Often you become aware of new information that is just too powerful to evaluate by yourself. I know we are responsible to help our students to better position themselves to achieve economic stablity but at what cost?
Part 2 has showed that the way students speak does not affect the way they learn. However, forcing them to change can encourage them to redraw.Yes,it is true that in society their culture is not excepted and it is possible that they would be looked over for a postion. But who is to blame for that the student who learned or the society that still discriminates. I know this is not a cut and dry descion so could you just give me your honest opinion, to help me gain a more complete perspective? My concern is what is my part in standing up against something I believe is wrong? I want my students to learn. I want them to love to learn. Yes, money is a necessity, however learning is something much more powerful. It is the window in which one discovers themselves and determines the path they choose to personally develop their journey through life. As a teacher I have no right to try to take charge of this process but only assist when asked for guidance, epecially if I am trying to make them change to appease a racist society that will always require them to change to be accepted. In doing this killing any desire for the student to learn and explore. Instead of requiring the student to change I should, no we should, stand up and tell those who still function like this that they are wrong. But that would take way more courage and conviction than to continue to force black kids to let go everything that is important to them to be sucessful.
We require more courage of children than we as the adults are willing to live in our own lives by coninuing to let this system live. That is ocourse if you believe it is wrong.
Stephen
Your last sentence is key. You didn't bold it, but it is key. Most (I think most) people are probably not conscious that they have or are giving up principle to appease society and live a more comfortable life.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up in High School, I could have mindlessly had "School Spirit" or mindlessly attended many parties that encompassed many potentially dangerous activities. I could have given up on taking advanced placement classes to be closer to many of my friends, who were not at that level. I could have worn preppy clothing and looked like something I wasn't (I even did briefly but that didn't last long). I was unhappy, because it seemed like I was not even noticed. The notion of giving up principle to appease society for a better living is universal not to just race, but to all of timeless humanity.
Having worked for a few companies, most businesses believe that following a policy that rips off customers is a good practice and well justified. I think it is very sly and subtle, and most upper level managers do not realize the effects of such policies.
I do not believe in compromise. I prefer to be miserable and poor than to perpetuate a corrupt business machine in exchange for the better life. I pursue education as a means of making a living while maintaining principle. You have to provide the knowledge, but they have to decide for themselves. Many of your students will not likely agree with you if you send too strong of a message.
Stephen,
ReplyDeleteWe talked about this a little bit yesterday. I have trouble finding a balance between teaching my students for the sake of learning and teaching my students the skills they will need to get a job. Although teaching our students for the sake of economic gain seems shallow, I cannot completely abandon the idea. If I don't provide my students with the knowledge necessary to get a job, to pay their bills, to survive, how exactly did I help them?
Today, I decided the best way to find this balance is to find out what students are passionate about, and let them run with it. A.S. Neill, founder of Summerhill School said if a student wants to be a streetsweeper, we should let them. We'd rather cultivate passionate streetsweepers than discontent businessmen, lawyers, doctors, etc. I truly wish there were a way to educate students in any field they could possibly choose, not just collegebound students.
This was a very thought-provoking post, Stephen!
Chrissy
This is a difficult question. What's right? What's wrong? Why does it matter? The fact is it does matter whether we agree with it or not. When I have a class I try to teach them the difference between conversation and writing, between business and recreation. I have had to learn these things to survive and is it fair for me not to teach them because I think it's wrong and not prepare them with the necessary skills to thrive in the world. I agree that if you have the skills you should qualify and that it seems the only accent unacceptable is black. That is wrong. It is not necessary or positive to constantly correct them.
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