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!) Gina should be aware that the poem may have an effect on her legitimacy as a teacher in the eyes of some of her students. The poem could have elicited feelings of anger and resentment toward White people. If Gina feels that her students are treating her different or have lost respect for her, she should then devise a way to handle the situation. The students may not even be aware that their attitude toward her changed after hearing the emotionally charged poem. If it is only a few students she can speak with them individually if she sees fit. Perhaps Gina can plan a lesson that exhibits positive historical moments and figures where African Americans and Whites have come together in peace and collaboration. It isn't possible to change history but Gina can try to positively change their perspectives on Whites in the 21s century.