I'm Just a Girl!

Oh, this is a good one...

How has being a man or a woman influenced my life? How has it limited me? Sustained me? Opened up possibilities?If I had been a man instead of a woman or vice versa, how would my life have been different?Finally, think about how your personal attitudes and beliefs might influence you as a teacher. How might your identity impact your perceptions, actions, and beliefs in the classroom?

Well, just let me start off by saying I'm proud to be a girl. I wouldn't have it any other way! There are many opportunities I don't believe I would have ever experienced if I had been a boy - or...the experiences would have been WAY different! ;-)

First of all, I don't believe I would have ever wanted to be a teacher if I were a man. I probably would have gone off into the business world...OR I would have been a major player! Second of all, I don't think I would have had the drive or determiniation I have today. Men often have it pretty easy...they don't have to deal with womanly problems such as "that time" or worrying about multiple things at a time, or even contemplating what to wear and with which shoes, jewelry, and bag?! I have heard the word NO many, many times in my life. Now, do I think all of those times were because I am a girl? Absolutely not. However, I am sure that many of those times WERE in fact for that very reason.

I remember back in high school I had a group of friends who started a band. They were looking for a lead singer, so I offered to help them out. They told me no because they "weren't looking for that kind of sound." Now, I'm was not about to beg to be heard, but I did insist (demand, rather) that they give me a try. One verse was all it took and we successfully formed "Khaki's Ex" (don't ask...) the most fabulous high school band EVER! Well...not ever, but EVER for that year! We even went on to win the talent show that year and played several gigs around town. If I had been a guy - I don't even think I would have been interested in doing that.

In my classroom, obviously I relate to the girls more than the boys. I only have six girls in my class this year, so we've stuck together ;-) I also think I can relate to the boys, but on a different level. I've always been a jokester, so I'm good at forming a relationship with them that way. However, when it comes to actual "boy stuff" I have no clue what to do! That's usually when I seek out a man's perspective. I ask my husband or the male teacher next door what to do. I don't even pretend to think I know how to deal with that! The students are so impressionable at this age and I want to make sure I do all I can steer them in the right direction. Plus, many of the boys in my class do not have readily accessible dads at home, so bringing in a positive male influence is a good thing.

There are many times when I believe that the boys in my classroom do not respond well to me because I am female. Like I said, most of the boys are raised by their mothers, so to them I am just another mother figure. I am easily ignored and disobeyed. When these circumstances arise, there isn't much I can do - the boys don't respond to any female authority. Again, this is the time I seek out another male teacher in the building to get my point across.

As far as my personal beliefs and attitudes go, I try not to delve into that too much in front of the kids. They know I am "no nonsense" but that I am also fun and sarcastic. That has always been a very helpful and bonding thing for me - especially in my classroom management. I try not to discuss those taboo topics, such as religion, at all if possible. In this day and age, parents are sue happy and I would prefer not to be on the receiving end of that. On the other hand, I like to keep a relaxed atmosphere and want the kids to be comfortable, so I try to encourage them to discuss what is on their mind. They are actually pretty good about knowing what is an acceptable school discussion, so I don't worry too much.

All in all, I hope to make a positive and enlightening impact in my students' lives - whether I'm a woman or not...

Foreign Tongue

Whew...it's been a hectic weekend. Here's a blip for this moment:

How do I feel when I interact with a person who speaks a native language other than English? Do I treat the person differently than when I am speaking to a person whose first language is English? What assumptions do I have about linguistically diverse people?

I have had many students in my class who did not speak English. In fact, I have one right now. At first, I looked up common Spanish phrases so we could communicate. I was also fortunate enough to have several other students who speak Spanish in my class to translate - they were a HUGE help! I try to learn as much as I can to help them transition easily. Within a few weeks, they are able to communicate better and it is easier for us to understand one another.

When it comes to adults, most often I only meet with non-English speakers at parent conferences in which case I have an ESL assistant to translate. I don't think I treat them any differently, but I'm sure they are aware of my uneasiness. I am uncomfortable not knowing what is going on (that goes for any situation) so I just try to listen and pick out as many familiar words as I can to piece together what they are saying.

I think it would make my life easier if I were linguistically diverse. I would be able to understand much more than I can now. I would think that people who do know multiple languages have an easier understanding about languages in general and could probably pick up just about anything. I would also think they would have an easy time finding a job with a very high status because they would be able to communicate with people around the world. They would be in demand quite a bit!

Eeeek-on-o-mee!

Let's face it - the economy sucks! Here are an appropriate set of questions for this day and time:

What are my assumptions about why some people are affluent and others are poor? Do I think it is fair? Inevitable?Whom or what do I blame for disparities in wealth and opportunity? Poor people? Wealthy people? The system? What do I think needs to be changed? Do I want to be a part of that change? If so, in what ways?

