Teachers, Students, and the Impact of Social Class

The conversation also reminded me that, despite efforts to try to be sympathetic toward the plight of students who come from poverty, there are times when we are influenced by societal assumptions and stereotypes associated with poverty. [...]a few years ago, I would have argued that many social injustices occurring in public schools were associated primarily with race. Hooks asserted that visionary black thinkers should also generate opportunities for class solidarity so that black people living in poverty will have their needs both verbalized and addressed. Because class solidarity must begin at some point, I argue that teachers can be the visionary black thinkers who create opportunities for class solidarity.