I may be jumping the gun a little bit, but I started to read the articles for next week and I feel a bit compelled to talk about it early.
I mean, it's obvious that we're all taking this class because we're intersted in teaching in urban areas, and of course it means that we also have to come to terms with racial issues and sterotypes and things of that nature, and overcome them.
I think this class is a wonderful first step, but I'm going to honest and say that it's a little bit overwhelming.
Starting out on the defining racism article the quotes "Oh, is there still racism?" and "But in fact, in almost every audience I address, there is someone who will suggest that racism is a thing of the past," got me thinking.
I know that I aspire to be above and beyond all this racism stuff, but the more I read these articles, the more I realize that I'm falling a bit short. Not to say that I'm some sort of bigot, but the more of these articles I read, the more my ignorance of this subject and these sorts of situations is revealed.
It's a good thing, it means I'm learning something.
And, as G.I. Joe says, "knowing is half the battle".
But, in this case, what accounts for the other 50%?
Reading these articles is an eye opening experience. I mean, some of this stuff isn't exactly new to me, but to actually sit down and pay direct attention to it is. Learning about this stuff is definately necessary, but I suppose it has me a little bit worried too. It feels like there is more I should be doing, but I'm not exactly sure I know what that is.
Obviously there is no quick fix, no easy sollution. There is no test or activity you can perform in and instantly find yourself no longer contributing to the biased and bigotted system we live in. This whole issue is far more complicated and complex than that, and thats one of the things that has me worried.
It makes me thing first off, can I teach these kids.
And secondly, should I?
Not from any deficiency on their part, but on mine.
Of course, I have these concerns and they are very real, but I'm not going to let them get the best of me. I'm not going to give up, in fact its these sorts of very real concerns I have, that makes me want to try ever harder.
Going backto the "A Talk With Teacher's" Article, another quote stood out.
" I began by saying that one of the paradoxes of education was that precisely at the point when you begin to develop a conscience, you must find yourself at war with your society,"
Which is something that I think is very true, but it's very scary at the same time. How does one put themselves in the position of being 'at war with society' and remain optimistic as opposed to winding up cynical and jaded, as thats not going to be much help to anyone.
(One of the saddest things about the work Kurt Vonnegut has been doing lately, is that he lost his optimism and has grown very cynical and bitter, and it's just depressing.)
Anyhow,
I feel like I just said a whole lot of random things, but I feel better at least about getting it out there. Feel free to comment. It would be nice to know that I'm not the only one worried about this stuff (or that i'm being paraniod for no reason).
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9 comments:
I don't think you are alone at all! I myself feel overwhelmed at times, and worried, can I handle this? I think it's impossible to expect anyone to be the expert on racism, no one is. But the fact that we all care and want to learn how we can contribute positively to these kids lives is important. To me, it doesn't matter whether or not you know everything there is to know about racism and classism and all the other "isms" but that you are aware they exist and are working to keep them out of the classroom, and teaching the students they are not ok.
I see it this way, and I'm sorry if this is too "Miracle Teacher". But I am very aware that certain issues can by no means be solved by one person in a short amount of time, i.e. racism. However, I see my self as a link, and every child I teach, and show them that there is more to life than labels, and help them to respect diversity of all kinds also become a link. And eventually more and more students add on, becoming a chain, and creates their own chains etc. I know it sounds cheesy, but it keeps me sane to think I am a link in a chain, long started before me, and if I do my job, will continue long after me. No one can do it alone, but together, things get accomplished.
Regarding the cynicism over time, I like to think that if the passion for teaching is truly there than I won’t turn into a cynical teacher. Too idealist? Maybe, but I guess only time will tell.
WOW! That was in fact a lot of topics that you brought up at once, but you did make some very good points.
First, I feel that your whole discussion on racism brings up some great points. I know I try to be the least racist person however, even I at times feel myself beleiving in these "sterotypes". Unfortunatly though, I do sometime feel that sterotypes have some truth in them and that is the scary part. How am I going to keep my students from beleiving in sterotypes if part of me may find some truth in them.
Also, as far as you doubting how good of a teacher you are, dont get down on yourself. I personally beleive that doubt is a good thing. Already, you notice where some of you weaker points may be and you are already trying to figure out how you can strenghten them, if doubt caused that, GOOD! Your preparation will make you a good teacher. You are accepting the challenge of not always knowing what to do and your trying to gain that knowledge. If only all teachers thought to doubt their abalities.
I just want to add a little update to this.
A friend of mine handed me a copy of "Other People's Children: Cultural Conflict in the Classroom" by Lisa Delpit (one of the authors in the course packet), yesterday.
I've not gotten very far into it, but so far it seems like a pretty good resource for anybody in this class wanting (or willing) to do an extra little bit of reading.
It had a lot of good stuff that I'm really going to try and build into my teaching philosophy. Also, instead of just explaining the situation and whats wrong with it, it talks about the 'doing' aspect of things, what as a teacher you CAN do, as well as HOW and WHY it works.
It's not "the answer" to all of my questions, but its a start.
Just figured I would share.
I think you pose several important and complex questions here, David, and I doubt we'll come up with wholly satisfying answers to them. But that shouldn't stop us from trying. I agree that questions of race and racism can get overwhelming, especially for those of us who are white and who benefit from white privilege in this society.