I whole-heartedly believe education is the foundation of whether or not people are affluent or poor. While there are always exceptions to the rules, many of the most successful people in the world have an education. As I have mentioned before, I came from a small town where it was very easy to be labeled "white trash," but because my parents valued education (both being teachers themselves) they instilled the importance of it in me. Educated people have a more well-rounded sense about them and can make informed decisions after some consideration. I had many friends who did not end up going to college and unfortunately, they have ended up living the stereotypical white-trash lifestyle. You know...single wide trailer, yard covered in trash and old cars up on cinder blocks, multiple children all under the age of five running every which way wearing only a dirty diaper, and the adults sitting on the front porch drinking Mountain Dew and smoking cigarettes, which they bought with their welfare check. Now, while that is an extreme description, it is what it is. Many of my friends who did not go to college did not even finish high school - opting instead for a G.E.D. They have worked job after job living paycheck to paycheck all for what? To get up the next day and do it again?

Do I think it's fair? No. Life isn't fair. Is it inevitable? No. People choose their own paths. Of course, my own life has not turned out to be anything like I dreamed it would be when I was a kid, but I went to college, got a great job doing what I love to do, married a man with ambition and multiple degrees and we are able to live a pretty comfortable lifestyle. Granted, those things can change at any moment - especially with the economy being as crap-tastic as it currently is - but I still don't honestly believe we would end up making choices that weren't beneficial to us or our family.

There are MANY people who are highly educated and have absolutely no sense about maintaining money. On the other hand, there are many people who beat the odds and met success by working hard and making smart decisions. Again, it's all about making a choice. Who do I blame for the inequality between classes? Good question. Perhaps many of us are predisposed to our fates? Without the rich, the poor wouldn't exist, but without the poor, the rich wouldn't exist. It seems a symbiotic relationship exists whether we like it or not. So, to place blame is impossible.

I could go on for days about how and why I think the system should be changed. After working in a low-income area and teaching in a Title I school for four years now, I have seen poverty first hand and I have also seen how the welfare system is being abused. There are parents of children at my school who drive fully loaded Cadillac Escalades, yet say they cannot afford to take their child to the doctor for simple and basic health care. It's disgusting. And as a tax payer, it makes me irate. There needs to be an overhaul in the welfare system. Perhaps the implementation of a merit system would work. The more a person on welfare can do to help themselves become more financially independent, the more they are rewarded. Now, I'm no financial advisor, so I really can't say what that reward should be, but there HAS to be a way to make it work. Somehow...

I would love to be a part of the change. I think right now the most I can do for change is to stimulate the economy. Believe me - I have NO problem helping out there! And without getting too political, I think the U.S. has no business sticking their nose where it doesn't belong. To quote a fabulous children's book called, How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O'Connor, "The more you stir things up, the more it stinks!" That's exactly what has happened here! It's time we stop stirring and start picking up. Go out and spend money; even a little bit at a time. Help your neighbor, volunteer, become active. The best thing I can do is educate my students. I don't want them to grow up and live like their parents. I want them to be successful and have all the things they deserve. I can do that by teaching them to be good decision makers, thoughtful thinkers, and role models to others.

Okay, time to get off my soap box for now...

Culture Club

Whilst I do love some Karma Chameleon, you will find none here...

In this post I will be commenting on the following questions:


When do I notice culture? How often do I think about it?How would I characterize encounters that I have had with people of different cultures? Have they been positive experiences? Negative? Neutral?How does my value system relate to my culture? What values do I hold dear? Have I had experiences where my values were in conflict with another person’s values? How did I resolve these differences?

I notice culture most obviously by the way a person looks or dresses. I know that is probably a very ethnocentric way to look at things, but usually I can tell a person is from a different culture by their appearance. I don't think about it often; usually I don't think about it at all unless it's brought up by someone else. To me, the area in which I live is quite saturated with many different ethnicities, religions, and socio-economic statuses and quite honestly, once you've encountered it over and over again, it becomes second nature and you don't notice it as much as you used to.

The most positive experiences I have had with other cultures has come from my students. I have been lucky enough to teach children who either came from or are descendants of Egypt, Laos, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, and even other parts of the United States. I truly enjoy learning about my students, their families, and the ways they celebrate their traditional holidays.

