Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         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!) Sometimes I remind myself that one of the best parts of teaching math is the lack of controversy. However, society is not colorblind and sometimes the classroom can get awkward or uncomfortable to some of its inhabitants. I understand that Gina is feeling conflicted, but she needs some perspective. First of all, Gina needs to know that our experiences at school go deeper than a set of standards. One of my most profound personal educational experiences was listening to a motivational speaker at an assembly in high school. She was a local news anchor who was not teaching anything in the standards, however, I remember what she said and was motivated by it. I have no idea what we covered in math or chemistry that week, but the value of that assembly was significant. If the students were exposed to a poem that made them think, motivated them, made them feel good, or made them enter into a good discussion then the poem was a success. The students' relationship with a teacher is more than just a snapshot of one event. Teachers earn trust and respect every day. Students notice when a teacher is enthusiastic and has passion for teaching students. Students will know when a teacher has genuine respect for them and want the best educational experience. Gina needs to not focus on one event. If Gina is worrying about her legitimacy, she needs to think about her body of work. Her dedication to students and creation of an effective learning environment matter the most.