I do think awareness and consciousness of the issues is an important first step, because it's easy as a white person to ignore issues of race if you wish. People of color, on the other hand, have little choice but to deal with racism: it's there, sometimes subtle, sometimes in their face. But white people, because they are in the majority and because much of U.S. mainstream culture is based on European norms, can pretty much pretend racism doesn't exist (or has gone away) if they choose.
I don't want to put in my two cents on all your questions--at least not until some others have had a chance to weigh in--but I will say that in regard to your "Can I teach these kids? And should I?" questions, I think the answers are: 1) Yes, if you make a serious and steady commitment to putting yourself in the role of learner and to keeping issues of race and class at the front of your mind; and 2) Well, that one's up to you.
Just because issues of race and racism are central doesn't mean that white people can't be effective--and even excellent--teachers of childen of color. It's quite possible, but it takes work, and a continual commitment to try to better understand one's own racial identity and the ways racism continues to impact the lives of many children and families.
I'm actually reading these articles now, so I figured I'd take a second to respond to your post. I have a feeling this discussion tonight will be an interesting one. Everyone has had a different kind of experience with race and/or racism. In my hometown, reverse racism was/is very prevalent. In my high school, you were looked down upon for being white. In fact, calling someone white who wasn't was a very serious insult.
Since I did grow up in such a diverse area, I feel like I am very open to all different types of people. Even though I look at the world in this way, I don't think a lot of people do. Teaching in an area where the majority of the students aren't white kind of scares me, if only because I am afraid I won't be able to relate to their life experiences.
I think the only way to get past this is to really get to know our students--learn about their cultures, their neighborhoods, their family structures. Being as open-minded as possible to students of all races/backgrounds/cultures will help us as teachers no matter what race we are and what race our students are.
First off I can assure you that you are not the only one that is surprised and overwhelmed by the racism that goes on today. I for one have never thought of myself to being a racist or any kind of supporter of racism in our society until certain subjects were discussed in class. The reason I say this is because I was one of those people that thought racism does not exist in our society. I knew that white people had some advantages when it came to certain benefits but that was just because it was usually a white person that was giving those benefits. In all honesty I believed the same thing would happen if any other race was in the driver seat, so therefore it was not racism and nobody was in the wrong. What I soon realized was that I can not assume what other people of race would do if they were the ones making the decision and also if whites have all the power and are not allowing other races a better quality of life then how is that not racism. I know it seems very easy to see but for a person that receives preferential treatment it is not an easy task.
Overall what I’m trying to say is I believe you are supposed to be a little shocked and overwhelmed by the subjects that are discussed in class. If you were in the middle class or even wealthy growing up, that is what you know best because you have lived it and seen it through your own eyes. This class so far has given us a new outlook through some ones eyes that we could not have possibly see on our own. For anybody that has not grown up in an urban community, needs to see and understand the struggles of an urban student before they can make a significant difference in their lives.
Just a little motivating quote to remember to keep on learning about other races, cultures, etc...
"He who dares to teach must never cease to learn." -John Cotton Dana, an American Librarian
I would like to agree with everyone ahead of me, you're not alone. Racism is clearly evident everywhere I go, from class, to work and out in society. And I am very nervous about teaching in an area where I am the majority because I have been removed from that environment for a long time. I am aware of racism but in the "hoods" and the "ghettos" racism towards people of color are more actively displayed. In those areas, the places where blacks, Latinos and whites are clearly seperated whereas my experiences I would say are racist but much more passive. For example, an uneducated individual would not have known about classism and racism due to my personal experiences, but in those "hoods" and "ghettos", black children as young as 5 understand the effects and segregation of the coloreds and whites!!!
Ahhh hah! So this is the blog post that Greg was talking about in class. Darn, I’ve been behind on this for a while now. But David, like Noel, and the rest of them has said. You are not alone. You should read the rest of the book that this article came from, even more questions are going to rise from that. I remember after reading this thinking that,"I was the biggest racist bitch out there!" I thought, like you, that I should not be teaching too, for my students of a different race are going to look at me and go, "So, why should we listen to you? You're white and have the easier life!" As lame as this next statement is going to sound, but as we all have seen from class, just how much of a softie I am, I got a little choked up after this one. I never thought to look at racism from that point of view before. Tatum's book goes on to talk about how racism and prejudice start very early in life, and that it is up to parents to sit and talk with their children about what they are seeing, and what they are feeling. She also mentions that everyone feels is, but that it has to be identified, she says in "Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in The Cafeteria" on page 27 as, "There is no hierarchy of oppression. The thread and threat of violence runs through all of the ism. there is a need to acknowledge each other's pain, even as we attend to our own..." I couldn't agree with that more. We all have it, it’s a matter of what we do with it is what can make or break it.
How I relate that back to teaching and the questions that arise from this article, and this book, and what Noel mentioned a being "Miracle Teacher", but sometimes it is up to us to help our students see that. Yes, we may not be black, or Hispanic, but we all have oppression that runs through each of us, and we have all learned on some level how to deal with that pain. I believe that as a future educator, not only am I going to be up behind that big desk to teach my students about Theatre and English, but I am there to teach them some life lessons, and help them become who they want to become, not who society has deemed them to be.
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