How do we define "problem kids" in school? They're the kids who are disruptive, who aren't going to class, who are argumentative, starting fights. And they're "handled" by suspensions and detentions and being labeled as "bad." But does anyone ask them WHY they're acting out, or missing class? Has anyone asked what they can do to improve their outcomes?

I love ethnography, and as an anthropologist myself, this brought up some really interesting points. I grew up in a very different demographic make-up than this school (I grew up in a very white midwestern area vs. a majority Black/Hispanic neighborhood in NYC), but this made me reflect on what school was like growing up, and how the "bad" kids were treated, and who they were. Dozono interviewed a dozen students 3 times, trying to understand why they were acting out and reframing this behavior--these children are not trouble makers, they're trying to see the world through a different lens and navigate a system that was not created for them or with them in mind. And they're getting to tell their own stories, in their own words, to people who usually brush them aside and count them out.

This was a fantastic read that I think all teachers and those who work with children of all ages would benefit from. Lived experiences are important, and understanding how yours is different from those you're teaching may shift not only how you teach, but how you think and understand the next generation. For an ethnography, this was very accessible and easy to read--I wish we had gotten more from each of these kids, and I would LOVE to see where they all are in 5 or 10 years.