EDUC 2120-Lesson 1:

 

 

Overview Viewpoint:

Lesson one of EDUC 2120 focuses on judgments that children and adults may face. These judgements include gender, disability, nationality, and other personal characteristics. For this lesson we had to read a handout that tests yourself on hidden biases. Then we had to watch a video that teaches you ways to combat racism in classrooms. The video gave many helpful tips.

 

• Question #1

How comfortable do you feel with handling issues of race and culture in the classroom? How can you ensure that you are not discriminating against students of a different color or culture in your classroom? 

            I feel very comfortable. Race and culture issues is something that is always going to happen. I personally grew up living in many different places from cities to country. I grew up with friends from different races then mine. I also personally know how it feels to be discriminated against so I wouldn’t want to do it towards anyone else or another child. As for culture I love embracing new things so that wouldn’t be a problem.

 

• Question #2

How would you use the ethnicity and race of your students to teach a lesson in the subject you are planning to teach?

            Schools and teachers can help by setting up more programs for youth to help them know that life of crime and drugs is not a path they have to go down. Today, they have programs like D.A.R.E that creates awareness about drug and alcohol which makes youth make promises to not be under the influence. Schools should work more with parents who they know their child are in jeopardy of going down the wrong paths and also make that a priority. Schools and teachers should give them good examples of what school can do for them and how it is better than selling drugs or even selling their own bodies for money. They can help the older children get jobs or have them work at after school programs to keep them from getting out of trouble. 

 

• Question #3

How does one become prejudice? Explain.

            I feel like one becomes prejudice by their upbringing. Children learn plenty of things from their parents some are good or bad. Another way a person might become prejudice is a personal experience they might have had. Like for example if a girl goes on a date and realized guys with beards aren't her type she now becomes prejudice against guys with beards and doesn’t give them a chance. Another way someone can learn to be prejudice against someone or something is from their friends. I think peer pressure can make someone not like something either because a lot of times people or children listen to their friends and start to not like something because of them.

 

• Question #4

Who is at fault or responsible for discrimination? Explain

            I feel like the things that happened over 50 and 100 years ago is responsible. I feel like the generations carry it. But as we move forward in time there is less race discrimination. Parents also become responsible for if their child discriminates or not. I also feel like media plays a part also. Sometimes the media makes an image look really cool and more people start to think that how its suppose to be. For example modeling. For years many thought you could only be a model if you were a size 2. It has always been like that for years, but now in there is more plus size and average models. I think its people who are still stuck in the past instead of moving forward is responsible for discrimination. 

 

• Question #5

Describe what you, as a teacher, can do to help reduce of eliminate these barriers?

            As a teacher I can help reduce the barriers by just being there as much I can for the student. As a teacher we are supposed to care about the education of our students and make sure that they take the right paths. A lot of times when a student is labeled at risk most teachers would give up on them but they shouldn’t. Most “at risk” students just want someone to know that they can do it. I would have to make sure that the child believes in themselves that they can do it. Me as a teacher i would also try to challenge my students because they need to know that to achieve something its not going to come easy. I would work with other teachers and check in to see how the the students i have are doing just to make sure that they are doing good and other subjects too becasue you need to be doing good in all subjects to graduate. 

• Question #6

Can you cite some personal examples of prejudice and discrimination? This example could be personal or something that you witnessed.

When I was younger I used to stay in a very small and country town with my grandparents while my mom was in basic training. The school I attended I was the only black or African American student that the school. There has been plenty of times where I would walk to the bus stop ( running a bit late) my bus driver would stop, then look at me, then drive off. But she always waited for the white children and even would talk to them and smile... but I never got a smile. I felt like she didn’t like me because I was black. The teachers and some of the older kids always looked at me funny, I could only think that maybe they just weren't used to a black girl at their school. 

• Question #7

You may have heard this phrase - "Nothing like leather". Where did this originate and what does it mean? 

I personally have never heard the phrase "nothing like leather" but from my assumption I would assume that it means that leather things is better. Which means nothing goes as smooth as leather or nothing is as rich as leather. That is my personal opinion. 
Provide some general comments on the video associated with this lesson. 
I personal like the video it gave a lot of information. The video gives nice ways on how to approach a child or person who is being racist. I taught me how to teach a child on why its not good to be racist. It also gave me some good ideas on some lessons on how I could teach them about each others race and culture. And I like how the video is very honest. 

• Summary

                This lesson focuses on the issues that kind of start racism and discrimination. The video that was watched also creates and insight on how its important to let a person and child know about the wrongs of discrimination. This lesson has opened my mind a lot more on how people discriminate in many different ways. I liked the video because it was very honest.

 

• Research Question

How has discrimination changed within the last 60 years?

 

• Research Analysis 

 

                Thoughout the years discrimination hasnt been as bad compared to how it was 60 years ago. There is more discrimination and many different ways then just race. 60 Years ago it was hard for blacks to have opportunties like whites. A lot of times they couldnt live in certain places or they couldnt even work in certain places. Many races werent treated the same and discriminated against by the white people. It was hard for blacks to do things with whites because they were being discriminated against. You wouldnt really see any black models and people wouldnt even think about using black models because of their "image". 60 years ago you wouldnt see many diverse groupes either. Another thing that was highly discrimated was gay people and gay rights. 60 years mixed race marriages was also highly discrimated against and was looked at as a trashy thing.

 

60 years later blacks are able to do just as much as whites. Sometimes here and there one might be discrimination but its not as bad as 60 years ago. Times have really progressed. You see more diverse groups and people have accepted a lot more things. There are also more gay or lesiban people coming out and more people accepting it (of course its still a large debate) but throught the years more people have came out openly without the fear of being discrimated against. Another thing that has changed is the race of models, agencys use more models from different cultures and different ethnicity now. More people have also accepted mix race marriages.

 

• Research Summary

As I look at the progress the world has made it gives you hope that it is possible to end racism. Discrimination has progressed also. But its something that will still be a ongoing thing. But with progress it shows just how much times have changed. I can basically talk and be friends with anyone no matter race, culture, or sexual background. We are all human and sometimes we cant help what goes on in our life so i want to treat everyone equeally. We are all different and believe different things and that doesnt mean that we cant get along. Im for progess for when it comes to the country and recently in news there have been hate crimes, i fell like we shouldnt be moving backwards but forwards. I want to be an example that we can and will continue to move forward from discrimination and racism.

 

http://www.feministezine.com/feminist/modern/Our-Image-In-Todays-Society.html