Reading Reflection 3

This section in “Teaching Hope” was entitled "Engagement" and very appropriate, for the section offered many scenarios in which teachers and students finally connected. This connection finally leading to an affirmation of the choice to be a teacher. The first thing that stood out to me about this section was the fact that teachers really do need to “draw parallels between the lives of the characters in the books we were reading and the lives of each student.” (pg. 105) There was an instant realization that this section was going to contain messages that were given, directly or indirectly to students or teachers that helped to change their life and their future. Teachers strive to “undo the message she received somewhere that she is bad and stupid”. (pg. 108) So many students are told they are bad, they are not going to make it, or even worse, they are ignored. Students in these situations need help, help they don’t even know how to ask for. Most of the time, it is the teacher helping the students but sometimes the teacher is the one that ends up getting the help.

The classroom should be a place not only to help students and even teachers but a safe place too. It should be a place where students can come together, in any way, shape, or form to unite and further more, celebrate the similarities and differences between their cultures. But so many times teachers, in order to help and have their students understand that their classroom is this kind of place, they “have” to “prove” themselves. Our students, our children in the class, know when they are different, know that they are, for a piece whether small, significant, or for their entire life will be judged on their appearance, culture, background, and abilities. One section that caught me was where we found a journal from one girl about her view of her own race and her struggles. The teacher then responds with her own experiences saying “I wasn’t just the ‘other’ color but that I was the ‘wrong’ color” (pg. 120) How can a child feel, let alone any person, a teacher, parent, or friend, feel so much sadness and hurt about something as their skin? I felt so upset reading this because I take the way I look for granted. Never having had a problem being white, never been looked or stared at, or even discriminated against for the color of my skin. How can I relate to my future students with this? The answer- well I have experienced being discriminated, judged, stereotyped and hurt- my hurt and my pain, now overcome with experience and growth can help others who are now feeling those emotions.

For so many students who come from a disadvantage, whatever that may be, they are automatically put into categories and separated by those around them. But when you find they are doing what they hate to each other, teachers find a moment, a moment when being the teacher is most important to act, to teach a lesson. Making students realize, as we saw through this section of reading, that harboring prejudices and judgments against others is wrong and making progress to change, however small, is always important. Finding, recognizing, and more importantly listening to their stories is what can create the first step on the long path of progress. Being an open person, putting your views, morals, religion, and other background aside, being a clean slate and open place allows kids to come and talk to you, to actually want to talk. All kids have something inside (pg. 134) and it is just a matter of time before it comes out, helping them as being more than just a teacher, allows whatever it is that’s inside to come out in a good way, instead of the alternate.

Are students scared to succeed? Are we as teachers scared to help them be more than what half of all the people in their lives have told them they “should” be? Children and teachers alike find comfort in just settling, fitting into the molds, characters that they are supposed to be. But being honest not only with yourself but with your students allows a connection, a true connection to be made and that path of progress finds another step taken.