Jenny and Donny belonged to a social underclass. They were members of a social group referred to as "urban Appalician," "poor whites" from the mountains or hills, "hillbillies,""white trash."Donny's failure to learn was not considered worthy of attention, and Jenny's inability to get herself heard was immidiately related to this fact. Jenny wasnt taken seriously as a concerned mother, because it deeply held belief, or stereotype, that poor urban Appilicians are unfit as parents. This stereotype prevented school personal from interpreting her complaints and concerns in the same way they would interpret complaints and concerns from a middle-class mother. Donny's failure to learn anything was not noted because this was an expected pattern. Nothing to get excited about. What do you expect from these people? Happens all the time! That someone would care about this family was somewhat unsettling to the school.

I chose this part of the reading to talk about because I was in shock by it! I think as teachers we need to be very careful not to use stereotypes. The mother in the reading was obviously concerned for her child and like most mothers she just wanted the best for him. I think that it is not only the school and teacher's job to make sure every student learns but to feel safe and excepted. I can only imagine how the children in this school acted toward Donny, if the adults treated him and his family the way they did. I understand that things like this often happen in schools, but I believe that it is the teachers job to try to end stereotypes like these. With as many resources that are offered in schools, I feel that a student can be successful if given the opportunity. Everyone wants someone to believe in them, to believe that they will succeed. I do not think a teacher should doubt a student because students will strive to a teachers expectations.

Mountaineer!

Is our way of life unique?

I remember when I first realized that West Virginia was unique. I have distant cousins that live in New York and every two years we try to have a get together. The first one I can remember I was about eight. My cousins came my grandparents house, I began to play with a girl who was about my age and she told me how impressed she was. I asked her what she was impressed with. She told me she was impressed with how nice the house and neighborhood were. I was confused and asked her what she expected. She then informed me that she thought we were going to be living in a log shack with no running water or lights. I just laughed and let it go, but I realized that people thought much differently of West Virginia than I did.

I think that Mountaineers are most unique in our sense of pride. I know so many people who have moved from here, but alwasy have nice things to say about West Virginia, still root for the sports here, and still love to come back and visit.

I think that many West Virginians try very hard to hold on to our traditions. I am not sure if they manage to do so more or less than most other states. However, the way I have attempted to connect with traditions is through stories. My grandfather loves to tell me stories that his grandfather told him and I hope one day to pass down those stories to my children and grandchildren.

I am from the Eastern Panhandle of the state and I see huge differences in my life styles than even lifestyles here in Fairmont. I have noticed many words that are pronounced different or even a different word with the same meaning. For example I say soda and most people here say pop. I think the biggest thing that ties the different "cultures" together are the beaty of the mountains and earth around us and the pride of being a Mountaineer.

The power of nature

I live back a hollow in the woods and have for most of my life. I love it because for the most part it is dark and very quiet. When I was younger my cousins and I used to search in the woods for blackberries. We would pick them and use them in ceral or give them to our grandmother to make cobbler. This is how I learned that if I could I could survive off the land. My uncles and cousins are hunters and fisherman so I often went with them, which was interesting.

I love being in nature. I love listening to the birds, feeding the animals and watching the leaves change colors. Living in the woods has allowed me to do all those things. My boyfriend is from the "town" where I live and recently he has moved in with my family. It took a lot of getting used to for him. He was very afriad of the woods at first but now he actually enjoys sitting outside and enjoying the peace and quiet.

I think that we should educate outsiders about our way of life and understand their way of life as well. I think we need to show outsiders that there is nothing to be afraid of and that nature is a beautiful thing.