DON'T GET ME STARTED!
If you want me to blog...give me a topic like class and socio-economic status to get my engines running!
I will not rant today--I will simply share one profound thought: we are all created equal it's just that some of us have more money and less sense than others.
Two areas that class and socio-economic status occur: 1) the classroom and 2) in life. As educators, we should not change how we teach simply because of the financial standing of our students. Working at SMU and near Highland Park where the gross family annual incomes top more than I can make in a lifetime as a teacher, I get to see firsthand what happens between the haves and the have nots.
For example, as a staff member of SMU, I have access to real estate rentals owned by the University. When I took my position here in the Institute, I had an opportunity to rent a nice little home in Highland Park close to work. As we investigated the area schools and opportunities for my children, we quickly decided that Highland Park would not be the best place to raise our family on our incomes.
As we were meeting with school officials, teachers, and other local community folks--it was made very clear to us that we would be labeled "HP Renters" and our children could expect different treatment because of our socio-economic status in the community. Even though our children were bright, dressed professionally for their age and wanted to be involved in several extracurricular activities, it was apparent that we would not be welcome by a few people.
So, we took our little family further out into the rural community where we were accepted and our children have flourished academically. I would be very dismayed to find out that if that type of behavior is accepted in the classrooms of affluent schools.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Gender & Sexual Orientation
The professor announces that we will have guest speakers in class to present and discuss gender and sexual orientation. My mind wonders if it will be male/female professionals to talk about inequalities in the workplace or possibly someone who has an alternative lifestyle that can share their experiences.
We gather in class on a Monday night in Autumn, some of the classmates are more concerned about being displaced from their normal seating arrangement and are not really paying attention to the two gentlemen standing outside our classroom door.
One gentleman looks to be close to my father's age and the other gentleman could be somewhat younger and seems to be engaged in the "goings-on" of our classroom. I take a seat and chat briefly with my team, scanning the two visitors and wondering what they are going to share.
The introductions start and our professor shares her personal experiences in how she has come to know these two men. I sat and listened and was overcome with emotion at the story that was told. A tale of two people who found each other in life and have made a non-traditional family. As they shared about their lives, I found myself glossing over the fact that they were both men. I commented to one of my groupmates that most of us heterosexuals spend our entire lives searching for what these two men had--a strong, loving relationship.
As they shared what they had been through with sexual orientation biases and how they have overcome so many situations--I was moved to tears. Growing up in a traditional religious family, the mere thought of homosexuality was very taboo and was not discussed by anyone. My relatives would just say "...we just have to pray for people like that." My thoughts regarding homosexuality have been more liberal than my relatives because of long-standing relationships I currently have with friends, extended family, etc. who maintain a different lifestyle than most.
Religiously, I am concerned about what God thinks but as our guest speakers put it, "...God doesn't make mistakes...and if that is who I am, it is who I am..." I was very impressed that these gentleman still have a relationship with God despite all they have been through and was very honored that they chose our class to share with.
Best wishes to them and thank you for taking the time to share with us!
We gather in class on a Monday night in Autumn, some of the classmates are more concerned about being displaced from their normal seating arrangement and are not really paying attention to the two gentlemen standing outside our classroom door.
One gentleman looks to be close to my father's age and the other gentleman could be somewhat younger and seems to be engaged in the "goings-on" of our classroom. I take a seat and chat briefly with my team, scanning the two visitors and wondering what they are going to share.
The introductions start and our professor shares her personal experiences in how she has come to know these two men. I sat and listened and was overcome with emotion at the story that was told. A tale of two people who found each other in life and have made a non-traditional family. As they shared about their lives, I found myself glossing over the fact that they were both men. I commented to one of my groupmates that most of us heterosexuals spend our entire lives searching for what these two men had--a strong, loving relationship.
As they shared what they had been through with sexual orientation biases and how they have overcome so many situations--I was moved to tears. Growing up in a traditional religious family, the mere thought of homosexuality was very taboo and was not discussed by anyone. My relatives would just say "...we just have to pray for people like that." My thoughts regarding homosexuality have been more liberal than my relatives because of long-standing relationships I currently have with friends, extended family, etc. who maintain a different lifestyle than most.
