A Breakdown in Literarcy

In Pickens County there seems to be a lot of transfers between schools. Students seem to come in and out of Edwards from Pickens Middle and Liberty Middle especially. This is one reason our country is moving to curriculum mapping, but that is not the purpose of this post. The purpose of this post is to discuss a particular transfer student I came into contact with, I'll call him John.

John transfered to Edwards from Liberty in January right after I started student teaching. John didn't create any behavior problems, like many transfers at this point in the semester have. He instantly got a girlfriend, and seemed to fit in. Only after the first few times I taught did I notice the problem. John is nearly functionally illiterate. He could not hardly read off notes of the board, and had to directly copy his neighbor's letter for letter. When given tests, he just stared there for multiple class periods. I soon found out that John transferred schools every two or so months due to his family's moves (other wise called rent-avoiding).

After I learned of John's problems, I tried to give him extra help. I read tests to him, and worked through critical thinking exercises with him. When I discussed my concern for his illiteracy with the other teachers, they seemed kind of fatalistic about it. They felt he had just missed that skill, and it was really too late for him to obtain it. I had a hard time accepting this, and continued helping him. Unfortunately, two months into the semester he was transferring again - back to Liberty!

Clearly John is missing out on many skills by constantly changing schools, and I was at first angry with his parents. Don't they realize what their bad habits are causing? John is failing every class, not because he is slow, but because he hasn't had a chance to even learn to read! Then, I got mad at our district and school. Edwards seems quick to TRY and get students out, transferring them as soon as they find out they moved. Why can't we just keep them? Why is it so important to put them in the "correct" school that we are willing to sacrifice their mastery of basic skills? Especially with students like John that aren't a behavior problem...

Something needs to be changed. Students like John are falling through the cracks, and we as a society have an obligation to them. We need a new system. Perhaps if a student stays through the first nine weeks, they could stay the rest of the year no matter where their family moves. The system is hurting John, and I hope his situation will not be mimiced by other Pickens County children.