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  Case: My Cooperating Teacher is Racist
I am a student teacher who cannot wait to have her own classroom in near future. I hope to be the best elementary teacher I can. Recently, I went to have my introductory meeting with my cooperating teacher for the student teaching experience. She is a fifth grade teacher. The meeting took place in the teachers' lounge where other teachers in the school were able to hear everything said. At one point in the discussion my cooperating teacher, who is regarded as one of the district's finest, told me that I will have to be especially careful to recognize that there are "white-blacks" and "black-blacks." The white-blacks are easy to deal with because they come from "good" homes and have "good" values. But the black-blacks are less capable academically and have behavior problems. As I listened I was shocked by what she was saying, but I was even more shocked that none of the teachers in the lounge appeared to find what's being said unusual . I have to complete my student teaching successfully to reach my future dreams, but I do not want to give in to my cooperating teacher's ideas. I do not know what to do.
Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!)
First of all, I would be in shock if this happened to me. You have to approach every situation with sensitivity because you are a student teacher. I would first schedule a meeting with my university supervisor. This school is hosting you as a guest. Because this is the case, unfortunately, you cannot control this teacher's actions. However, you do not have to give in to these ideas. Your clinical supervisor will most likely be just as appalled as you are. It is my understanding that in situations like these (at least at Georgia Southern), the university supervisor would most likely remove you from this placement. I know this doesn't fix the behavior, but in your position, all you can do is make the person responsible for you aware of what is going on.
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: I do agree with the solution. I would not want it to appear that I was "giving up" but since the other teachers (by their silence) agree with the one's teachers derogatory comments, as an intern, I must follow the cooperating teachers lead and I cannot in good conscience do so.
Rated On: October 17, 2014 12:12 am
Rated By: Denise Lukacik
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: .
Rated On: November 3, 2015 8:41 pm
Rated By: yDyjuB
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: Letting your supervisor know the situation key, but I do not think I agree with being removed from the school. Maybe just from that teacher.
Rated On: October 17, 2016 2:28 am
Rated By: Raven B
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: Good Solution!
Rated On: March 7, 2017 12:11 am
Rated By: Vuqaqa
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: Great response. Being removed from the placement might show the teacher where she was wrong. Either way it would be best to go to the university supervisor first and describe the situation.
Rated On: October 16, 2017 1:27 am
Rated By: eHuPas
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: Since the person is a student teacher, I agree that the first step is to contact your university supervisor. If this was a colleague, I would handle it differently, and in the moment I would let this teacher know she has offended me and I would hope we could discuss why. However, being a student teacher, I think you would first want to talk to your supervisor to find out how to proceed. You could also be upfront with the teacher about this being offensive and then talk to your supervisor. I just think it's important to talk to your supervisor as soon as you can and before too much interaction has occurred between you and this teacher, because that could end up being damaging to your university's relationship to the school.
Rated On: February 25, 2018 8:05 pm
Rated By: eguPud
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: this is a good solution
Rated On: February 25, 2018 11:16 pm
Rated By: uXysej
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: I agree with this solution because even though a teacher- student seems to be powerless in this situation, he/she can have a voice through the university he/she is enrolled at.
Rated On: October 11, 2018 12:42 am
Rated By: WyVeTu
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: i agree
Rated On: October 27, 2018 2:35 pm
Rated By: Carla Crumb
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: I agree.
Rated On: October 14, 2019 12:14 am
Rated By: GeQapy
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: sounds like a good solution
Rated On: October 21, 2019 3:02 am
Rated By: ZySaje
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: This is a good way to remove yourself from the situation. Further action can be taken later.
Rated On: November 11, 2022 9:33 pm
Rated By: nemuLy