What an amazing set of conversations over the last two days.  Yesterday, lots of gripes and grievances.  The general complaint was students not getting paid enough, even though they work so hard at their job.  They could not understand why things were so expensive in class, they did not make much money, and everyone else seemed to be making more money than them without doing as much hard work.  It is exhausting being a 7th grader in my class!  From that conversation turned into the very interesting (and for me, controversial) conversation about people who don’t have enough money getting a second job to be able to afford basic living expenses.  The students demanded a change!

This conversation transitioned perfectly into today.  We started class by reading an article about unequal pay in society (basically shedding a light on CEO pay vs. normal worker pay).  From there, I awarded two members of our class with an improved paycheck compared to previous weeks (the average student in my class makes $233 per week.  I gave a raise to two students of $84,000 – which is 360 times more; what the average CEO of a large company makes compared to their employees).  This alone sparked indignation among the rank and file.  From it though were some amazing conversations about unequal pay, our obligation as citizens to each other, and what role those with wealth/the government should have on financial equality.

Even after class, students have been up in arms by the mistakes I have made.  Feel free to share with them some of your stories of working hard without just compensation or when inequality strikes.