As soon as February begins, I start to get the following questions from my students, “Miss Morrissey, ya get your taxes yet? What are you buying with your taxes?” The first time I heard this question last year I was so confused. I hadn’t even thought about getting a tax return. I was probably more concern with how many more weeks were left until Spring Break. It took me awhile to realize why tax season was so important to my kiddos. It meant they had an extra opportunity thrown into their lives to maybe buy new shoes, clothes, or get their nails done. My kids don’t get thrown a lot of opportunities their way and the refund from their parent’s tax return gave them a chance to get something extra.
When I was in middle school, I had no idea what a tax return was or that my parents made some extra money because of it. The only thing I knew about taxes at age 13 was it made anything I bought more expensive so I had to always remember to include tax when buying ice coffee. My students however know a lot about taxes. They know exactly when their parents’ W2s come in and when they should expect to see their refund in the account. For my students, tax season is more exciting than Christmas.
It was really mind boggling to me how concerned my students were about tax season but this wasn’t the first time my students had knowledge that I didn’t have when I was their age. I remember when I taught summer school we were talking about the 4th of July. I asked the kids why we celebrated the 4th of July and no one knew the answer. However, when we were talking about the constitution most of my students knew about the 4th amendment. I vividly remember one student shouting out, “Oh yea that’s the thing that makes it so police can’t come into our house unless they have a warrant.” Again, this statement shocked me and made me realize how ignorant I was to the lives of my students.
I mentioned to a few people how interesting it was that the kids in class knew all about tax season and how excited they were about their parents getting their returns. Some people made comments about how “those people” don’t know how to use their money efficiently or effectively and always blow it away once they have it.
This made me angry. Why should my students not get to enjoy the finer things in life just because they come from low income families? Just because they grow up in poverty doesn’t mean they should be forced to buy off brand items all the time or never enjoy luxuries such as getting their nails or hair done. What right do people have to judge others for how they use their money when they have it? I cannot even imagine the life my students have so I can’t judge what they choose to do or not do with their money.
Sure, would I rather have my students ask their parents to buy them pencils for schools with their tax return? Yes I would, but when it comes down to it if they decide to buy the latest Jordans with their parents’ money and it makes their year I’m totally fine with that. My kids don’t always have a lot and they deserve any happiness that comes their way.
Bee the Thread 