Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: I Wish I Were Black! As a teacher of 5th grade students, I try to make sure that my students have a good sense of all the people and cultures that make up this country. Last couple weeks, I paid special attention to the African American people who have made significant contributions to the US. We read a book written by Walter Dean Myers. We have studied scientists, writers, and political figures. Students were very engaged and interested in the content. Yesterday something happened that puzzled me. Three of my White students told me that they wished they were Black. This was not my intention when I planned all my lessons on contributions of African Americans. How should I address this issue? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) The first thing that needs to be done is ask why the students feel this way. Then I would suggest that the teacher back tracks a little bit and reiterates the purpose of the lesson. The purpose being to simply highlight one of the cultures that have made significant contributions in the US. I would then go on to explain that there are many contributions made by people from all cultures and follow up with a lesson on one of them. In the future, I do not believe that history should be taught by focusing on one culture or seeing it from one perspective. It needs to be all encompassing so that all cultures are seen as important and ones that have experienced hardships and triumphs.