How to tackle Racisme and Stereotyping?

I am still reading this awe-inspiring book about teaching by Lou Anne Johnson. Here's a bit in the book which discussed about racism I would love to share.

Humans are all part of the same tree

Light came to me when I realized I did not have to consider any racial group as a whole. God made them duck by duck, and that was the only way I could see them - Zora Neale Hurston

Dialogue between Lou Anne and one of her student

     "I just wanted to thank you." he said, "because you weren't afraid to make me do my homework. All the other teachers are afraid of me because I'm a big black man. They act like they think if they make me mad, I'll hurt them." As he spoke Dante's eyes filled with tears. Watching him, I felt my own tears rising.
     "So what do you do when those teachers act like that?" I asked.
     "I act like I'm going to hurt them." Dante tried to laugh, but his chuckle turned into a cough that stopped just short of a sob.
     For a split second, I nearly laughed myself, because it sounded funny. But I quickly realized that Dante's remark was not funny at all. Those teachers were prompting Dante to act as though he intended to hurt them. Whether intentionally or not, they were manipulating him into fulfilling their stereotype of black men as angry and violent. To fear a child simply because of his or her skin colour is the same as saying, "I know you are inherently violent simply because of who you are. It is only a matter of time before your true nature revealed."

Adult's attitude towards children's behaviour

A good thought from a friend of mine about teacher's attitude towards student's/ children's behaviour. This is related with what we are talking about: stereotyping. A gentle, well thought-out and straight to the point reminder important for all teachers, parents and adults to take note so we don't stereotype adults as being better and superior than children for whatever reason it can be.

The issue with children always right is true and is a side effect of those who believe the opposite of strict disciplinary through punishment etc. Basically capital punishment is one side, the opposite is children always right.

In the event of our global change, we MUST stay away from opposites and find the middle. Since the children are able to show emotional dilemma at such a younger age, we need to implement proper solution like having a equal-level or status conversation and talk between teacher and student especially parents. Children in this state can show brighter growth if given the same level of respect as an adult. In the case of rude children who don't give respect at the same time is hurting someone (teacher or other student_ physically, mentally or emotionally and can't be reasoned with RESPECTFUL (not oppressing esp. from the teacher) conversationg, should be dealt with a reasonable form of capital punishment.

At the end of the day, it depends on the rationale thinking capacity of teachers, not everyone have the ability of making the right decision. I've had great teachers I will always remember and horrible teachers who contributes only to my decline. Therefore we should see teachers mistakes constructively and work towards progression (from teacher perspective and society perspective). Unfortunately our society is not very forgiving, we have the capacity, we just need good examples/ influences for us to incline towards becoming more constructive.

Battling prejudice only comes from oneself as an ongoing self-treatment

My solution to purging my prejudice and stereotype was to meet and talk to as many successful and educated black and brown men as I could. I sought them as mentors for my students. I befriended them in the school lunchroom and during community activities - not simply as research subjects but as human beings. After several weeks I knew I had made some significant progress in minimizing my racial prejudices when I met a black man I didn't like at all. Disliking that man was pivotal in my rehabilitation. Prior to that meeting, I would have compelled to like him or to act as though I did, in order not to appear to be prejudiced.

After nearly twenty years of ongoing self-treatment, I feel free to like or dislike anybody I meet, of any skin colour or ethnic background, based on the way that person treats me - and especially the way that person treats children and animals. I don't pretend there is no violence in the world. I try to keep my distance from anybody of any colour who appears to be drunk, stoned, sociopathic, or potentially dangerous. But I don't expect any particular person to be violent simply because of his or her origin.

We need to always remind ourself and others in regards to this matter. We can't afford to sink ourselves in the fight between races instead we have to be the one either avoiding or even better, preventing such demeaning issue from escalating. Are we ready? Maybe not, yet we have to be.

*Racisme is like a time bomb in Malaysia, waiting to explode just to burn everyone in the vicinity. It doesn't matter what colour you are, the fact is if we don't battle prejudice, it's going to instigate battles where we will all lose.

Letter from a teacher: Being positive in the classroom!

I would like to share this other letter I read in the book 'Teaching Outside the Box' by Lou Anne Johnson. The awesome and inspiring book was given to me by a kind friend during my journey in an education NGO in Malaysia. The letter came from a new teacher who decided to start her teaching class positively. What I like was her being optimistic of her students. Let's hope we (new teachers) can take her as a good example to start with.

Here it goes.

This is the end of my third week of teaching. I was given 125 'remedial' students. The other teachers told me they wouldn't show up to class. If they did, they would either sleep or disrupt the class; they wouldn't do homework and they didn't care if they passed or failed and I'd have to throw most of them out at some point or another.

I took a lot of your positive advice to heart. I went in on day one and told them all that I could guarantee they would have the best year in school they had ever had. I asked if that interested any of them, and they all admitted it did. I told them I only asked for three things, and I would do the rest. They had to show up every day; they had to come in with the attitude that they could and would learn something; and they had to try. I told them the story of Edison taking ten thousand tries to invent a light bulb and told them that I was only asking that they try three or four times. I asked how many had been told they were stupid or couldn't do math? Every hand went up. I told them it wasn't true; they just hadn't been taught math in a way they could understand it. I told them there were two words I would not tolerate in my class - "I can't" - because they all could and there wasn't stupid one in the bunch.

Three weeks later, my students show up on time. The few who skipped in the beginning don't skip anymore, and no one skips on Friday, because it's cookie day! They do logic problems every day that require them to think, and now they ask for more. They do their homework; and if they get a low grade, they ask to fix it and turn it back in. I've told them I only care that they learn it and that if they're willing to do their homework or tests again, I am certainly willing to grade them again. I cut them some slack in the discipline department, but when I speak they stop and listen; and when I take someone outside and ask them to settle down, they do. I'm having a blast, and so are my students. Students tell me it's the first time a math teacher actually cared about them and made them feel like they could succeed. Students that have on-the-job training in the afternoon come and hang out in math instead of leaving - some show up three periods a day - and participate in each class.

I can't thank you enough. If I had listened to those other teachers and not you, I would be having a miserable year. But it's more rewarding than I could have imagined!

I know you are busy finishing up your book, but thought you would like to know how much fun I'm having!

Laura Hauser