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!
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