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Case: Desire to Build Self-Esteem
Chill rookie was what I was told recently. To finish my degree in secondary education, I was assigned to an inner city school for my internship. I collected some information about the school, and found most of the students are African American and Hispanic and come from low SES backgrounds. When I went to meet with my supervising teacher, I asked questions to find out more about the student population. A lot of them come from environments where they have to deal with high crime rate. The drop-out rate is at unacceptable levels. I believe that a teacher should always work to build self-esteem in his/her students. Higher self-esteem will bring higher success. As a young African American female student teacher, I thought I can reach my students and build their self-esteem. I learned through my research that to build self-esteem, I needed to encourage my students to talk to me about their problems openly, hold group meetings to discuss solutions to problems, listen to and acknowledge student feelings, and be a good role model. From the very first day I started using these strategies. Students were at first reluctant to open up, but after I shared some of the problems I faced in my life and how I used those issues to build a better life for myself they were more willing. Students started sharing some serious issues such as losing a sibling to gang violence, having to face drug dealers every day, experiencing sexual abuse, and being subject to racism and discrimination on a daily basis. I was glad that students opened up to me, but my supervising teacher was not happy at all with these practices. The school principal and my supervising teacher had a meeting with me to discuss my practices. They insisted that my practices would not bring any results other than students feeling sorry for themselves, and making excuses for their poor school performance. I tried to explain my reasoning to them, but ultimately they asked me to stop self-esteem practices. I do not want to stop. I will have another meeting with my supervising teacher and principal to explain why I do what I do and how my group sharing is supposed to help. What should I tell them? Do you think my practices are useful? Do you think I should stop or continue?
Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!)
I can't say that I understand your superiors but I remind you that you are an intern refusing to do what your supervisor and principle have directed you to do. Where I come from, the next discussion we have is where your are going to do your internship.
Because they are the experienced ones, I would tend to try to understand their perspective. Is it possible the students are playing your innocence for better grades with "woe is me" stories? Is it possible they (supervisor and principle) have already been down they path you wish to walk and ended up making life situations worse for some of the children involved. Is it possible that personal advice you offer these children ends up in lawsuits for the school. Like I say, I don't know but you don't have the "creds" to support your position. |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: I agree that it is important to get their perspective on the situation as well. However, I also feel that if you are seeing progress in the students through the approach you are using it is important to keep at it. High self esteem is a huge factor in academic success. |
| Rated On: February 27, 2017 2:46 pm |
| Rated By: yzujyV |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
No
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
No
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
No
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
No
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| The suggested solution is original |
No
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| Comments: This is an insulting and bleak assumption on the part of students. Many communities are systematically neglected and so beginning at school to restore confidence and hope should never be discredited as important. |
| Rated On: February 22, 2020 2:11 am |
| Rated By: Vanessa Tuliau |
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