Racial bias in preschool teachers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it our school, the majority of black children come from extremely low income families and the parents are rarely involved or when they do show up its not good and they are so mean to their kids. And the kids follow suit and act out in class. Some of its bias but some of it is the kids really do misbehave through no fault of their own but from their horrible home lives.

I think that is why some schools are pressing for home visits to form an alliance with parents.

+1.

It has little to do with racial bias. It has a lot to do with parenting and conditions at home.

From the article:

"Some teachers received background information about the child’s difficult family life, to test whether such additional information might spur a more empathetic response. The empathy kicked in only when the teacher and the child shared the same race, the study found"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it our school, the majority of black children come from extremely low income families and the parents are rarely involved or when they do show up its not good and they are so mean to their kids. And the kids follow suit and act out in class. Some of its bias but some of it is the kids really do misbehave through no fault of their own but from their horrible home lives.

I think that is why some schools are pressing for home visits to form an alliance with parents.

+1.

It has little to do with racial bias. It has a lot to do with parenting and conditions at home.

From the article:

"Some teachers received background information about the child’s difficult family life, to test whether such additional information might spur a more empathetic response. The empathy kicked in only when the teacher and the child shared the same race, the study found"

God forbid anyone read the article and have their preconceived ideas challenged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it our school, the majority of black children come from extremely low income families and the parents are rarely involved or when they do show up its not good and they are so mean to their kids. And the kids follow suit and act out in class. Some of its bias but some of it is the kids really do misbehave through no fault of their own but from their horrible home lives.

I think that is why some schools are pressing for home visits to form an alliance with parents.

+1.

It has little to do with racial bias. It has a lot to do with parenting and conditions at home.

From the article:

"Some teachers received background information about the child’s difficult family life, to test whether such additional information might spur a more empathetic response. The empathy kicked in only when the teacher and the child shared the same race, the study found"

Yes, there's something called in-group empathy, and it's pretty universal. Black teachers (on average) probably have more empathy for black students than for Asian ones.

That has little to do with racial bias.

[Anonymous]

Even Hillary Clinton in the debate asserted that Americans all suffer from "implicit racial bias." If that's the case, then all pre-school teachers are racially biased. There is no escape unless you leave the country, and then you'll be subject to whatever biases exist somewhere else. Perhaps it is better to call out egregious behavior whenever you see it, rather than be concerned about "micro-aggressions," which apparently occur 24/7, according to this line of reasoning.

[Anonymous]

I think society would benefit immensely by a more concerted from everyone to regard each other as individuals. Studies and stats are fine and they have their uses but in everyday interactions - deal with the person you're interacting with based on who they are not on the preconceptions of who you think they are based on their race/religion/gender/sexuality/income/etc.

[Anonymous]

We can't stop people from being bias, just like we can't stop police officers from being racist. What we can do is implement policies that work to ensure all kids are treated equally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even Hillary Clinton in the debate asserted that Americans all suffer from "implicit racial bias." If that's the case, then all pre-school teachers are racially biased. There is no escape unless you leave the country, and then you'll be subject to whatever biases exist somewhere else. Perhaps it is better to call out egregious behavior whenever you see it, rather than be concerned about "micro-aggressions," which apparently occur 24/7, according to this line of reasoning.

She should be more concerned about targets of a different kind of bias and violence. According to Colin Powell's emails, her husband is still on the prowl.

[Anonymous]

People in the AA community need to start encouraging reverse bias. Look to hire well-qualified AA candidates -- recruit them, interview them, hire them. Then, after they are hired, look out for them, mentor them, and promote them. Ivy league alums do that openly and proudly. The AA community needs to do that openly and proudly.

DC has a large AA community and as such, there should be lots of AA preschool teachers. If there is not an not AA preschool teacher in every school in DC, then the AA community needs to start encouraging AA teachers to be applying for those spots, taking them, and nurturing our future generation.

If it is the AA preschool teachers are the ones discriminating against AA preschoolers, that is a problem for the AA community to resolve. Every member of the AA community should be looking out for every child (black or white, but especially AA). If you see an AA parent who hurts a AA child, it is your job to speak up as a fellow member of the AA community. You make sure that child is loved, fed, cared for. You offer to pick up that child from school and talk to his/her teachers. You don't just sit there and watch a parent be mean to any child.

