The first book that comes to mind in reference to the Easley center is Savage Inequalities. The focus on inner city kids and their schooling environments are rather similar to those of these kids. Kozol notes them to have over-crowded and dilapidated school buildings and a shortage of supplies. While the Easley center isn’t dilapidated by any means, it is very much over-crowded at times and almost always is lacking the necessary supplies. What I did notice positively at Easley that matches up with Kozol’s findings is that children do want to learn but they are sometimes deprived of that opportunity based on where they live. I get the vibe that the teachers aren’t doing so much teaching as they are barking orders and giving out busywork that they don’t explain in the first place. Like Kozol said, these kids aren’t on drugs and they are aware that what the white kids get in their schools is not the same as what they get in their own. They know better. They are not stupid. One little girl asked me where I go to school and when I told her I go to Belmont she said, “I will never be able to go to college.” I asked her why and all she could say was, “because no one I know goes to college.” No one has told her that didn’t matter. She was also the same girl that said I had nice clothes because I was white. I was in shock. I didn’t know that people still thought that way. I guess I was a little naïve. She didn’t say it with a bias or any disdain for myself or any other white people, but she said it like a fact. I didn’t know what to say. Perhaps it is the city’s job to provide them with equal stuff as the other more fortunate kids, but the reality of someone picking up that ball or giving the extra money needed to make that happen is highly unrealistic and sad.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Final Service Learning Reflection #2
I noticed almost every time that I was there that there were never any extra pencils. They would flood in to do their homework and I would hear about six kids say “I need a pencil” repeatedly until someone pulled an extra out of their backpack in order to make them stop talking. Their books are all classis textbooks and I had plenty like them. I don’t think they are fortunate enough to have the double copies my schools gave me so we could take one home and leave it at home while the other stayed at school. I personally think that was a waste of money for the schools I went to because what the Easley kids learn is responsibility and are less forgetful. I, on the other hand, am extremely forgetful and just cannot get it together sometimes. I’m not saying that having two books made me that way, but I’m sure it didn’t help. Since the supplies at the center are limited (extra pencils and paper), a lot of kids can’t do their homework when they want to and I bet they go home and forget all about it. I started to bring a pencil and a little pad of paper just in case. They always got used. The homework room is so small in comparison to the game room, the gym or the lounge room. For some reason I don’t see that to be right. I think some kids forgo the homework room when they get there because they see it is already full. There are not enough seats for all the kids who need to do work. Those that try to do it in the lounge room quickly get distracted by the kids not doing homework and playing. Then all hope is lost and they are off to play land. They looooove to socialize just like any other kid. They can’t wait to gossip and some of the mean girls can’t wait to pick on shyer girls and unsuspecting boys. There are a lot of students for one space and it is much easier when it isn’t cold outside because they can at least go play outside when the center gets crowded.
Final Service Learning Reflection #1
I never really went to any after school center with a lot of other kids to do my homework. I didn’t even go to a daycare or anything. My mother was a teacher at the elementary and middle schools that I went to so my little brother and I would always just go to her classroom after school and do our homework. When we got done with our homework we could go play with the other teachers’ kids on campus but we had to be totally finished with homework. So in that way my elementary and middle school days were similar to the Easley kids who can’t play until they are done with their homework. I also never really asked for help. I think I was too independent for help and my mother always made me do stuff on my own until I just absolutely couldn’t figure it out or anything on my own. Then she would help me. I came from a part of town where, in my school, I was almost a minority. There were equal number of Hispanics, African Americans and Caucasians in my school. In my neighborhood though, it was all Caucasian. I was fortunate enough to be in advanced programs or gifted programs all the way through grade school. I was pushed to do better than my best and never even had the option to not do my homework or say I don’t want to or can’t. I think at home, for some of these kids, they are allowed to get away with not doing their homework just by telling their parents they did it or they don’t have any. The parents are then at fault for not checking to see if their grade school child is lying or not. Once you start to get a child under control in the sense that they know they just can’t lie to you to get out of something, they’ll learn to just do it. But it starts with the parents.
Easley visit #7 (there are only 7 because i did 1.5 hrs on two other days)
December 5th- my last visit to the center was a bittersweet one from 3-4. I was a little happy to be done to be honest because I get so frustrated with the process sometimes but then little Kamaya walked in the door. She was ecstatic to see me and immediately pulled out her work and said, "if we hurry, will you stay and play with me?" I did stay. we got done with her homework in 20 minutes and I only had about 10 minutes until I should have been done but I stayed for about 30 until she got busy with a bunch of the other girls who had finally finished their homework. I had a wonderful time with her these past few times and I would consider going back to volunteer on my own accord just so I can spend more time with her. I really enjoyed helping her and getting know her.
Easley visit #6
December 1st- I only stayed for an hour today from 3-4. Kamaya came in late and I had already been working with one boy on his math homework (again with the math). She sat down with another tutor but wouldn't do her work until I went over to her, took her play-doh from her and told her she wasn't getting it back until she finished her homework. She pretended to be upset and stuck her tongue out at me and I reciprocated the childish behavior. A little grin began to appear on her face and she got to work. She started to protest the other tutor's help so I took over. For some reason she will only work with me and get her stuff done with me. She pretends she doesn't know anything or that she can't read with the other tutors but she will do it all for me. I had to leave before she could finish her homework and she cried and hugged me so tight to try and get me not to leave. It almost made me cry.
Easley visit #5
november 28- I stayed for 1.5 hours today from 3-4:30. I got to work with a little girl named Kamaya. She is in the 2nd grade and she became instantly attached to my hip. She put on a fake attitude problem with me at first to try and resist doing her home work but I wasn't putting up with it. I know I complain a bit about the tutoring stuff when I get frustrated with myself but today was different. I knew exactly how to communicate with Kamaya in order to explain her homework to her and get her to work efficiently on it. We were done within an hour and she was able to go play. But she wanted to stay in the homework room and show me her step routines instead. So I stayed with her and let her teach me some until I had to leave. I was so very pleased to make a connection with one of them.
Easley visit #4
November 21- I spent 1.5 hrs at the Easley Center today from 3:15-4:45. I did more math with the kids- same boys as last time but with the addition of another girl in their class or grade or something. I don't know what their teachers are telling them, but I am awful at math and they always come to me! Not that I'm much better at grammar or anything, but I guess I just don't feel comfortable tutoring these kids. I know how to do all of their homework, obviously. But sometimes I just don't know how to explain something like 4x8= ?.... It's something I memorized so besides having them add 8 four times of 4 eight times, I don't know how to explain it. I'm not a teacher for a reason. Neither is math my forte. So I can help them but I'm probably making things harder for them and I take way too much time explaining. I get a little frustrated with the tutoring after I leave.
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