Reading futures: Exploring rural students’ literacy practices in neoliberal times

Over the low hum of the projector, Mrs. Sullivan reads aloud the role profile for Hotel Desk Clerk, which is displayed on the screen at the front of the classroom. She moves slowly through the job description, income breakdown, and educational preparation, highlighting key terms in each section and inviting students to explain their meaning. Following "gross monthly income" and "transferable skills," they reach "full time," and Johnathon’s hand shoots into the air. He appears excited to see a vocabulary term he’s heard before. "My dad works for a truck company and his full time is 12 hours a day," he says, turning around in his chair to watch for his classmates’ reactions. When Paul says, "Whoa!" Johnathon smiles and turns back to the front.