They’re not poor. They’re not lazy. They’re not stupid. They’re not unmotivated. Stop saying it.

I am so sick of educators freely admitting that they don’t give a crap about poor kids. They just don’t value them as much as the “smart” kids or the kids from well-off families. They don’t value their lives. They think they’re stupid. They think they’re lazy. They think they’re unmotivated. They’re unworthy of our time and effort. Why? Because they’re poor? Because they’re the “bottom 10%”? Do you think you were born intrinsically smarter/more capable than them? Because you’re not. You were given a gift of privilege and because of it you think you deserve to be treated differently. Well guess what? Every kid deserves to be treated with love, respect, and value. And if you don’t believe that, then you should get out of teaching. When you decide to become a teacher, you pledge that you will teach EVERY child, not just the ones you think are smart enough or “deserving” of your time, or the ones who’s parents are willing to give you a nice bottle of wine for Christmas. If you don’t want to teach every child, then you shouldn’t be a teacher. And if you’re “tired of throwing sticks into a swamp and watching them sink,” then maybe this job isn’t for you. I’m tired of hearing you bitch and complain about kids you’ve written off as humans. No. They are children. They come first. Get used to it. And stop arguing with me. You know in your heart I’m right.