where to teach?

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where to teach?
By Carolyn

I have taught at both the upper-income and lower-income schools. There is such a contrast between them!

The upper-income school: Supportive parents who understand the importance of education, since they are well-educated
themselves; demanding parents who insist that the kids get the best that education has to offer; parents who are sometimes overprotective and critical, especially where grades are concerned; parents who will shower you with gifts at holiday times because they have the means to show appreciation for you; high-tech environment with the best equipment, materials, and programs; demanding

administrators who have to please the parents; parents who throw their weight around, because they have the money and power to do so.

Low-income school: (the ones I have worked in, that is) Uninvolved parents who are more concerned with their own problems as they work two or more day jobs to make ends meet; parents who never attend parent-teacher conferences and who never seem to be available when you need them (often no telephone at home, either); parents who seem to place more importance upon their child's "rights" than their education; parents who are not well-educated themselves and who can't help their kids with the assignments you send home; less money in the school; teachers with less experience; poorer equipment and materials.