So, I have a little story to share with my readings. I have been a substitute for the past two years. I love my job dearly. This past week I had an experience that left my "Eyes wide open". Never have I had an experience like this in a school; or have I? First let me set the story up.
In class so far, one of the most troubling discoveries for me is the fact that 9 out of 10 teachers are white females. This is so troubling to me because this in no way represents the population of the student body. When I see this, I think how in the world can these teachers possibly relate or even handle this diverse student body? And even deeper, what happens to the students that can not relate to the teachers? These are questions that i have gathered from some of the readings until this past week when i found out that this is occuring in my own backyard.
This past week, I had the oppurtunity to work in one of the districts "Small Classrooms". I get this name from way back in time, when I was in school. These Small Classrooms are where the socially mal-adjusted, cognitively slow, and other "handi-capped" children are "HELD". In this classroom, there were many different cultures present. The shades of skin ran from black to white and everything in between. I would say that there was 10 children in total. Of the ten, 2 were white and 8 where "minorities". For these students, there were three teachers. Do you think you can describe them? If you said that they were all white, then you are todays winner.
In the beginning of the day, everything was running smooth. Everyone in the class was doing what they were supposed to do and work was getting accomplished according to schedule. It was not until it was math time that reality hit the fan(Yea I said reality). When it was time for math, the abilities of some children were instantly apparent. There was one child in the class that I thought was brilliant. Whenever the teacher would ask a question, he would answer without delay. It was after about ten questions that the teacher decided to let the students work on a handout with math problems on it. The teacher announced that the students should work on this assignment for the next 20 minutes in silence. After about two minutes, this particular student says he is done. Keep in mind, I am still amazed with this student and wondering why is he in this class. The teacher walks over to him and begins to grade his paper. Everything was correct. The teacher kindly gives him a large check on his paper.
At this point everyone is quite and working on their assignments. One minute later, the student begins to talk to his neighbor telling them that one of their answers is wrong. The teacher tells the student that he is not a teacher and to mind his business. Another minute goes by and the samething happens except, this time the teacher says it in a negative tone. Another minute goes by and guess what happens? The student talks again and the teacher reprimands the student in a even angrier tone and threatens to throw him out. Eventually a argument ensues and the child gets thrown out of the classroom.
I was shocked at this decision. So many questions popped into my head. Why is that kid even in this class? What did he do wrong? What do I do? With all these thought racing to my head, I started to remember all the reading that we have been doing in class. All the topics discussed in class finally hit home and left my eyes wide open.
First of many things, I believe this particular student was a victim of not being able to relate to the teacher. Obviously, the student knew his work and I feel that he was at a superior math level then what was being taught. This may have been the reason for him being placed in the class in the first place. Maybe if there was someone he could relate to, or even someone that could relate to him, actually tried to push him to his potential, this student could be the next President of the United States. If things continue the way they are, I think this student has no chance.
This is just one of many different things that I witnessed that day. All I am saying is that "Things have to change".
1 comment:
Wow! That really does show the class readings put into play. Also how you mentioned that 9/10 teachers were white female, I do think that it is becoming a problem, because more and more, that's all you see, and many can't relate to the students, and do form biases, which in the end is hurting the students.
I do wonder though if the parents of the one student who was advanced in math said anything to the administration? The psychological scars that is probably present because of this unnecessary isolation must be affecting the kid somehow. Your story may be one that is probably going to be common to most of us. Also, you mentioned the teacher scolding the student a second time, if this student had an apparent disability, that would be no way of treating him/her. If anything, the teacher should have patience.
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