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Case: White Intern in a Black inner-city school My sister, Gina, who is a young White girl, started her student teaching in a predominantly Black school in inner-city America. She initially approached her job with optimism and purpose. However, she began to experience her first doubts with the presentation of an emotionally charged poetry reading at an all-school assembly. The poem painted a picture of the oppression of the African Americans by the European American majority. My sister was moved by the poem and accepted the historical truth of its message. At the same, she said she wondered what educational effects of the poem were and whether it would affect her legitimacy as a White teacher in a Black school. She talked to me about her experience. I am an experienced teacher, but I could not answer whether poems like that have any educational value, and whether or not my sister should worry about her legitimacy as a White teacher. I don't what she should do in this specific situation. Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) Whether the poem has any educational value or not, I believe it is wonderful for students to have an outlet for things. If the poem was not educational but provided a way for the student to express feelings then I believe its a wonderful thing. As for worrying about her legitimacy as a teacher, this also should not be a problem. She cannot help how the students react to the poem and may react to her. All she can do is to be herself and do the best she can to help the kids be successful. This is quite personal for me. During my first job I, was one of the only white people there (between staff and students)and I knew this before accepting the job. It did not concern me personally but I was worried how the students would accept me as being a white male in an authoritative role. I entered the job as myself and I never once felt I was a victim of discrimination by the students. If they got upset they'd say things about me being white while cursing me out but it never was a legitimate issue. |
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