Class Discussion 7/21- Marilee

"People with lots of money have the ability to change the rules." This is one comment that really struck me when we were watching People Like Us because I believe that wealth gives individuals a certain amount of freedom that is not available to people who come from less prosperous backgrounds. As noted in the video, money allows people to make certain choices such as what kind of food they eat (white bread vs wheat bread), whether or not they go to college, where they live, and where they go to school. Wealth is a dividing line in American society and those who have a lot of money get to choose how they live. Individuals who do not have a lot of money are not able to make the same choices; sometimes they are forced to choose white bread because it is all they can afford for example, or they may be forced to live in a certain area because rent in other areas is too expensive. This idea of not having choice, because of lack of money, and not being able to choose how you live is something that teachers, especially those working with students from lower SES's, need to recognize. We must remember that students might not have access to certain supplies or other resources necessary for them to succeed so we might need to provide them. We must also remember that certain situations (such as a disconnected phone- which is frustrating to a teacher trying to contact parents) are beyond both the child's and families control. In these situations teachers must not take their frustrations out on students but instead be understanding and try to help the student and family in any way you can.