Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Angry Parents When I hired Ashley last year as the 5th grade teacher at my school, I had great expectations. She was a recent graduate of a good teacher education program. When we met for the job interview, she talked to me about her passion for teaching for social justice. She was a very promising young black teacher. This year she and the other 5th grade teachers (three experienced White teachers) planned an activity to use in a lesson on inequalities in society. As part of this activity, they decided to separate their black and white students into two different groups. Black students were given privileges. They could play games, watch videos, have a longer recess while the White students were told to put their heads down and sit quietly at their desks. The purpose of the activity was to show the students how inequalities in society can lead to hostile feelings in people toward each other. The teachers discussed this activity at the end of the school day and thought that it was successful in each 5th grade classroom. The very next day I received phone calls from a lot of parents asking to meet with me because they were angry about this activity. All the parents who called were White. I set up a time to meet with the parents but I realized something interesting when I looked at the list of the parents. The ones who called and wanted meet with me were parents of Ashley's students. Some of them implied on the phone that they wanted her fired. However, the other 5th grade teachers who had done the same activity in their classrooms did not get a single complaint. I have to think about a way to respond these parents and explain to them that their reactions may be biased. I do not know how to go about this without making them more upset. Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) I would call a meeting for the parents to come. At the meeting I would apologize for any inconvenience that the 5th grade teachers had brought on them for planning this activity. Then I would explain to the parents that all of 5th grade teacher planned this activity in all of their classes and that Ms. Ashley had not done anything out of order or wrong. They would be told The activity was to show how inequalities in society could led to hostile feeling toward each and with them showing up to a meeting, like which is being held. Also that the activity did just what teachers set out to accomplish from the students. I would ask them to explain why Ms. Ashley, whom a great teacher, is so bad and why should she be fired. When she was only doing her job and teaching her lesson.                 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 with your solution because it not only addresses the issue the teachers set out to in the first place, it shows a biased reaction from the white parents of a child who's teacher is black. Bringing all the parents together and even having all the teachers discuss why they did the activity will prove just how biased people can become. The parents are a perfect example of what the teachers are trying to prevent. Rated On: February 25, 2015 8:59 pm Rated By: Meredith Bentley                 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: Good Solution! Rated On: March 7, 2017 12:02 am Rated By: Vuqaqa                 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 is a good solution to handling the parents. Having a sit down with them and getting a chance to hear them explain and also the teacher getting a chance to explain. I would call a the parents to a meeting as well. Rated On: October 15, 2017 9:31 pm 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: This is a reasonable response though, the activity itself can be improved on. Rated On: October 17, 2019 3:44 pm Rated By: maVeqy