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!) I feel like the fact that she was moved by the poem is a good thing. It shows her openness to others and their experiences which is very useful in a place where she is a minority. As for her legitimacy, this should not affect her at all. Her teaching abilities are a part of her, regardless of her environment. However, management and relationships are two aspects for her to take into consideration. My suggestion would be to make sure that she focuses on students as individuals and not based on groups or race. Also, incorporating events that would mean more to their race would be a good way to show her respect and ability to cooperate with these students.