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  Case: Angry Parents
When I hired Ashley last year as the 5th grade teacher at my school, I had great expectations. She was a recent graduate of a good teacher education program. When we met for the job interview, she talked to me about her passion for teaching for social justice. She was a very promising young black teacher. This year she and the other 5th grade teachers (three experienced White teachers) planned an activity to use in a lesson on inequalities in society. As part of this activity, they decided to separate their black and white students into two different groups. Black students were given privileges. They could play games, watch videos, have a longer recess while the White students were told to put their heads down and sit quietly at their desks. The purpose of the activity was to show the students how inequalities in society can lead to hostile feelings in people toward each other. The teachers discussed this activity at the end of the school day and thought that it was successful in each 5th grade classroom. The very next day I received phone calls from a lot of parents asking to meet with me because they were angry about this activity. All the parents who called were White. I set up a time to meet with the parents but I realized something interesting when I looked at the list of the parents. The ones who called and wanted meet with me were parents of Ashley's students. Some of them implied on the phone that they wanted her fired. However, the other 5th grade teachers who had done the same activity in their classrooms did not get a single complaint. I have to think about a way to respond these parents and explain to them that their reactions may be biased. I do not know how to go about this without making them more upset.
Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!)
I would explain to the parents that all the 5th grade teachers did the same lesson so that they understood that this was not an instance of a black teacher pick on white students. I would apologize if it appeared that way and be sure to adjust the activity for the next school term. I had a teacher that would do the same type of activity every year. He however chose students based on how he thought they would react for dramatic purposes. He used stickers and some of us were pink and some green. Those of us who teach at the same school with him still discuss the activity and it usefulness.
 
     
     
  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: explaining the situation is a good idea indeed.
Rated On: March 2, 2017 11:33 pm
Rated By: Travis Cannon
 
     
     
  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 12:02 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: I agree and find you solution very useful!
Rated On: October 15, 2017 4:06 am
Rated By: ByGeDa
 
     
     
  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 as a good solution to speak to the parents. I also like the order in which this activity was chosen, so that student's weren't chosen by race but of attitude or even better randomly.
Rated On: October 15, 2017 2:18 pm
Rated By: qedeDe
 
     
     
  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 saying how all the classes did this lesson and apologizing is the best move.
Rated On: February 21, 2020 6:36 pm
Rated By: vaMuvy