Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: I Wish I Were Black! As a teacher of 5th grade students, I try to make sure that my students have a good sense of all the people and cultures that make up this country. Last couple weeks, I paid special attention to the African American people who have made significant contributions to the US. We read a book written by Walter Dean Myers. We have studied scientists, writers, and political figures. Students were very engaged and interested in the content. Yesterday something happened that puzzled me. Three of my White students told me that they wished they were Black. This was not my intention when I planned all my lessons on contributions of African Americans. How should I address this issue? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) I would suggest that the teacher sit down with the student and figure out exactly why they feel that way. Is it because of the success of the African Americans that we discussed or is it a character issue. If it is a character issue, I would have the students write down a list of what makes them who they are and how great each aspect of who they are is. If it is because of the success of the African American culture that was discussed, I would then go on to teach not just this student but all of the students about the success of many different cultures. I would make sure that I included this student's culture as well so that they can see there are people in their own culture that have been successful and made contributions to society.