Upholding the First Amendment by maintaining the separation of church and state is fundamental for public schools and educators. Because many middle class students come from diverse religious backgrounds, it is crucial to ensure that science classes are not "spun" in one ideological direction or another. Endorsing creationism or denying the possibility of God's existence could both land a teacher in a great deal of trouble. Educators must remain impartial to be effective with middle class students.
History can be a touchy subject with white, middle class Americans because their impression of certain historical events often differs from those of cultural minorities. Those in power get to write history, so information in textbooks may be biased to the dominant, white culture. Teaching the subject "textbook style" is likely to be an expectation of the school district. However, middle class parents of cultural minorities may have a different set of expectations, putting educators in a double-bind.
Grammar, along with spelling and vocabulary, are elements of middle class education that tend to be inflexible. Students are expected to learn how to speak, read and write in a way that is considered "proper." There is little leeway for slang words, alternate spellings or "inappropriate" grammar, such as "I be" or "he ain't." The middle class generally strives to be higher than the lower class, and poor grammar is a mark of the lower class that is rarely tolerated.
Middle class students are generally expected to score higher on standardized tests than lower class students. Some believe that standardized tests are biased toward white American culture, which puts the middle class at an advantage. Standardized tests are also a way in which teachers and schools can secure state and federal funds. Therefore, middle class students are expected to deliver high tests scores, not just for their own good, but for the reputation of the school and its teachers.