Stereotyping is Stemmed from Racism

In this paper I will be reflecting on chapters nine and ten in the textbook. I will summarize the main ideas from the pages and also provide a thoughtful reflection on what I learned in class and how I can apply it to my life and learning. I will be sharing my thoughts and feelings about the topics that are covered.

Chapter 9 went into depth on cultural identity and diversity within schools and education. As a teacher, treating every student the same and showing them the same opportunities as everyone else, no matter how different they are, should be top priority in every school.

Being respectful and civil mannered to everyone’s differences in religion or culture is an characteristic every teacher needs in order for the world to be a better and safer place for all students. Students must know that their teacher respects them and takes interest in them. Effective communication with all your students is needed even if they aren’t from the idealized household. Children come from all types of families such as biracial, adoptive,gay, or immigrant families. Family involvement can be incorporated in a classroom by having a conversation with the teacher about how the child learns and what methods work .

Teachers could have students discuss differences and similarities in their families in order to expand their classmates knowledge. There are many ways to show and introduce culture in the classroom. Artwork from different cultures, celebrating and teaching about different cultural holidays, assigning projects on cultures students might not know about and inviting students to speak up about their likeness and differences in class are just some forms of teaching culture in a classroom setting. Changes in our school systems are continuously expanding in wide arrays of languages, culture, and backgrounds. It’s important for teachers to know how to meet the students needs by changing up their teaching strategies and content. The differences that the students bring into a classroom setting not only help the schools but also the communities in which we live in. Being accepted for who they are in their schools no matter their social class, sexual orientation, racial identity, or culture affects a child’s education so greatly that a demand for different curricula and minority teachers is increased.

When considering the lower achievement levels of minority students, it is important to note the higher poverty rates among minority families and the socioeconomic statuses. It is arduous for a student do well in school with an empty stomach and a crime ridden neighborhood. As I was reading in the textbook, it stated that “ a report from the National Education Policy Center suggests that paying attention only to comparisons of test scores among different racial and ethnic groups may lead to the mistaken notion that only those schools that are predominantly white, asian, or both, are considered good schools. As a student and a member of a different group in today’s world, I understand why it’s so important to have someone who looks like me or someone who is sensitive to students differences as a teacher .Numerous people that originate from a minority families, hold education to high regards and always push their children to succeed in school and in life. Immigrant parents risk their lives to come to america and try to give their children the education and life they never got to have. Every child deserves to feel like they “belong”. The classroom should always be a safe zone for children. Education is the key to ending cultural and racial ignorance. Multiculturalism and cultural diversity in a classroom setting increases a child’s knowledge and later on decrease the racial and cultural conflicts in the world due to the rising demographics.

On page 228 in the textbook, it explains that multiculturalism is used to prepare students to live in a culturally pluralistic world. Multicultural education is essential to improving academic success for students of color. A huge problem that students of a different ethnicity and culture face is stereotyping. There are different stereotypes for different students, for example, all asians are smart, all blacks are angry and violent, all mexicans are illegal, and all muslims are terrorist.

Stereotypes are formed when someone lacks experiences or information about a certain group of people and just blindly follows the crowd without questioning why these stereotypes are made and how they can be changed. People don’t seem to understand how much a stereotype can ruin the way people view an entire group of people. Stereotyping is stemmed from racism.When people act on those beliefs, it can cause violent altercations that can turn deadly.

A teachers obligation to to their students and families is to make sure that their curriculum and content is free of any stereotypes and racism. Be it race, sex, religion; any pessimistic generalization can burden an individual’s mind and negatively affect their test scores and grades . In the event that a student concentrates more on breaking generalization of an entire group and refuting cynics, less time goes towards the genuine scholarly tasks at hand.

In the textbook on page 271, self-regulation is influenced by children’s cognitive capacities and temperament, dealing with emotions and problem solving. It’s the same thing as self control. It’s knowing good time management skills or know when they need help. Goal making, problem solving, social situations, and behaviors in the classroom determine a child’s self regulation. A student with good self control knows how to behave in the classroom and how to get their stuff done while also being able to have fun in school. Emotional and social development,such as awareness, empathy and trust, are developed in school and early nurturing. The parents are the child’s gateway to learning empathy, happiness, sadness, self awareness, and interacting with others. While the child is in their early stages of life, the part of the brain that controls emotions, is being developed.

Children learn that they belong to certain groups and not to others due to similarities and differences, weather its facial features, religion, or cultural aspects. Through observing how others around them react and respond to these differences, they see what is valued and what is not. The see how people are treated because of their differences. They start to develop positive or negative feelings about the differences they see in people. These feelings form a mindset for the child, whether these differences are “good” or “bad”. These judgments then become their bias and prejudice if framed or shown in negative ways. For example, children show preferences for same-race when selecting dolls, refusing to hold different-race children’s hands, or even play with them. Kids learn what they see from their parent or caregiver. If a child’s caregiver holds some hatred for a different group of people, the child observes that and act the same way the parent does. It’s a cycle of hatred passed down from generations.

In class, we watched the movie wonder. The main character is a little boy named august pullman, who has a genetic disorder that affects his face. Due to his insecurities, he wears a astronaut helmet and is also homeschooled. When his mother decides he should start his 5th grade year at a public school, He was scared of being bullied, made fun of, and stared at. He goes on a tour of the school and hears that his tour guide, julian, was making rude comments and laughing at him. To his family and his friends, he was a normal kid but to everyone else, he was something entirely different. He makes friends with a classmates named jack will and summer, a girl who sit with him at lunch. In spite of the fact that he gets upset and hurt at individuals’ remarks and at one point considers leaving standard school once more, August eventually walks on with a valiant, rebellious and positive soul.

His mentality is moving and uncovers how courageous he really is, realizing he should confront the domineering jerks when he comes back to class every day. Be that as it may, he decidedly transcends the harassing, turns out to be extremely prevalent and wins an esteemed school grant, getting an overwhelming standing ovation from every one of the understudies who respect him. At last, August is a gigantically regarded and all around loved kid, who denies the bullies the fulfillment of giving in and gains loads of companions all the while, triumphantly surviving the 5th grade. He comprehends why his classmates point and gaze, in any case, he doesn’t give it a chance to get him down. August is a bright and smart student who shows people around him that the things you can’t change about yourself shouldn’t influence your own satisfaction and prosperity, and that you ought to acknowledge yourself for your identity. I loved this movie, I was moved to tears during some scenes and cried with laughter in others. It was a great movie that teaches graciousness,empathy,bullying, overcoming difficulties, and companionship.

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