I have some students in my class who live in half million-dollar homes, get everything their little hearts desire and basically want for nothing. We return to school after the Christmas break (OOPS! I meant to say, “holiday break”)and they have loads of new stuff to show off and exciting tales of amazing trips to talk about.
If that were the case with 100% of my students then we’d come back from the break and all would be well with the world.
However, the percentage of my students who live in the above-mentioned situation, albeit high, is nowhere near 100.
I also have some students in my class who live in government-subsidized housing. These students get far less than what they desire/need. Basically, they want for everything. Sometimes even food.
This is one reason coming back to school after the break is emotionally hard for me. I enjoy seeing the students and I even enjoy hitting the books again. However, what I don’t enjoy is the new awareness. The new and painful understanding I see on small faces. I believe that it is in 3rd and 4th grade when these young minds first see the difference. Innocent eyes are opened to the harsh truth that it may be 2011, but we’re living in a class system.
Sadly, the veil between these two dramatically different worlds usually falls first for the less fortunate. They get a peek into an existence they can’t hope to understand. They see, possibly for the first time, that some kids don’t just have more they have A LOT more.
The differences are subtle, but detectable. They don’t really matter, but they make a difference. They’re faint, yet all too easily seen.
It isn’t about children who are happy or sad. It isn’t about home lives that are healthy or dysfunctional. And it certainly isn’t about academic success. It’s about how much you have and how much you don’t have.
So who are the “Haves” and who are the “Have-Nots”?
I’ve known for quite a while… but my students are about to become aware for the first time.
And for some it’s all too painful.
