The research is about the risks the African American students from low income backgrounds go through and what the supportive factors are to help them successful graduate from high school in the high drop-out context.
In classes, there are always some students who perform under average. What the article teaches me is that before I draw the conclusion that the students do not work hard, I need to know what they go through in their lives. There are tons of factors contributing to their academic performance. It can be family reason, negative peer pressure, neighborhood violence, and etc. I have to know as much as possible about students and take everything into consideration.
Moreover, the article makes me notice the huge impact teachers have on students. As teachers, if we give students persistent caring and build supportive relationship, students can be encouraged to stay in the school instead of dropping out. Meanwhile, teachers should be professional. Being able to offer students “appropriate instrumental support and guidance” (P9) is essential to ensure students gain the knowledge. In addition, it is good to know students expect teachers to be strict/powerful and to have high expectation on them. I was always wondering what the role teachers should play when they deal with students. Should they just be teacher/student or be friends. Based on the reading, it seems like being a friend can be quite harmful.
I am so glad you brought those last two questions because I have similar ones. I remember throughout my high school experience that my favorite teachers were the “cool” ones, the funny ones, or the ones I felt were more welcoming. I always associated them as being friendly. Now that I am preparing to enter the vast world that is teaching and reading this particular reading assignment, it was a shock to read the testimonials of students who think teachers who want to be their “friend” lack the “power” the students need (and in this case, want). A possible solution to our questions might lie in the distinction between a teacher who is “friendly” and a teacher who is your “friend.”