Teachers Treat Poor Kids Differently than Rich Kids

"The ability of these schools to generate social and economic opportunities for this massive group of children when the rest of the social structure works to block their way onto the
mobility escalator is simply quite limited."

- Ray Rist, Student Social Class and Teacher Expectations: The Self Fulfilling Prophecy in Ghetto Education 

This classic article, originally printed in 1970, is about the perpetuation of social-class in America's public schools.  In short, poor students who smell like urine, wear dirty clothes, and are on welfare are more likely to be treated unfairly by their teachers.  Teachers, most of whom are from middle-class backgrounds, seem to give more attention, praise, and instruction to students who behave like they do.  By the 8th day of kindergarten, kids are already seated at tables arranged by social class, and needless to say the poorest kids get the least attention.  This cycle occurs in 1st grade and 2nd grade too. 

The author, Ray Rist, argues that the caste system is alive and well in American public schools.  What we need to break it is a mass of teachers impartial to social class values.  For instance, American Public Schools need teachers who give just as much attention to the kid who smells like urine, wears dirty socks, and speaks in African-American vernacular as they give to the the richer kid with an iron-pressed uniform and speaks in standard English. 

You can download the article for free at this website:  http://www.wagner.edu/departments/education/210/student