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  Case: My Cooperating Teacher is Racist
I am a student teacher who cannot wait to have her own classroom in near future. I hope to be the best elementary teacher I can. Recently, I went to have my introductory meeting with my cooperating teacher for the student teaching experience. She is a fifth grade teacher. The meeting took place in the teachers' lounge where other teachers in the school were able to hear everything said. At one point in the discussion my cooperating teacher, who is regarded as one of the district's finest, told me that I will have to be especially careful to recognize that there are "white-blacks" and "black-blacks." The white-blacks are easy to deal with because they come from "good" homes and have "good" values. But the black-blacks are less capable academically and have behavior problems. As I listened I was shocked by what she was saying, but I was even more shocked that none of the teachers in the lounge appeared to find what's being said unusual . I have to complete my student teaching successfully to reach my future dreams, but I do not want to give in to my cooperating teacher's ideas. I do not know what to do.
Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!)
I believe that it would be difficult to work with the teacher's in this system. My solution to help the "black-blacks" academically, would be to show as much support as possible. I would try to help the students with it problems they are facing. I would also observe those students who have behavioral problems and try to understand why they are having these problems. I would talk to the class as a whole and establish a safe environment.

Once I established a safe environment for the students, I would try to talk to the teachers about some of the things that I am implementing within my classroom to help with academics and behavioral problems. I would also asked the teachers if they were choosing any particular students as their favorites, instead treating the class as equal.
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) No
The suggested solution is relevant to the case No
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement No
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue No
The suggested solution is original No
Comments: I understand that you are trying to treat the class as equal. But going in with the idea that there are "blacks-blacks" in your classroom, you're saying that those students are the only ones who need help academiccaly. That's not being respectful of the students at all. What if the students who are struggling academically are of a different race?
Rated On: October 13, 2014 11:07 pm
Rated By: ySaryN
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) No
The suggested solution is relevant to the case No
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement No
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue No
The suggested solution is original No
Comments: I do not think that this targets the teachers words or ideas which are the real problem, the students have done nothing wrong and disciplining them should be completely separate from race.
Rated On: October 19, 2014 7:03 pm
Rated By: adenar
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: .
Rated On: November 3, 2015 8:42 pm
Rated By: yDyjuB
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) No
The suggested solution is relevant to the case No
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement No
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue No
The suggested solution is original No
Comments: Wow this person reiterated black-black.
Rated On: October 16, 2016 4:31 pm
Rated By: etyWys
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) No
The suggested solution is relevant to the case No
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement No
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue No
The suggested solution is original No
Comments: Not good.
Rated On: March 7, 2017 12:14 am
Rated By: Vuqaqa
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) No
The suggested solution is relevant to the case No
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement No
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue No
The suggested solution is original No
Comments: This solution does not seem to actually help out the issue at hand and is very involving. Inefficient.
Rated On: October 31, 2021 7:51 am
Rated By: aPeQyG