Brian Cohen
  • Making the Grade Blog
  • About Me
  • Tutoring
  • Press
  • Resources to Share

How do we deal with racism in schools?

12/12/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
One of the large upsides of my new school in Brooklyn is that we take time out of our afternoon schedules to form Inquiry Groups that focus on particular topics for set periods of time. The first was by department and focused on what aspects of math instruction we wanted to change and how to do so - it was innovative and exciting to talk with my peers about this topic and we've tried to incorporate more struggling and demanding problems in our classrooms. 

The second round began two weeks ago and has since extended into a discussion about racism and our classrooms. As many can see across the country, even corporations are dealing with similar issues (sexism for example), teaching us that even though some think of these things as old-world problems, they are very much in our purview.

Picture
We began our inquiry by discussing two articles assigned with regards to race: a chapter from Dr. Beverly Tatum's Why are all the Black kids sitting together in the cafeteria? wherein racism is defined and classified; and a piece on "racial microaggressions" from a May-June 2007 issue of American Psychologist. Each piece brought out more dialog concerning racial tensions - how White men and women might perceive racism to have ended with the Civil Rights movement due to their lack of interaction with it yet Black men and women recognize how it limits their lives. Faculty and staff alike shared moments from their lives, how they teach their children about the outside world as Black, Asian, Latino, and White parents. It has started off well.

One point I brought up was the idea of experience and exposure helping to alleviate some of the issues created by racism. When students react to racial epithets and situations by saying, "It's not that serious" it raises a cause for concern in me. I only wish my students would be able to visit Ghana, Thailand, Morocco, Guatemala, and more so that they can see what it means to be different and how deep down we are all trying to just get by in life. I am very glad for the existence of programs like Global Glimpse, EF Tours, and more that try to help bring students into the world. I urge you to do so with your children as I plan to with mine. 

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I am a math teacher in the New York Department of Education. I infuse technology and real-world problems into my curriculum in order to prepare my students for the future. I would love for people across the country to recognize we teachers can't do it alone. If you don't believe me, come visit my classroom!

    Picture

    Contact Me

    Picture

    Email Updates

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Archives

    March 2022
    September 2021
    August 2021
    September 2020
    August 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.