The text “What no bedtime story means: Narrative skills at home and school” written by Shirley Brice Heath explains an experiment called “Maintown ways”.

After I have read this article I was very upset. Children, with educated mothers have more chances to become good students and go to a good college and what about children, whose mothers do not know this kind of information? How can we fix this situation?

Teachers children become teachers, and doctors children become doctors. We have to discuss how we can close this gap between students from educated homes and non educated homes. My parents are workers, and my mother has only completed elementary school. In elementary school I worked hard to close this gap because my parents knew and were worried about this gap. And additionally, I grew up bilingual, which is still not excepted and viewed as a positive thing in Germany.

When I started to teach in an “afterschool program”, I have tried to close this gap by my immigrant students. I knew, their parents were not well educated but they spent a large amount of money to join my “afterschool program”. I have worked with the parents. I knew, that I had to guide the mothers first and then I can teach their children.

First, I visited my students in their homes. I saw their environment. How is the communication between the families. My main interest was, where was the TV placed in the house? On the basic of the placement of the TV, I could see how often the family watches TV. I talked to the mothers and convinced them to put the TV not on the “main place” of the living room.

My second step was, to talk to the fathers. I told them, if they do not read books or newspapers to educate themselves, then they cannot expect their children to read a book while he is watching TV. So, the fathers agreed and the made a subscription to a newspaper and they promised me to go with their children once a month to the library.

After I talked to the parents, I could now start my teaching with the kids. I bought diaries for my student, ice cream in summer and hot chocolate during the cold winter time. When they did their homework very well, I always had a gift in my bag. All these motivated my students and they felt comfortable in school and they earned very good grades. Some of the teachers called me and they asked me for more advice, so they can use my techniques for the other immigrant students. By the end of the school year almost all of my students got the right to visit the “Gymnasium”, which is the best school system in Germany. Only when you graduate from this school system, you can go to college.

Twice a week for ninety minutes I taught them. Once a week I called their parents and asked how their children were doing at home. When the parents are not well educated, then we need teachers, who can sacrifice more than they should do. For me is teaching is a holy job. When I want our society should become more open minded, tolerant,and so on, I know, the best way to improve our society is to teach and create “good people”.