Thread: Anyone Teach from a Low Performing to High Performing School

Last year I was a student teacher. In NZ we rate how "high" and "low" schools are on a decile system. A Decile 10 school is "tops" while Decile 1a is the very bottom.

I taught in a variety of shcools on my placements. In order the decile ranking went 3 --> 8 ---> 1a ---> 6
So in both semesters I jumped from a low to a high school.

I expected that the students at "high" schools to be better behaved, do their homework, be smarter etc etc. But when it got down to it, I liked the lower decile schools the best. The kdis were great to work with, they worked harder, they respected you more and you really felt like you were teaching. At the higher schools I found the students harder to manage, they were more apt to back chat and "snobby". I like the lower schools.

In terms of expectations, it was interesting that at the medium school the students had really low expectations fo themselves - this came from the teaching staff mainly. I went in with high expectatoins (just like in everyother school) and the students wouldn't even think of rising to meet them. However, i think most of that had to do with the school culture.

However, that is not to say that it wil be the same for you. People in my course who also went to the schools I went to didn't have the same experience as I did. I think it comes down to knowing what sort of people you get along with and trying to find a place where you fit - which is easier said than done of course :-)

I subbed for my friend twice. First time it was just after I finished subbing at a really low school and I was shocked 8O how her kids were well-behaving, hard-working etc. The second time they were much jumpier and immediately after that I went to third school where I again found students to be much better behaving and harder working than in her school. Of course I know her kids are the same persons, but it shows how I could be misguided if I only had one experience with them.

I did suburban, then inner city. There is a huge difference, and the suburban schools were way better. One of the inner city schools was decent, but where I teach now.. it's pretty rough. Some people refer to my district as 'boot camp' as people leave it and go to the wealthier suburbs- and tend to be welcomed with open arms.