Comments on: A Framework for Understanding Ruby Payne

By: koubs1

koubs1 — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 23:50:52 +0000

If only the higher ups in my county who plan inservices knew what we know about the kids needing us! Maybe we could quit throwing all this money at the latest best speaker and have some time in our rooms to plan and think about what each of our students need uninterrupted! I could really get a lot done that would directly impact my kids. Inservice speakers are a huge frustration for me because it takes up so much time and I find myself thinking things like: you have no idea what you are talking about! Quit making generalizations about kids! When is the last time they worked in the classroom? What do I need to get done when this is over? Where am I going to lunch? It seems that getting a gimmick and making the inservice rounds pays pretty well! People will take advantage as long as schools allow them to!

By: thinton

thinton — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 22:05:05 +0000

Oh, Christy! As I read the ending of your comments, “kids need to know you care and that you are going to stand by them and help them to succeed. Trust can make the biggest difference in whether a child succeeds or fails.”, I was overwhelmed by them. If all educators had this mindset, I believe we would all have students who would perform to their utmost, who would become the successes we strive to create. These sentences are the heart of what it is to be a teacher. Who knows how many lives have been changed positively (or negatively) as a result of the support, trust, and caring that were provided (or withheld)to them regardless of the arguement among investigators in the field of educational research.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 11:12:23 +0000

As I read the first couple lines of your response, I wondered what your first impression was of Ruby Payne. Your principal must have thought she had something to offer to give each of the staff her book. I feel like we need to research to be better prepared to speak on a person, or a topic. After reading the article by Bohn, I needed to research Payne and find out why she is negatively thought of by many. I went on her website and of course it was all positive. She has been invited by principals to speak at many schools. I’m still in the research mode and am looking forward to Tuesday’s presentation by Gorski. I’ve learned through this past year to ponder, ask myself questions when I read articles and not accept everything just because it’s in print. I agree we need to be there for our students, each of them equally.

By: coreyrieke

coreyrieke — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:03:19 +0000

I knew very little about Ruby Payne before reading this article as well. Reading the facts about her publishing company was enough to make me question her theories and practices.
I completely agree with you Christy. Our students do need us. They need us to look at each of them through an unbiased lens and avoid generalizations based on their culture and class. And they need our unconditional love and support.