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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!)
This is a very interesting situation as the student teacher is faced with an issue of culture shock. It is obvious that she is not used to the idea of teaching in a predominately black inner-city school. I would advise her to read up on some literature that tells about how to relate with the students. Being able to form relationships with people is usually the first step to solving any problem in education. Tell her to research the latest pop songs and interests of this group. Finding personal hobbies and things in common will help also.