Religiously, I am concerned about what God thinks but as our guest speakers put it, "...God doesn't make mistakes...and if that is who I am, it is who I am..." I was very impressed that these gentleman still have a relationship with God despite all they have been through and was very honored that they chose our class to share with.
Best wishes to them and thank you for taking the time to share with us!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Ethnicity and Race (Blog 2)
In this course, I belong to the most wonderful diverse group ever created...mi chicas (Kim, Inma, Pooja, and Xiaoyan). All of us are from different cultures, races, and nationalities--but we are the best sisters you could ever put together. Each of us are compassionate educators that want to change the world and though we all come from different backgrounds, we have a lot in common.
We are family-oriented people who strive to give our best effort in anything we attempt. We are supportive of others and find humor in everything we do.
I am anxious to see what products we continue to turn out as a group.
We are family-oriented people who strive to give our best effort in anything we attempt. We are supportive of others and find humor in everything we do.
I am anxious to see what products we continue to turn out as a group.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Ethnicity and Race
Growing up in rural Alabama in the 1970's was as close to race and ethnicity as a person could get in my mind...I grew up in a time when I could not even go to the same school as my best friend because we were "different colors."
Today, I sit in a classroom with all different ethnic backgrounds and am mesmerized by everything I see and hear about my classmates' cultural differences and similarities. I shared with my classmates that I have raised my own children to embrace those different than them. Our book talks about children "acting white" but sometimes we find ourselves "acting whatever" because we love to experience other cultures firsthand.
I shared with my classmates that because of the period of time and location of where I grew up--I have made sure that my generation of children were taught to respect those different from them. The example I shared with them is how my own children refer to others...they don't say--who is the black guy in your office...they say, who is the man in the blue shirt?
Ethnicity is important because it helps explain where we are from--our cultures, our values, our history. Race is also a foundational term but has negative connotations because of the history we have experienced in our nation.
Today, I sit in a classroom with all different ethnic backgrounds and am mesmerized by everything I see and hear about my classmates' cultural differences and similarities. I shared with my classmates that I have raised my own children to embrace those different than them. Our book talks about children "acting white" but sometimes we find ourselves "acting whatever" because we love to experience other cultures firsthand.
I shared with my classmates that because of the period of time and location of where I grew up--I have made sure that my generation of children were taught to respect those different from them. The example I shared with them is how my own children refer to others...they don't say--who is the black guy in your office...they say, who is the man in the blue shirt?
Ethnicity is important because it helps explain where we are from--our cultures, our values, our history. Race is also a foundational term but has negative connotations because of the history we have experienced in our nation.
Foundations Indeed
As I walk into the second class of Diverse Learners, I see the faces of fellow educators glancing up from their conversations to acknowledge my presence. I fumble my way to a front row seat, digging through my belongings in an attempt to find my glasses.
It is hell getting old, I think to myself. After a day at the office and a mad dash to the bookstore to score the precious textbook for the course--I settle in for another experience in graduate studies. The professor, a familiar-face to me, enters the room and greets her waiting group of tired teachers, parents, and other types. We are talking about foundations, diversity, and multicultural issues.
My mind wanders beyond the discussion and I begin to reflect on the word--foundation. When I was teaching 2nd grade at a private school--foundation was a common word in many of the subjects I covered. At the beginning of each staff development, there was a memo from the dean that was signed, "Building on the Foundation." What is a foundation? In education, it is the best place to start...
It is hell getting old, I think to myself. After a day at the office and a mad dash to the bookstore to score the precious textbook for the course--I settle in for another experience in graduate studies. The professor, a familiar-face to me, enters the room and greets her waiting group of tired teachers, parents, and other types. We are talking about foundations, diversity, and multicultural issues.
My mind wanders beyond the discussion and I begin to reflect on the word--foundation. When I was teaching 2nd grade at a private school--foundation was a common word in many of the subjects I covered. At the beginning of each staff development, there was a memo from the dean that was signed, "Building on the Foundation." What is a foundation? In education, it is the best place to start...
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