This letter is a to a private school in which I interviewed for a job that I did not get. I have had enough with the shoot to kill privileged elite folks in this world. So here is my letter to them. In the letter you will notice that there is no mention of the school, cities or anything like that. Because for me, this is just venting. As a feminist I have interviewed for over 80 jobs since finishing graduate school. I have made nothing beyond poverty level wages. I am very tired of looking for jobs and interviewing for them. I have been discriminated many times in a job and I feel the privilege folks in the job world keep trying to shoot and kill me.
I drove 500 miles round trip in my 14 year old rusty car to inteview for a job that I got rejected from. I asked for reimbursement on the gas that I paid for, roughly $70 dollars and they said no. You might find this funny. When she said no I said, "do you want me to send you some rust from my car?" I was going to do that. Why not take some rust with your privilege?
With all this said here is my letter....
To Whom It May Concern:
Your privileged and elite private school is something that I do not want to be a part of and I am glad I did not get the job. You can't reimburse someone who came all the way up north but you can take money from "economically" privileged families in your city to line your pockets and your salary. Excess is a demise of a nation and you play a part of that excess. Go ahead and think you are living your idealistic lifestyle working at a private and elite school. Remember people in the inner cities (15% unemployment in the major city near me) who are suffering in a reality of homelessness, poverty, depression, violence, pollution and environmental racism because of your failure to understand the interconnectedness of this failed capitalistic system. You should feel guilty.
With your costs of education for an infant or toddler costing more than one year of college is absurd. You should be ashamed and disgusted with yourself considering you can't reimburse someone who drove a round trip of 500 miles.
I would rather work in an inner city helping children who really need help. Or better yet I would rather work on a reservation where Native American children are the brunt of this terrible system. Since my Native American heritage is a huge part of my life and today I am your brunt in your excess and thinking you live an idealistic life.
Open your eyes for a change!
Sincerely,
The Angry Native Woman
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I attend what could be considered an "elite" private school that is in the Northern United States and here is my take on this.
1. I am not an adult, but I have never heard of a company of any sort paying for a prospective employee's travel unless they were really keen on getting that employee. I have never heard of any company being required to pay for a PROSPECTIVE employee's travel. Elite schools often have 30-50 applicants per position, are they required to pay for the travel of every prospective employee? Even the ones they have no intention of hiring?
If I applied to Yale, should Yale be required to pay for my air transportation to the college even though I am not a good enough student to get in? Yale gets thousands of applicants, should they have to pay for every applicant's travel to the school so they can get an interview?
2. I would hardly consider a private school education a "waste". American public schools are horrific and the most valuable thing a young person can get in this day and age is a good education. It prepares them for college and their future careers. It is more than just the books too, private schools push you to excel beyond the expectations by creating a social environment that rewards academically successful individuals.
3. It is unfortunate and UNFAIR that the majority of children do not get the opportunity to attend a good school. However, this is not the fault of the private schools and I do not see why people who work at/attend private schools should feel responsible for inner city poverty and environmental pollution.
4.If you were discriminated against because of your race/ethnicity and can prove it you can sue that school!
Just curious, anglerfish seems to be assuming that you're discussing the American school system, but I read "Great White North" as "Canada". Was I wrong? I must admit that your use of the term Native American (as opposed to say, First Nations or Native Canadian) is making me doubt myself.
the anglerfish-They should not feel responsible but they should understand that private school education is not affordable for the majority of society. Yale is different, this is for a job and when someone is looking for a job it doesn't always mean that they already have one. I have had potential employers pay for transportation costs in the past and so I always ask now. I will not travel for an interview unless they pay for my travel expenses especially since the price of gas is outrageous!
My letter, which I did not send was because of my anger of looking for a job for so long. I am venting. I am allowed to process my emotions and type down whatever I feel is necessary for me. This is healthy for me to do so I get my anger out in a positive way. Additionally I am still processing the fact that I did attend a private school for graduate school and now have a horrific amount of debt because of that. Private schools have their pros and cons.
rhowan-the Great White North is often referred to as Canada. But, it is also referred to northern Midwestern states that touch Canada. Yes I am discussing the American school system both public and private.
I don't think we will make a dent n the mess of privileged entitlement until we make bigger strides regarding equality for woman. I honestly believe all isms thrive when sexims thrives and the only way we can even come close to shifting any of the ills we face, is by first acknowledging and then creating equality for 51% of our population.
Meanwhile, thank you for choosing to be an educator.
May your strength, grace & commitment to education grow with every breath.