Coming from a tech and business background – I generally don’t get much exposure to human interest stories at work which is possibly why articles such as this strike a chord.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/03/23/for_student_mothers_reality_a_harsh_teacher/?page=full
Tracy Jan is writing a series of articles on English High, also nicknamed “Pregnant High” as 5% of the students are teenage parents. The school is under threat of closure as its rate of graduating students is below standard.
Jan sympathetically profiles the life of Jennifer Smith, a teenage single mother, parent of a rather active 2 year old.
“She had to bathe him and get him to sleep, tasks familiar to any mother. But for Smith there was added urgency... Lurking in a corner of her room behind a shoe rack was a cardboard display panel for a science project that was already late. The 18-year-old needs the project to pass chemistry, a class that she failed last year and one she cannot graduate without... Tonight was her last chance to finish”
“She says she has never regretted giving birth to Sam at age 15, yet she longs for the life of a normal high school student. She can't join any after-school clubs or play sports because she has no babysitter. She doesn't date”
Jan inserts a quote from the school’s headmaster (does this count as an official source?)
"We want to hold them to the same standards as regular students but we understand students like Jen have different needs," Duarte said of student-parents. "A lot of them forfeit their youth”
which is seamlessly woven into the article in between Smith’s story.
This article encouraged me – it reminded me how lucky I am to have the fairly carefree life I’ve been given. But it’s more than just a description of the life of a teenage mother.
Jan also artfully encourages the reader to think how far standards should be flexed to accommodate mothers such as Smith, describing the frustration of the overworked teachers and how the students (due to very legitimate circumstances) can repeatedly fail to meet standard requirements.
Jan does not conclude the article with an editorial comment or solid ending, but leaves the story open. A skilful way of encouraging the reader to think further.
Thanks for sharing this, Angie. As I write this, my own two year old is fighting sleep in the other room. She's been sick for two days and last night we had a late night visit to the ER. Today this article is a slight comfort.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this article because I thought that the writer did a nice job showcasing the despair and the frustration of Jennifer. I liked the way that Jan created suspense in the MIA science project conversation. You are in the the hall with the teacher and Jennifer, wondering if the teacher's going to allow her another chance.
Kristen, you probably already know this - but you're pretty amazing doing what you do. I did my masters part time while holding down a very consuming job, but I can't imagine how tough it must be to study and parent a small child as well.
ReplyDeleteGood on you for sticking with it. I find it really inspirational.