I noticed many similarities between Daniel and Zonnie other than that they are American Indians. Both children felt like they did not fit in or belong at school. They were both very bored with the classes they were taking. Both students’ home lives was drastically different from their school lives. They both felt that their culture was not appreciated and accepted at school. Daniel felt that the stuff he learned at school was “white man’s stuff.” They were both very intelligent and artistic children but at school they were not being given an outlet to express this creativity. Zonnie’s outlet was her poetry and Daniel played the drums at Pow Wow.
What really struck me about this article was how different their home lives were from their school lives. At home, both of these children were very loved and involved with their community and family. Daniel attended Pow Wows with his family and Zonnie learned how to make jewelry from her mother. In their school life they were viewed as very average students. Their few friends described them as withdrawn and shy. They felt very separated from the curriculum and the instruction they were receiving at school. I also found it interesting that literacy was prevalent in both homes and had been from an early age. The family was involved with reading to the children and literature was in the households.
As I was reading this I felt bad for both of these students. They were at a predominately white school where they were the minority. They did not have many friends or teachers who could relate to them. They felt out of place and bored at school. I started wondering if I have students who feel this way in my classroom. I hope not. This year I had a hispanic little boy and a little girl who was half hispanic. My other students never made any indication that they noticed the difference between these students and themselves. They were very well liked. Then after Christmas I got a new student who was multi-racial. My students were very accepting of her but I could tell that they did notice the differences between themselves and her. I wonder if this is because she was new to our school and the students I referred to earlier have been together since kindergarden. She quickly became a member of our classroom family and the children became friends with her. Does the cultural difference start to fade away after awhile? Is it easier for younger children to be more accepting of differences? Can teachers do more to make children like Daniel and Zonnie feel more at home at school?
Ashley Caldwell
Comments (4)
I think in many ways kids are more accepting of people’s flaws and differences. I loved spending time with some of my extended family members as a child. It is only as an adult that I truly perceive their differences in lifestyles and choices and am bothered by them. I can fuss at my students and two minutes later they want a hug. When I got a child who was an amputee, not one child blinked an eye, except to tell me “Dana doesn’t have a leg.” My students tell me I am tan, not white. They accept when I tell them, in response to their questions, that my arms are hairy because God made me that way. Children have an amazing tolerance for imperfection and capacity to accept differences in others.
I also think that children do notice and evaluate the differences in those around them however. Part of growing up is becoming aware of the world outside of your small corner of the globe and identifying with others. I have read research that says that compare and contrast is the number one way that our brains learn. We are designed to see similarities and differences in the world around us. In the elementary and middle school years identifying the likenesses between oneself and others becomes especially important. Students’ strive to ‘fit in’, to be like their peers because those similarities serve to validate their sense of self and belonging. What children need, is to be able to validate their own culture and experiences without doing it at the expense of others. I think one reason children are quick to pick on the prejudices of others is the power it gives them. They latch on to cruel names and discriminate because superiority offers security in a very uncertain time in their lives.
-Rebecca Ashby
Posted by Rebecca Ashby | June 11, 2010 9:15 AM
Posted on June 11, 2010 09:15
You gave some good examples of how young children are more accepting of differences. I do think that your positive attitude and caring nature set a good example and foster the family atmosphere that you described. I do think that the teacher’s attitude sets the tone. I have known teachers that did not like a child and let the other children pick and tease. I teach 5th grade and it is difficult to catch everything negative that happens, but I stand by every child’s right to a bully free classroom. When things happen children come to me, because we have a bond of trust and we continue to discuss acceptable behaviors.
Elizabeth Achor
Posted by Elizabeth Achor | June 11, 2010 11:35 AM
Posted on June 11, 2010 11:35
Having strong family support for one's education is extremely important to their success in school. I felt that this was well recieved in the home, but did not seem to extend to the actual school. What a great opportunity for the school and these families to be able to share in these American Indian traditions! The school could and should take advantage of this. An assembly where these families could perform a Powwow type performance. Students are much more accepting and willing to learn when they can experience these types of things in "real life". I know that every time we take a field trip, my students come back reenergized and ready to take learning to the next level. The knowledge that these families could share with the school is amazing. Music and PE (dance) could be integrated...THe possibilities are almost endless!
Posted by Angela Steele | June 11, 2010 1:45 PM
Posted on June 11, 2010 13:45
I think that the students probably were paying more attention to the little girl, because they had never seen her before. I agree with your comment that the younger the children are the more accepting they are. I think as teachers we have to set that example from the beginning of the year in our classrooms and our students will always follow.
Posted by Odessa Scales | June 11, 2010 4:10 PM
Posted on June 11, 2010 16:10