This week my assigned reading was from Lisa Delpit. She is an author known for writing about and promoting anti oppressive teaching practices. I read her work, "Other People's Children" which directly pertains to teaching students of color. In this reading I spent time reflecting on a class discussion about treating students of color differently than white students. But I must add that race is not the only deciding factor of power in the classroom and there certainly are disparities between students of different classes, genders, sexualities and other groups as well. This does not make this issue any less pressing regardless.
This reading describes how students of color and white students recognize power in the classroom. For example the text describes how the different groups perceive authority differently and how black students often expect teachers to exhibit personal authority through actions. (35) Does this imply that an educator must conduct themself differently towards a student of color, than to a white student? Yes. Or maybe it just suggests that all teachers must have a very authoritarian outlook on teaching. Regardless there is much to be understood from this statement, if it is taken at face value.
My takeaway; I intend to collaborate with communities of color and keep an open mind to accommodating towards any disparities in my classroom. It will become part of my mission to ensure treatment of all students is equally as effective for all groups involved.
https://www.heritage.org/education is a great place to continue to read on issues affecting the schools in America.
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