Claire Beyer went to High School with me, and now she works for Teach for America in Roma, TX, teaching Middle School History (I know, I'm glad it's her and not me too). Roma is in one of the poorest counties in the country, and the estimated average income of Claire's students' parents is about $8,000. This year, Claire is leading an annual trip to Washington DC for these students, which is a really great opportunity for them to learn about other parts of the US and the way our government works. The only problem is, the trip costs about $1300 for each student. The students are doing fund raisers in their community, but given the poverty there, there aren't many available funds to be raised.
People who read this blog often complain about the level of education in this country, and here is a concrete, specific way to help: donate a few dollars to this project. As Claire writes, "I want to give my students every opportunity that a kid in an affluent school would have. My students are growing up in an environment where their options seem limited to drug trafficking, border patrol, or minimum wage. I want to take every chance I can to show them what else they are capable of."
I know there are a lot of good organizations to give your money to, but please consider giving some money to this one, as educated people who sometimes get a laugh from less educated people.
Here is the link, one more time.
"Banheiro" "quebrado"
7 years ago
10 comments:
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why does the trip cost so much?
i am just curious as i also work with an underprivileged population in education
Anne: I don't know, but if you want more information I'd look at their website. With the rising cost of travel, and the distance, it didn't occur to me that it seemed like a lot. I bet it includes meals and activities.
Not to be nit-picky, but since this is a punctuation blog...should it be "Claire's students' parents?" Unless she does indeed only have one student...
you're right. thanks for 1) being nice 2) signing your name.
Is she promising a week of Quotation Mark Awareness as a quid pro quo?
--the Cranky Professor
no promises yet, but maybe I can twist her arm. For now just regular altruism.
Hello there, nice site btw. I hope those kids get their trip but have to ask... How do parents earn just $8,000?
That seems incredible. I mean $8,000?! That's about 5 or 6 grand in Britain. I don't see how anyone can live on that--let alone support a family.
Don't you guys have a minimum wage over there? What kind of job pays so little? I'm outraged for these people!
re: irving washington's comment: if you make minimum wage in the u.s. and work 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, you take home about 11,000 before taxes. most of my students' parents don't have jobs though, or the have jobs that are off the books, or just part-time jobs. you're right, it is ridiculous to live off that much money a year. most of my kids can't afford school supplies. they show up out of school uniform because their mom couldn't go to the laundromat. and forget a $1300 field trip, many of my kids can't afford $5.
i'm not actually related to this post in any way! just an interested reader who is also a teacher who sometimes is amazed that people don't know how bad it gets (and is sometimes amazed herself at how bad things really are).
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