, I feel the need for every one of our teachers to take a tour of the neighborhoods our children come from. Moreover, to deliver food and other items to our families in need to better understand their struggles outside of the classroom. In order to truly be highly effective in the classrooms, teachers and administrators MUST know their children and community beyond the walls of the school. We need to ensure this happens not to provoke pity for our children, but to provide a source for empathy and understanding. To understand that Timmy smells badly because he doesn't have running water and the landlord won't fix it or that Isobel steals food because she doesn't have any at home. We are charged as educational leaders to lead by example and we should begin by knowing our children, knowing their families, seeing where they live and experiencing a snapshot of their lives outside of school in order to truly create a learning environment to meet every learners needs. My goal is to have our entire staff not only take a drive through our community but to also begin a community service project with our teachers where we serve our community beyond the walls of our school.
I wonder....does anyone have suggestions or experiences they can share for a community service project our staff can begin to meet the needs of our families outside of the school building? Something hands on that will help our staff truly "see" our children.....

Comments

  1. Karen DozierJune 14, 2017 at 9:21 PM

    Our county has been working to make our teachers and community poverty informed. We find that as you mention in your blog that people who have not experienced poverty are often uncomfortable with poverty and are unaware of the living conditions. Informing educations (and community members) about the struggle of living in poverty and allowing them to see poverty in a different perspective has been helpful. All of our schools have taken a ride on a bus through the neighborhoods that the school serves. This has helped. Another thing that the leaders in our district did was some different scenarios such as visiting gas stations to purchase food since this is often the closest place in our community to get food. People were shocked by the food options at these stores. Other experiences were visiting a pawn shop, trying to gain room and board at a motel, getting car insurance after losing it, and visiting clothing and food shelters. A book that I am currently reading on the topic is Poor Students, Richer Teaching by Eric Jenson. This ties nicely with the Classroom Instruction that Works book and helps teachers gain a better understanding of supporting students who are in ED situations.

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    1. cbernardoJune 16, 2017 at 5:41 AM

      These are wonderful ideas. I would have never thought of taking staff into the stores within our community, going to a pawn shop or the other options you mentioned. Thank you for your thoughts.- they are changing the way I am thinking about connections to the community and educating our staff. I've ordered the book you mentioned and am eager to read it. I am hopeful that during pre-planning we will be able to build on all of these ideas and better connect with our students.

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