Race is
a tough topic to face in our society. Many people claim that they don't see
color. But we aren't a color blind society. We see color and we see
differences. What matters is how we act on those differences.
It's
very important to discuss issues that have racial dimensions. If we close
ourselves off from each other because of something as unchangeable as race then
there is no hope for the world. If we just ignore what is going in Ferguson and
act like nothing is wrong just because it deals with race, then the problem
will never be solved. This issue can't just be swept under the rug. They hold
implications for not only this country but the rest of the world.
As an
educator I believe that I can change the way people see things. I want to
inform my students of relevant issues (without going too deep because they'll
be like seven) and show them things from all angles. As an educator I believe
you need to show students every piece of information you can so that they can
make an informed decision; you can't just give them your view because then you
are taking away their right to come to their own conclusion. Educators should
lay out the facts of every issue regardless of race let a discussion happen.
Starting
a conversation about race is hard. In our society we just sort of ignore it so bringing
it up becomes a hard task. I would bring it up in a very roundabout way like
talking about a current event that deals with race. Everyone gets involved in
the conversation and then you can easily turn the tables to talk about race. You
could also just bluntly attack the subject. Ask if anyone has ever been a
victim of racism or bullied for their race. Ask if parents have a problem with
interracial couples or friends. Keep the conversation going by keeping it
relevant to the students. They'll always be interested if it's made about them.
Tackling
the subject is always tricky. You never want to offend anyone but it's an
important to talk about. More schools should be delving into the hard topics of
race and giving their students the deepest understanding possible. As an
educator I hope to achieve that.
I agree with your idea that racism is a very hard subject to discuss in a classroom setting. There are not many instances I can name when racism was actively discussed within one of my classes. This could be because it's a difficult subject to discuss, or it even makes students and teachers feel uncomfortable. But you are definitely right, educators should address the issue up front and not beat around the bush. Students deserve to learn and have a deep understanding of how racism is effecting our lives everyday, even if we do not realize it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you say that we ignore racism in our society. Different forms of racism and discrimination are prevalent everywhere in society. As much as we deny that racism exists, we are wrong. As educators we need to educate our students about this topic, regardless of how hard it may be to discuss. I also really agree when you said that it is important that we don't just feed our own opinions to our students. Turning the tables on them is an excellent way of letting students share experiences and opinions while learning how to be respectful of others' beliefs.
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