I have also had negative experiences as well. I think we've all encountered the stereotypical phone call to a customer service line only to be routed to someone in India who you can't understand, no matter how much you try! Just the other day, my friend and I were trying to order pizzas for our classes and the woman on the other end had a very thick, foreign accent. Not only was she difficult to understand, but she seemed rude to me. However, without knowing exactly what her culture was I had no idea how she might react to that kind of situation. I know that many of the Hispanic children I teach will not look at me when I am disciplining them because they have not made a good choice. At first, I would demand they look me in they eyes until someone brought to my attention that in their culture, they learn to focus their eyes downward when being corrected by an adult. Since then, I've not pressed the issue. I understand now and don't want to impose my beliefs onto them; I don't like to make people feel uncomfortable.

I'm not really sure how my value system relates to my culture. I think each and every one of us has a different culture as well as sets of values, so to relate the two doesn't make much sense to me. I just know that I try to be a good person. I believe everything happens for a reason and Karma is a bitch. I think you should treat people the way you want to be treated and help others out when you see that they need it.

There have been many times when my values haven't jived well with others. I'm a very opinionated person and am not afraid to share my thoughts with others. However, I am not one to try to persuade or impose my feelings or beliefs on others because I don't like it when they do that to me - especially in areas like religion and politics. Usually when a negative situation arises I try to agree to disagree. I have learned that people have deeply ingrained values and beliefs and no matter how much you try to convince them the sky is blue, they will always say it is purple. In cases such as those, I move on to a different topic because obviously nothing will be resolved.

I am an only child and was raised in an all white community, but I think I'm pretty well rounded. I believe my parents raised me well and instilled the value of tolerance in me at a young age. I'm glad they allowed me to make my own decisions and learn from my mistakes because that made me who I am today - a ROCK star!

Lovin' would be easy if your colors were like my dreams - red, gold, and green...

We're in a Race!

Here are the questions I am going to address this evening:

How do I feel about my racial group? Am I proud? Ambivalent? Do I sometimes wish (or have wished) that I belonged to another group?How do I feel about people from other racial groups? Do I have close friends and neighbors in other racial groups, or is my social network racially homogeneous? Would I like to have close friends of racial groups other than my own? Why or why not?

I honestly enjoy my racial group. I think I would probably like being in any racial group because I like who I am, although I 'm not going to lie - being white has probably made my life easier. Unfortunately, many other races have a stigma - not that I've never been called "white trash," but that's minimal in comparison to what other groups have had to endure. So, no, I have never really wished to belong to another racial group.

I do have several close friends and colleagues from other racial groups, but for the most part I socialize with other white people. However, I do have several African American friends who are able to joke and kid with me about the racial divide. It's kind of like that Seinfeld episode with the "racial harmony" cookie...

I would love to have friends from other racial groups, but not necessarily because they are a different race. I am just a good friend maker :-) I enjoy having various ways to connect with others, so it really doesn't matter to me what color, gender, or sexual preference they have. I'm just glad they want to be my friend! And why wouldn't they???

More to come on these fabulous and thought provoking questions at a later date...

Blogger

Hello! I have created this blog to use for my Master's class online at Walden University - it sure beats writing a paper! For this week's assignment, we are required to take time to reflect upon some questions and then address each one. I am copying the assignment here, so that I can refer to it throughout the week as well as allowing you, the reader, an opportunity to actually see (and participate in) what I'm doing. Here is the assignment:


Begin thinking about the question “Who am I?” in relation to race, culture, socioeconomic class, language, gender, religion, and/or sexual orientation. Make a list of descriptors to help you define your identity. Next, reflect on the following questions:

How do I feel about my racial group? Am I proud? Ambivalent? Do I sometimes wish (or have wished) that I belonged to another group?
How do I feel about people from other racial groups? Do I have close friends and neighbors in other racial groups, or is my social network racially homogeneous? Would I like to have close friends of racial groups other than my own? Why or why not?
When do I notice culture? How often do I think about it?
How would I characterize encounters that I have had with people of different cultures? Have they been positive experiences? Negative? Neutral?
How does my value system relate to my culture? What values do I hold dear? Have I had experiences where my values were in conflict with another person’s values? How did I resolve these differences?
What are my assumptions about why some people are affluent and others are poor? Do I think it is fair? Inevitable?
Whom or what do I blame for disparities in wealth and opportunity? Poor people? Wealthy people? The system? What do I think needs to be changed? Do I want to be a part of that change? If so, in what ways?
How do I feel when I interact with a person who speaks a native language other than English? Do I treat the person differently than when I am speaking to a person whose first language is English? What assumptions do I have about linguistically diverse people?
How has being a man or a woman influenced my life? How has it limited me? Sustained me? Opened up possibilities?
If I had been a man instead of a woman or vice versa, how would my life have been different?

Finally, think about how your personal attitudes and beliefs might influence you as a teacher. How might your identity impact your perceptions, actions, and beliefs in the classroom?

I will read over these questions once again and respond as the week progresses. We'll see how it goes...