4 ms·

Lucky your teachers actually cared about you.

dividedbyzero 6y ago
And had the resources to act on that. I've had the impression a bunch of my teachers did care when kids were struggling, but didn't have a lot of options to help really.
- JoblessWonder 6y ago
  I agree. I think that teachers are relatively powerless/underpaid/underappreciated/overworked (during the school year) and that makes it so hard for them to help kids that are struggling. Let alone help the kids who are struggling without interrupting the rest of the class. It reminds me of the season of The Wire where it shows just how many systemic issues there are in the education system. My teachers were frustrated and sent me to the counselor, who lucked into a solution for me. Combined with the fact that I was lucky enough to have a computer at home to use, parents who supported me, and teachers who wanted me to succeed was what made it work. Most people aren't as fortunate.
JoblessWonder 6y ago
1000000%. It was really the school counselor that advocated for me. I was sent to her because I was failing my classes because my teachers couldn't read my handwriting and were frustrated dealing with me "not living up to my potential." Now that I'm older I can better understand the frustrations the teachers must have felt. If I write painfully slowly and methodically my handwriting is legible so they knew I was physically capable of writing clearly. However I would have never finished my assignments if I had to do that so most of my work was in chicken scratch. My dad was a school teacher and I know how unappreciated/overworked they can feel. I know that sitting at home in the evening going through stacks of assignments and getting to mine must have been a bit of a gut punch. "Do I try and spend 10 minutes deciphering this or not?" As an adult I'm not sure what I would choose if I was in their position. Still, there is no doubt in my mind I have had many, many lucky breaks and advantages throughout my life.

And had the resources to act on that. I've had the impression a bunch of my teachers did care when kids were struggling, but didn't have a lot of options to help really.

JoblessWonder 6y ago
I agree. I think that teachers are relatively powerless/underpaid/underappreciated/overworked (during the school year) and that makes it so hard for them to help kids that are struggling. Let alone help the kids who are struggling without interrupting the rest of the class. It reminds me of the season of The Wire where it shows just how many systemic issues there are in the education system. My teachers were frustrated and sent me to the counselor, who lucked into a solution for me. Combined with the fact that I was lucky enough to have a computer at home to use, parents who supported me, and teachers who wanted me to succeed was what made it work. Most people aren't as fortunate.

JoblessWonder 6y ago

1000000%. It was really the school counselor that advocated for me. I was sent to her because I was failing my classes because my teachers couldn't read my handwriting and were frustrated dealing with me "not living up to my potential." Now that I'm older I can better understand the frustrations the teachers must have felt. If I write painfully slowly and methodically my handwriting is legible so they knew I was physically capable of writing clearly. However I would have never finished my assignments if I had to do that so most of my work was in chicken scratch. My dad was a school teacher and I know how unappreciated/overworked they can feel. I know that sitting at home in the evening going through stacks of assignments and getting to mine must have been a bit of a gut punch. "Do I try and spend 10 minutes deciphering this or not?" As an adult I'm not sure what I would choose if I was in their position. Still, there is no doubt in my mind I have had many, many lucky breaks and advantages throughout my life.