I work at a Christian Daycare, and have been employed
there for over the last five years. I am an African American and most of the
employees are of the same race, but the administrators are Caucasian and church
members. The administrator places all the children with behavior problems in my
classroom and then explains to me that she would get fewer complaints if they
are with me. She said the other teacher appearance alone might get her complained
on. The other teacher is darker skinned, and has other challenges based on her appearance.
I felt like it was unfair because it is a lot for me, and if she felt so strongly
against the other teacher she should pull her aside and discuss it with her.
Over this week’s reading I have realized
that there are a lot of hidden messages that could be misinterrpertated very
easily. In the example above the director shouldn’t have discussed her feelings
about the other teacher to me, not everyone has the same views when it comes to
their appearance. An example of a stereotype that I have experienced is that
all light skin individuals are stuck up. I have had people walk away from me, because
they didn’t know how I was going to respond. We as individuals need to stop
judging people and take the time to get to know them.
Through all the observation experiences
this week many parents look at daycare as just a daycare and not as a learning entity.
Quality education is what we need to expand the minds of the new generation. The
way all the children with behavior issues were assigned to my class was unfair
and should be divided into all the classes.
Wow, I do not understand what your race and placing children with bad behavior would serve for the Center. All the trouble students should not be placed with you because of your race.
ReplyDeleteHaving all of the difficult students can be very stressful. My old co-teacher almost always got the children with behavior problems, which meant I got them in my room too. We always complained to each other how it wasn't fair, but she did a wonderful job with them. Looking back on it, she was one of only two African-American teachers we have at our center and I do not think they gave her these children based on this fact, but it does make me wonder now. I feel like this week has opened my eyes to so many things I never noticed before and I scruntinize things more than I used to.
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