Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Case Study: The teacher treats me differently As a 7th grade middle school teacher, Ms. Huff has clearly set boundaries with her students and is often viewed as strict but fair. One afternoon, a student she had the prior year approaches her and tells her she is unhappy in the eighth grade, especially in her language arts class, which the student had excelled in the prior year. "The teacher treats me differently than she does the rest of the students." When asked to expand on the comment, the student responded that she was the only African American student in the class, and she didn't feel like she was being called on with the same frequency as her classmates. She further commented that her submission of the lyrics of one of her songs as an independent poetry assignment had been graded harshly because of the "slang" that had been included in the verses. Ms. Huff knows the teacher in question, but is unsure if she should speak to her or exactly what she should say to the student. She is keenly aware of her own bias and is working on recognizing it in her interactions with her students and her colleagues. She mentions the interaction to the teacher in question who responds that the student "always wants to play the race card" and that the teacher is "tired of having to kowtow to African American students who don't do as well as the white kids." Ms. Huff is quite taken aback at the blatant racism, but is unsure what she should do next. What is her responsibility to the student and to her colleague? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) Wow, that's a really tough situation to be put in, but in my opinion, since the student came to you with a problem, you now have to deal with it. I would love to know more. How long has Ms. Huff worked with this colleague? How long has she been teaching? Has she taught African American students before? Since your first conversation with the teacher in question did not go well, perhaps you can approach her again and explain that you have to go back to the student with some kind of response so maybe you can observe a class to be able to form your own opinion. You might also suggest a sit-down between the 3 of you to air out the grievances (or just the two of them and see how that goes). Otherwise, as uncomfortable as it might be, I think you have to take it to a superior. The student can not be made to feel like an outcast.                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) No The suggested solution is relevant to the case No The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement No The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue No The suggested solution is original No Comments: . Rated On: October 5, 2020 4:17 pm Rated By: uWaMyB                 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 love the idea of observing a class yourself to form your own opinion. This makes fairness a priority. Rated On: October 6, 2020 2:18 pm Rated By: yHuvaz                 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 assessment, especially since the teacher herself heard the teacher being racist. This definitely needs to be taken to an administrator. Rated On: October 18, 2020 10:41 pm Rated By: beVuLu                 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: Taking it to a superior would be the best option. They have more control over the situation and the teacher does not have to confront one of her coworkers which may cause problems in the future. Rated On: March 8, 2021 2:42 am Rated By: yDyVuB