Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         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 the poem will affect Gina's legitimacy as a white teacher. I think Gina should use the experience to talk to students about how she felt after hearing the poem. She could tell the students she is going to share with them how she felt after hearing it, but wondered if they had other feelings. I would stress to the students, that I want to hear their honest opinions and feelings. It is important for students to understand that people may have other opinions than you and it is okay. I think too many children aren't taught to have their own opinions and thoughts. They form opinions based on what their peers and parents think. It would be a good teaching opportunity to show them how to understand everyone's opinions, and listen to everyone's feelings. I think I would make sure I pointed out to my students that I might not agree with their opinion, because I have my own, but that doesn't mean their opinions are wrong.