Diversity: Stand up, speak up, make it happen (Readings: Haopian, Winn and Johnson, and Lathan)

So there is an awful lot I want to talk abut from these readings, so I think what I'll do is start with the larger talking points. My thoughts on the Winn and Johnson readings tie into the Lathan reading which I greatly enjoyed, so I think this should all flow nicely.

Dear white teachers. I mean, that's quite a title. It makes it clear who the intended audience is, and it sounds like it could go one of two ways. Thankfully, this author did an incredible job of getting her point across in an appropriate way. Initially, I assumed this would be someone bashing white teachers for something they did or didn't do, and that it may or may not have been justified. After reading this article, I can say I couldn't agree more with what Mrs. Lathan says.

The fact that other teachers send their students to her when there is an issue with discipline is insane. If you can't handle your students, you need to reevaluate whether or not you're fit for this job. Now, there are some times where there might be extreme situations, but this doesn't sound like that at all. It sounds like teachers just not wanting to deal with these particular students.

It draws the question of as a teacher, am I able to discipline someone regardless or their skin color/hair color/eye color/accent/voice/ religion/gender, etc.? Well, I know I can. I can identify that this student, no matter who they are or what their details are, is acting in a way that I don't want in my classroom. In the same respect, I'd be able to identify when a student is doing WELL in my classroom. I can praise just as much as I can scold, and I don't see color. I see actions. I hear voices. I see performance in multiple ways. I feel as though Mrs. Lathan is right- as soon as those other teachers sent those students to see her, they lost power. Student lose respect for teachers if they can't handle situations like that, and they won't make any effort to listen to them going forward. It seems these teachers lack what she calls a "cultural competence", something that I think is extremely important in todays world.

I need to be able to teach any student that is placed in my class. I need to be able to find the balls to call a parent if necessary. I need to be able to be mature enough to ask for help from a co-worker if needed, whether it be with a lesson plan or to seek advice on how to deal with  trouble student. I need to be able to do these things, and I need to be able to do them without seeing anything in my students other than behavior and performance. As soon as you look at anything else, you've lost the entire point.

I found it so frustrating that these teachers were sending their kids to her, even if they weren't on her roster. Because they're the same race? So should she send all the white kids to the white teachers? should my co-workers send all the Jewish students to me, because I am a Jewish person? It sounds insane. It's ignorant. Know your students. Express the expectations you have for them. Hold them to it. ALL of them, no matter what. Overcome the boundaries, and jump through the hoops. That's what we're there for- to guide and assist and educate- no matter what.

Phew- that was a lot. The worst part is that isn't even everything- I just don't want to ramble so much that I forget the other two readings.

Winn and Johnson talk about the "achievement gap". While I know there's all kinds of statistics and blah blah blah, I like to think there are a number of things that go into achievement. Being taught well. Being open to learning. And being assisted properly when there's a struggle. There's no reason every one of my students can't succeed on tests and exams. If I work with them, and make sure to take different approaches if necessary, then we should all see it. I think sometimes teachers get frustrated with students who struggle. I think sometimes they assume- "Oh, Brian hasn't done well on the quizzes all semester. Why bother trying to fix it now?" It requires work on both ends.

I think something I struggle to understand is how someone, as a teacher, can make an assumption about a student based on race. Maybe it's because I don't see color, or I don't base my opinions on my students based on anything like that. I don't know. I just can't seem to wrap my head around it. I'm interested to see what other people think or feel.

The Hagopian reading was another interesting and dangerous topic. I think students should stand up for what they believe in. They should stand up for themselves, and for others. Teachers should rally together, with students and with other teachers, and make changes happen. There's a lot of work to be done to the world, and especially in public schools. One of the best things from this article is when one of the football players said they just want "an honest dialogue". They brought attention to issues in the world by kneeling during the National Anthem. Do I think thats right? I don't know. Do I understand it? A little. I'm torn between how I feel about this. It's a touchy subject, and is very controversial. But I think that's a good thing.