TeacherServer.com
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 ask students why they felt this way and discuss their feelings with them. It is important to hear students and meet them where they are. I would also discuss why I had chosen to highlight African Americans during the course of these two weeks. I would try to incorporate units that celebrate people from diverse cultures. Unless this were Black History Month, I would tend to pick a topic and make sure that those I represent based on the topic represent people of all backgrounds, including race and gender. Or this could be used as a way to continue with several units also celebrating contributions of women, Latinos, Asian Americans, whites, etc., so that students have a balanced, well-rounded perspective.
 
     
     
  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 really like how you mentioned incorporating other contributions as well. With that said, what if this is an opportunity to embrace the situation and take it as positive feedback that the unit worked in that students may understand more about African Americans than before. Just something to think about… great post!
Rated On: June 1, 2014 2:04 am
Rated By: Haley Moore
 
     
     
  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: If I were in this situation, I would exactly do this.
Rated On: October 17, 2014 5:44 pm
Rated By: Doniesha
 
     
     
  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: October 19, 2014 1:16 am
Rated By: uZyvaP
 
     
     
  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 that students should have a well-rounded perspective. Teachers should focus on the qualities that make these people important. For example, a unit on great inventions that highlights inventors with different gender, race and ethnicity.
Rated On: March 1, 2015 5:10 am
Rated By: vuDybe
 
     
     
  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 post!!!
Rated On: July 10, 2015 2:47 am
Rated By: RaMevy
 
     
     
  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: It is always good to show students or let them discover that not one race or gender group contributes to this society. Many people from different backgrounds have given something to our country to better ourselves or the people around us. As teachers we should strive to show contributions of other cultures into every aspect of teaching.
Rated On: September 12, 2015 10:52 pm
Rated By: Jasmine Bringuel
 
     
     
  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 great solution.
Rated On: October 16, 2015 6:17 pm
Rated By: uqeMeg
 
     
     
  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 8:32 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: Having students expressing themselves is a great way to have them understand what they say and a way to ponder their thoughts into the right direction.
Rated On: February 25, 2017 11:45 pm
Rated By: uWuXyj
 
     
     
  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 think this is a great solution! I think it is important that all students feel comfortable
Rated On: March 3, 2017 7:53 pm
Rated By: eqeJaQ
 
     
     
  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 you and think this solution is very useful!
Rated On: October 15, 2017 3:51 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: this is a helpful solution
Rated On: February 25, 2018 11:13 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: Love this post! I would do exactly this.
Rated On: October 10, 2018 11:06 pm
Rated By: sadaze
 
     
     
  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 and would do this if I were in this situation!
Rated On: October 11, 2018 1:02 am
Rated By: ugyqyd
 
     
     
  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.
Rated On: October 13, 2018 3:10 am
Rated By: yreQan
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) No
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 No
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: Having a well rounded perspective of all races and nationalities is very important, but whether it is Black History Month or not there is no right or wrong time to discuss the accomplishments of anyone of any race. Basically what your implying is that African American achievements should only be discussed a certain time of the year, which is absolutely absurd.
Rated On: February 19, 2019 5:41 pm
Rated By: Keith Evans
 
     
     
  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: agreed.
Rated On: November 13, 2022 8:45 pm
Rated By: buTuDe