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  Case: Why No White History Month?
It is the month of February again, and I am very excited about the Black History month. As a young African American elementary school teacher, I make sure that I fully take advantage of the Black History month in my lessons with my 5th graders. Yesterday, we were talking about important African American political figures, who made life better for all Americans. During this lesson, one of my students raised her hand and asked why there was no "White History month?" "Were White Americans not as important?" I did not have a good answer to her question. I must be doing something wrong to have a student feel this way. How would you answer this question? Do you think it is problematic to integrate African Americans to all my lessons during February? How can I fix this?
Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!)
My opening statement to my class: ("Our intentions as teachers is not to overlook any historical contributions made by our fellow Americans, whether black, white, Hispanics and etc. However, there were many Americans who made significant contributions that were not mentioned in the early history books.") We must remember that the majority of our history books mostly speak of white America. I am a baby boomer and all I studied about was how blacks were shipped to America as slaves and how they worked for no pay and saved America an immense amount of money. Also mentioned was how blacks were lynched and were not allowed equality. It appeared that Black America didn't do anything constructive, productive nor had any sense of accomplishment that helped build America. "We were deemed somewhat as an insignificant or Non-entity group of people. (I do not think that you said anything wrong but we must speak with clarity when speaking to our younger students. This sensitive issue takes special skills and preparation prior to presenting to the students.)
 
     
     
  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 18, 2013 4:29 pm
Rated By: Arria Simpson
 
     
     
  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: March 3, 2013 8:10 pm
Rated By: yTuGyd
 
     
     
  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: April 18, 2013 7:34 pm
Rated By: Elizabeth Powers
 
     
     
  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: Great opening statement. It is honest and gives clear purpose.
Rated On: October 17, 2014 6:52 pm
Rated By: uJasuX
 
     
     
  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: If I were in this situation I would do just this.
Rated On: October 20, 2014 2:30 am
Rated By: Jocelyn Mitchell
 
     
     
  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 agree that it's important to point out how our text books and even curriculum do not represent all races equally.
Rated On: February 26, 2015 3:24 am
Rated By: BeMyDu
 
     
     
  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: Very well said
Rated On: October 15, 2015 4:46 pm
Rated By: baQumy
 
     
     
  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: Great opening statement! I would love to use this in my classroom. It is important to plan ahead as to what exactly should be said and the best way to approach the topic.
Rated On: October 16, 2017 1:02 am
Rated By: eHuPas
 
     
     
  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: Very nicely said, I would also try to incorporate all the opportunity presents
Rated On: February 22, 2018 10:54 pm
Rated By: aJysah
 
     
     
  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: This was such a great post and a very good way to address the topic!
Rated On: February 20, 2019 7:21 pm
Rated By: buQyme
 
     
     
  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: An inappropriate response to a tricky situation, i’ll definitely keep this in mind as a reference for the future.
Rated On: October 19, 2019 2:51 am
Rated By: maVeqy