Thursday, April 19, 2007


"YOUR RANK IN SOCIETY"

"What do people mean by class?"

So began last week’s Second through Fourth Grade Morning Meeting. I was describing a recent statewide diversity conference entitled Class Is NOT Dismissed (and chaired by our own Sandra Chapman!) I told students that this title was a play on words and asked if they knew what was meant by class other than what they knew it to be in school. One child thought of first class seats on a plane, then a Fourth Grader defined it for us: Class is your rank in society.

The following is a record of students’ thinking about the meaning of class and about its reflections in their world. What I hope is evident is the growth that was occurring as children actively listened to their peers and grappled with increasingly sophisticated social concepts:

Elaine: What do people mean by class?

  • Well, there are first and second class seats on a plane.
  • It's like what class you're in; the highest class gets the best treatment
  • It's your rank in society

Elaine: Can you think of an example?

  • There’s a privileged class. Privileged people are rich and usually live in mansions.
  • Or you’re privileged if your ancestor was maybe a duchess.
  • I think it’s more about what you have—if you have good stuff, you’re privileged.

Elaine: If there’s a privileged class, there must be others. Who knows what these other classes might be?
  • There’s a civilian class; it’s sort of in the middle.
  • Civilian means it’s not military, you’re not a soldier.
  • People that are poor (It’s hard to say that!) don’t have enough money to live on. They have a hard time living; they’re the low class, like beggars.
  • They have a hard time supporting their family and can’t afford medicine.
  • In the old days, there were castles. The privileged class lived inside and so did the civilians. Outside the walls were the peasants.
Elaine: Do you feel there is class at LREI?
  • I do.
  • Some kids get bullied by others, sort of like popularity.
  • If someone is popular they might feel privileged.
  • Some people bully because they’re NOT popular, it’s how they get back at people.
    Everyone is privileged to go to this school. Some people have to pay to get a ticket for lunch at other schools. (Your parents do pay for your lunch. They just do it all at one time.)
  • This isn’t a put-down, it’s a reality: There’s a poverty line. If you’re below it, you’re supposed to get free lunch. If you’re above it, your parents have to pay.
    Sometimes it’s about what grade you’re in: Middle Schoolers tease Lower Schoolers because they get chocolate milk and dessert.
  • Middle Schoolers say, "Fourth Graders are so dumb!" I don’t get it; they were just IN Fourth Grade!
  • Some people may feel privileged, but I think everyone should feel privileged because we’re all doing good.
  • Everyone should be respected in the same way.
  • Everyone should feel in the highest class because everyone is special in their own way.
  • It doesn’t matter what you’re good at, it matters how hard you try.
  • It’s not how you do, it’s if you try your best. At my mom’s school, it was about how you do. Kids who didn’t do as well weren’t happy.
  • It’s complicated. Some poor people are really smart. Some rich people are not smart.
Complicated indeed!
Elaine
(Thanks to Michael Parrish for these minutes.)



This Week's Announcements:

Parent Teacher Conference Childcare:
Childcare will be provided for upcoming Parent Teacher Conference Days, Friday, April 20th, and Friday, April 27th. Sign-up sheets will be available at the front desk.

Friday, April 20th, Childcare will run from 8:00AM to 3:30PM in the Big Room and pizza will be served. The cost is $30 per child and $15 per sibling.

Friday, April 27th, which is a half-day, Childcare will go from noon to 3:30PM in the Big Room and pizza will be served. The cost is $20 per child and $10 per sibling.

Both days we will also offer half-hour Conference Coverage, free of cost, until 5PM. For further questions call or email Lower School Assistant, Kate: Kgreathead@lrei.org, (212) 477-5316 ext. 215


"Poem in Your Pocket" Day:

Keep a poem in your pocket
And a picture in your head
And you'll never feel lonely
At night when you're in bed…
-Beatrice Schenk de Regniers

Celebrate National Poetry Month with us – this coming Tuesday, April 24th! Each year, members of the LREI community celebrates National Poetry Month by choosing a poem to carry in a pocket throughout "Poem in Your Pocket" Day to share. Children eagerly ask to hear each other's poetry choices during this special day, in the hallways, in the cafeteria, and in the classroom. Some children select a special poem that speaks to them, some pen their own verses. Poems can be serious or silly, lyrical or laugh-out-loud! If you feel you need a little help in selecting a poem, come into the library. We will have a basket of poetry at the ready!

Big Auction:
LREI's Big Auction is coming - Wednesday, May 2nd at 6:00pm at The Puck Building. Tickets must be purchased prior to the event,so if you haven't already done so, please contact Patricia Conroy at pconroy@lrei.org or 212-477-5316, ext. 232. Tables are for 10 people - gather your friends and make it a party. This is a fun night and a terrific way to support LREI and the Tuition Remission Fund. To see all the great items on offer, you may view the catalog on line at www.lrei.org, pick up a catalog in either the Sixth Avenue or Charlton Street lobby or ask Patricia to mail you one. We look forward to seeing you in two weeks!
Pippa Gerard

First Grade Parent Meeting:
Dear First Grade Parents,
We look forward to discussing with you our plans for next year's Second Grade and hope you can join us in the cafeteria at 8:45AM on Tuesday, May 1st. This will replace the "What to Expect" Meeting scheduled for May 10th.
Phil and Elaine

Second Grade Parent Meeting:
Dear Second Grade Parents,
We look forward to discussing with you our plans for next year's Third Grade and hope you can join us in the cafeteria at 8:45AM on Monday, April 30th. This will replace the "What to Expect" Meeting schedulied for May 3rd.
Phil and Elaine


In the Upcoming Weeks...

4/20- Parent Teacher Conference Day (No School or Afterschool)

4/25- First Grade Assembly, 8:45AM, Auditorium

4/27- Noon Dismissal (11:45AM for Early Childhood) for Parent Teacher Conferences

4/30- Second Grade Parent Meeting, 8:45AM, Cafeteria

5/1- First Grade Parent Meeting, 8:45AM, Cafeteria

5/2- Fours and Early Kindergarten Assembly, 8:45, Auditorium

5/2- Big Auction

5/9- Kindergarten Assembly, 8:45, Auditorium

5/9- Chap and Meredith's Third Grade Picnic, 6:30PM

5/15-Gwen and Thomas' Fourth Grade Picnic, 6:30PM

5/16- Fourth Grade Assembly, 8:45, Auditorium

5/17- Colleen and Michael's Second Grade Picnic, 6:30PM

5/21- Dorothy and Stacey's First Grade Picnic, 6:30PM

5/22- Tasha and Romy's Second Grade Picnic, 6:30PM

5/23- Second Grade Assembly, 8:45, Auditorium

posted by LREI Lower School News @ Thursday, April 19, 2007