Today in a department head meeting, I had a revelation that was a long time coming.  For several years now I have been ASTOUNDED at the lack of respect and basic manners of Mexican students*.  Even more profound, however, was their reaction when I told them how their atrocious behavior was affecting their grade: 4 out of 5 times, the student would reply with: "I don't care if I fail or not!", give or take a few profane words.

At first, I thought that was general teen repartee, an automatic response to being threatened might be to lessen the value of the threat by dismissing its severity as worthless.  After a while of me following through, though, and students failing due to refusal to do the EASIEST things, I realized that they actually, literally, did not care.

This morning, I finally found out why (I think).  Another teacher mentioned that it's not that the kids don't care if they are successful.  It's that in their minds, and the minds of their families, they already are successful. 

They have succeeded by getting away from drug cartel violence and into an American high school where they have it easy.  Not "no problems" easy, but "no worries that I will witness a murder today" easy.  That, in the minds of most people born in Mexico, is the ultimate goal.  It's the equivalent of a [stereotypical and slightly racist predicate imminent] white teenager getting all A's and going to Harvard, and then becoming a rich professional.  Those lofty goals are for people who were born in America, with papers, and have never had to fight for survival or experience debilitating poverty.  As for the Mexicans, they'll happily work long hours at a menial job to pay the rent for their safe American apartment.  If the teacher doesn't like them sleeping in class or not working in school, what difference does it make?  Will they lose money?  No.  Are their lives in danger?  No. 

I finally get it.  Now, to find out what to do about it.






*Some of my Mexican students on the other side of the spectrum are incredibly well-adjusted socially and have fantastic grades.  They are not, however, in the majority.