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  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 don't think your sister should worry about her legitimacy as a white teacher. If she was moved by the poem and appreciated it, it must have been significant to her. She could take this opportunity to discuss white privilege with her students. She could discuss the dominant culture and what could be done to change the oppression of dominated cultures in America. I think these poems do have educational value and they present an opportunity to learn.
 
     
     
  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 you are right,if she was moved and wants to share the poem, chances are the students will be moved, too.
Rated On: October 16, 2014 7:03 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: This was an effective answer.
Rated On: October 19, 2015 1:44 am
Rated By: aqaWuR
 
     
     
  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 would never do this! This is wrong.
Rated On: March 4, 2017 11:20 pm
Rated By: GyNyzu
 
     
     
  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: While I do agree, Maybe there should be more discussed than jsut white and black lives in this learning situation. I would use parts of this poem, but maybe not all of it, or change up the activity from time to time with different cultures.
Rated On: October 25, 2021 9:53 pm
Rated By: Colleen Buckwalter