Post submitted on behalf of whole child partner American Association of School Librarians by Patty Saidenberg, librarian, George Jackson Academy, New York, N.Y.
I work as a librarian at George Jackson Academy (GJA) in New York, N.Y. Founded in 2002, GJA is an independent, nonsectarian upper elementary and middle school for academically capable boys from low-income and underserved families. Classes are small, teachers are passionate, and money is tight. That said, our graduates have attended some of the best high schools and private day schools in the nation. GJA graduates attend Columbia University, Princeton, NYU, and Wesleyan.
Homeless shelters and welfare programs are not just subjects in the news for GJA students—they're what they live. Almost half of our students are from single parent families below the poverty level and are first generation immigrants. Oftentimes these young shoulders are weighted down by the hope of the family's future.
The boys that attend GJA enter into a world where everyone wants them to succeed. The world is their oyster; they just need to buy in and take advantage of what we offer.
Teaching in an economically disadvantaged environment poses many challenges—from making sure students' primary needs are met to helping them grow intellectually. Funds are almost nonexistent, and