"Should we tell them we're offended?"

I teach at an academically-successful upper NW school which has all the supplies and support it needs. Every student’s situation is not perfect but generally the kids are well-behaved and able to be reasoned with.

Well, twice this year our students have had interactions with students from other schools, and the exposure has opened their eyes a little.

While visiting a far NE middle school, some of our sixth graders heard their sixth graders cursing. Our sixth graders asked one of our teachers, “Should we tell those other sixth grade students that we’re offended by the language they’re using?” The teacher’s response was, “I suggest you don’t.”

Then our band students visited an elementary school in one of the roughest neighborhoods in DC. One student reported (I wasn’t there) that the kids there were “sooo bad.” the listening students were so loud that the students could absolutely not hear what was being played, and the PE teacher kept blowing his whistle during the performance to quiet them. After the performance, some of the students from the home school began tossing the bass drum around!

This student’s parents had debriefed with him at home about this experience. They told him that many schools in the district were like that and that he was at a good school. I don’t know if they encouraged him to appreciate what he had, but I encouraged him to. I also told him that seeing other children play in a band may have been an inspiration for other kids at the home school, which is in the beginning stages of having its own band.

Once during a parent-teacher conference, I heard another set of parents stating how lucky their kids were to be in our school, considering the state of so many DCPS schools.

I say all that to say this: I think our schools should do more interchanges so people can be reminded that not everyone lives like we live. No matter which side of DC you live on (or MD or VA), not everyone lives like you. Exposure helps you see the opportunities, blessings, and perspectives of other parts of your nearby world. Furthermore, I hope this type of exposure, followed by discussions, will help us empathize more.