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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!)
I am thankful to Gina. She is serving a large need by teaching in an inner-city school. I am also pleased that she approached her job with optimism and purpose. Off topic, I'm curious about the intent of the school assembly. Was the poetry reading the main focus or a supplementary event. Regardless, I think Gina should be mindful of the experience, but not let fear or anxiety take root in her heart. You mention her acceptance of the historical truth of the message, which is vital. It sounds like Gina as already done some self-reflection on her connection to the poem and beliefs about its content, which is excellent. Her next step will be to open up the floor for students to reflect on the poem themselves. This will give Gina a glimpse into how the poem effected each student individually, as well as an idea of how it may have an effect educationally. At the end of the day though, Gina is a teacher in a school, not a white teacher in a Black school. Her legitimacy as a teacher should not (and hopefully will not) be based on her color, but rather her talents, skills, and educational knowledge. I would encourage Gina to continue to be sensitive to student opinion and knowledgeable of racial contexts, but to remember that the administration chose her, among all other candidates, to be the one to teach her students. |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: I think you gave some great advice for Gina to "be mindful but don't let fear take root in her heart". Great words. |
| Rated On: October 16, 2014 7:00 pm |
| Rated By: Angela Avery |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: Good |
| Rated On: October 3, 2017 6:10 pm |
| Rated By: NuXepy |
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