When does race really matter? I sit hear on the Eve of Halloween, and I cannot help but remember the discussion we had about race and how we have all witnessed some act of racism. As sad as this sounds, the members of my table had all discussed how some student within their schools had experienced some sort of racism. Although within a few cases it may have been unconscious, it confuses me as to how this behaviour could still be happening!!
As Educators, we are all inclusive, colour does not and should not matter, and we should all be appreciative of everyone for we are all unique. Heck, being in the Catholic school system, we should all be considered Gifts from God and yet this ignorant behaviour exists and seeps into our classrooms!
How can this be combated?? Where is this behaviour coming from? Will it every truly disappear?
Well, I just wanted to share a quick story that took place a few days ago.
Currently, in my school, I am happy to say that our staff has changed and one can now note that there are a wide variety of races represented on the teaching staff. I would also like to point out that my Grade 6 students pointed this fact out to me and that ironically, I never really took note of what cultures were represented on my staff. However, the fact that my students did troubled me in a way. Why would they notice? Was their an underlying reason as to why they were so happy to have these teachers in their school?
I thought about this situation and I carefully outlined how to ask these students about their observations from the other day.
Honestly, I anticipated the worst response, and yet their answer was quite simple.
They did note that our staff had changed because the new staff members happened to be new teachers that used to work in the neighboring community centre. Thus, they were not impacted by their races, they were just happy to see friendly faces!
I really hope that we can all teach our kids to see faces and not colour…and I hope that these teachings will rub off on the older generations as well!!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)