"They made me mean" : students in the margins speak out against unfair school practices

The purpose of this investigation was to amplify the "voices" of students in the margins to better understand their perceptions toward school and the relationships they have with the significant adults in their lives. Children and adolescents from the underclass/working class, middle class, and the privileged/overclass were interviewed in order to gain insight into what they perceived their relationship with the significant adults in their lives to be like and how those relationships affected their lived experiences. The narratives of these students were analyzed to identify the discriminatory practices of educators based on what socio-economic class a student belongs. Narrative research methodology was used to collect each student's narrative. Narrative research was used to give "voice" to these students that are excluded and marginalized by the adults in their schools. The students' stories were analyzed. Phenomenological themes emerged that reflected the experiences and "voices" of the students