Introduction to Teaching
Spring 2016
Milby High School
I attended Milby High School from 2006-2010. A little background of my high school Milby first open their door on March 1926, when I attended school the population was about 1,591 students which many consist of Hispanics, African Americans, Asian/Pacific and a few Caucasian. Most students attending this school their family’s social economic status were either they were in poverty or working class. When I attended to high school I notice a lot of my fellow classmates started to stop attending school through the years I was there. Main reasons students would drop-out of school was as the textbook explains because of “absenteeism, low education aspiration, moving school to school, not passing grades, suspension and pregnancy.” All of these I saw in my high school, there was not much motivation from teachers nor principle to follow with our education either, most teachers only wanted for the students suspended or kicked out of the school (well that is what it seemed) Since most students were motivated or encourage to attend school, the absent rate was high at my school. Students would not show up to class or if in the middle of the day they were tired of school, the would just walk out of campus and not return until the following day. The textbook also briefly explains about gangs in school, that was another issue in my school. Most boys were trying to “fit in” so they would try to join gangs, that later on meant them stop going to school because they would rather be out in the streets doing their stuff with their gangs and getting in trouble with the law. Teen pregnancy was a hot topic in my high school as well, there was a high rate of pregnancy. As the textbook explain most of these girls dropped-out because they did not have the support of anyone and could not afford child care for some one to take care of their child meanwhile they attended school “Their families con provide little or no support, and the fathers of their children are often absent and either are unable or choose not to provide financial support.” as well they were working mothers so their jobs interfered with school. Milby offered to types of suspensions in-school suspension and home suspension. In-school suspension was given if the student had multiple tardiness, if missed detention, acting up in class or even if you were out of dress code. Home suspension was given if student would get in fights, bully, sexual harassment, or other serious misconduct. I believe that either or suspension had no impact on the students because whatever got to students in trouble the first time they kept repeating the same mistake until they would get expelled from school, as well during that time being expelled you were not able to learn anything.
Funding was very poor at my high school. I believe that impacted my classroom, teachers and my experience as a student. When I started attending college it is when I notice how my high school did not prepare the students to the transition of college, as well I saw how many other high schools offered a lot more to their students than my high school did. For example, some high schools had dual credit courses, students graduated with their associates and high school diplomas at the same time, other high schools offered different courses to explorer what you would’ve like to major in college, down to the basics just materials in high school most classes did not have enough textbooks and most students had to share books, other high schools were giving laptops to their students for them to do homework and study.
Resources:
Texbook: Hall, Gene E., Linda F. Quinn, and Donna M. Gollnick. Introduction to Teaching: Making a Difference in Student Learning. Chapter 4 (Pages 105-121)
"About Milby / History of Milby." About Milby / History of Milby. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
http://www.houstonisd.org/domain/23860