Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Why Should I Listen? As part of my 7th grade Social Studies curriculum, I have to talk about slavery, the civil rights movement, etc. The topic ultimately leads to a discussion of how Whites oppressed Blacks. I try to present these topics in a way that does not suggest any guilt. This year, one of my students had a very bad reaction. When we were talking about the civil rights, John, one of my well-behaved but opinionated students, got up and said that he did not want to listen to this lesson anymore, because all we did was to demonize the White people. Three other students openly agreed with him saying that these topics made them angry. I have to cover these topics because they are a part of my curriculum. Also, I believe in the importance teaching children about these inequalities. However, it seems like the way I teach, which is mainly based on lectures and small group work, is making my White students uncomfortable. What should I do to make sure that my White students do not feel offended by these topics? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) I think that the student's response was an honest one and probably one that many white students have but are too uncomfortable to share for fear of sounding insensitive. I think that making an emphasis on the fact that THESE particular students were not the ones oppressing a group of people will make a big difference. I also think that as a teacher, it is your job to motivate students. Students could be motivated by this approach,: "We learn about this topic so that it will never happen again and so that you can use your generation to make sure that you value one another and treat everyone equally. At one point in time everyone has felt discriminated against and the reason we learn about this is so that we can change the future since we can't change the past." I think the students would react really well to that.                 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: February 11, 2013 12:03 am Rated By: Sara Jernigan                 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: I think your solution is a great idea, to make sure were know history so it neve3r happens again. Rated On: October 17, 2014 4:14 pm Rated By: Angela Avery                 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: I like that quote, it is inspiring and I think it would help the students to see that they were indeed not the ones at fault. Rated On: October 20, 2014 12:18 am Rated By: Adam Sanchez                 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: I appreciated this comment because it attempts to separate the individual from simply group identification. Noting that none of the white students in the class precipitated in such oppression may seem trivial, but it makes the issue not personal. I also think it would be very valuable to discuss the issue with the student in class when it presents itself. Asking why he is bothered, and if he would be bothered if it was the Japanese oppressing the Chinese to again tease out the idea that they should not take the issue as a personal affront. Rated On: March 6, 2017 5:09 pm Rated By: jyHyHy                 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: Your solution is something I would personally implement on my students. Simple yet realistic. Rated On: October 15, 2017 9:17 pm Rated By: eHuPas