Why is it that teachers who work in a title one school have so much work to do?

I just found out that I have to do progress reports before I leave work tomorrow. Plus, I have a lot of work because I am going home. I just finished writing my lesson plans for next week. For two classes I still need to type them. And, since the travel issues at Thanksgiving cannot be dismissed, I have to leave work and sub plans for Monday in case I don't get back to Nevada in time to get to work. although I leave NY at 6am, I don't know if I'll get to my final destination. (I have a hold-over in Detroit.)

My students have weak skills and even less critical thinking skills. TRanslation: I have to break down every single assignment -- whether it's in class or homework -- to its simplest form. I can't just assign reading; I have to provide a framework in the form of Cornell notes for students to tune into key ideas in the chapter. So, although I've read the book Night several times and taught it, I have more work to do by setting up the notes listing main events in a template for each section of the book. It's just exhausting.

I heard a rumor today that students will be able to attend any school in the district regardless of where they live. So, does that mean that I could be out of a job? If I had my choice, I definitely would leave my school. If there are less students, there will be less need for my presence. We have a mandatory meeting on Tuesday next week to discuss.

the school day ends at 1:30 -- I don't leave until around 4 or 4:30 these days. then I go home and do more work. What am I doing wrong? Am I doing something wrong?

I am not comfortable talking about race issues. I am especially uncomfortable pointing the finger at anyone who I think is racist. Still, I had a parent/teacher conference today that made me feel odd.

So, why this issue with racism? I was the only white person in the room. While that's nothing to even be bothered with, I know that the Dean is anti-white. Well, she is when it comes to Black students. More clearly, she doesn't truly believe that white teachers understand Black students. While that may be true, it doesn't necessarily mean that white teachers cannot do their jobs even if they are in the minority.

Furthermore, I have concerns as an educator that some black administrators don't acknowledge the true issues surrounding the racial gap. My students do not understand subject/verb agreement. If I don't teach them, they honestly won't be going places. Someone sold these kids a bill of goods that's rotten. It's not my fault that my students were given A's for sub-par work. If I am holding them to a higher standard, that doesn't make me a racist; it makes me a teacher. Race issues must be removed from the table and accountability must be put in its place if the racial gap is to be closed. Let's get these kids on the right page and stop giving them false hope when we don't do our jobs.

Telling a kid he can go to college is important. Not preparing him and letting him think he is capable when he's not is just sad.

It is really hard to get students who are seniors, in a class for a passing grade, to buy into anything that's being sold. some feel too dumb to get it; some see no reason to bother; some have never had a positive learning experience and don't feel they'll get one this go around; some just need to make the teacher miserable. In any case, or whichever case, I feel very tired at the end of the day. I wish I could do something to help these kids but I feel incapable of even knowing where to begin. Sure, there are students who are beginning to warm up to me. There are also some kids who, because of the subject matter, are beginning to perk up in class because they have greater background knowledge than their classmates. Still, I feel inept. Gosh I really wish there was an easy way to take measurement of these students so I could find something that works. As it is, I just show up and hope. It's all I've got.