As the member of a minority group who has a long history of discrimination and mistreatment, I have watched us look out for each other. The AA community needs to do the same. Obviously there is no excuse for discrimination ever but if you know it is happening, at the very least, move your child to a school environment where they can be safe and loved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People in the AA community need to start encouraging reverse bias. Look to hire well-qualified AA candidates -- recruit them, interview them, hire them. Then, after they are hired, look out for them, mentor them, and promote them. Ivy league alums do that openly and proudly. The AA community needs to do that openly and proudly.

DC has a large AA community and as such, there should be lots of AA preschool teachers. If there is not an not AA preschool teacher in every school in DC, then the AA community needs to start encouraging AA teachers to be applying for those spots, taking them, and nurturing our future generation.

.

Much of this already happens (ok, Ivy league alums do this, ever heard of HBCUs?). But what you call "reverse bias" many will scream is reverse racism.

[Anonymous]

Can I give you an example to chew on? If it's not relevant, then I apologize.
Grew up in a very diverse nova triangle. Black, white, Asian, Hispanic neighbors. Slept over at all their houses, and vice versa. I am white solid middle class.
In 6th grade, when you begin honors classes, it's very exciting. I was in all honors. I think about 3 black kids were in all honors with me. Diverse but not quite as diverse as the whole school.
One black boy in particular was extremely smart. Did all his homework. From what I know now his parents are solid middle class too.
One day in science, probably because he liked me or something, he had a broken rubber band. He snapped it towards me. Not intending to hit me. He hit my face though. It was bleeding, like a stripe down my cheek. I spoke up. It was the middle of class.
He got in school suspension for 3 days.
After that, he NEVER looked at me the same. I was not his friend. He continued in honors classes mostly, but he hung out with the druggie crowd later. (Admittedly so we're my friends, but I never tried it, and I left those friends later)
This year he died tragically, and young. Found in a river.
When I heard it, I thought back to that moment he slapped me with the band.
-would he have gotten that punishment is he were white? Or would it be minor?
-what if I were a different race, and not a tiny white girl?
-what if the teacher were not white?
-did this impact his life? Maybe if didn't. But maybe that, and allll the other stuff he had to put up with did affect him, and his choices
-if I knew what I know now, I would not have "told on him." But I was in 6th grade, and a boy hurt me, and I knew he didn't mean it, but I was bleeding...

But I believe now, if it the other 1-2 smartest boys, and not the smartest black boy, they would have had minimal punishment. Maybe would have even given them a "reputation," which for some boys is posituve. But not my friend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can I give you an example to chew on? If it's not relevant, then I apologize.
Grew up in a very diverse nova triangle. Black, white, Asian, Hispanic neighbors. Slept over at all their houses, and vice versa. I am white solid middle class.
In 6th grade, when you begin honors classes, it's very exciting. I was in all honors. I think about 3 black kids were in all honors with me. Diverse but not quite as diverse as the whole school.
One black boy in particular was extremely smart. Did all his homework. From what I know now his parents are solid middle class too.
One day in science, probably because he liked me or something, he had a broken rubber band. He snapped it towards me. Not intending to hit me. He hit my face though. It was bleeding, like a stripe down my cheek. I spoke up. It was the middle of class.
He got in school suspension for 3 days.
After that, he NEVER looked at me the same. I was not his friend. He continued in honors classes mostly, but he hung out with the druggie crowd later. (Admittedly so we're my friends, but I never tried it, and I left those friends later)
This year he died tragically, and young. Found in a river.
When I heard it, I thought back to that moment he slapped me with the band.
-would he have gotten that punishment is he were white? Or would it be minor?
-what if I were a different race, and not a tiny white girl?
-what if the teacher were not white?
-did this impact his life? Maybe if didn't. But maybe that, and allll the other stuff he had to put up with did affect him, and his choices
-if I knew what I know now, I would not have "told on him." But I was in 6th grade, and a boy hurt me, and I knew he didn't mean it, but I was bleeding...

But I believe now, if it the other 1-2 smartest boys, and not the smartest black boy, they would have had minimal punishment. Maybe would have even given them a "reputation," which for some boys is posituve. But not my friend.

I am so sorry! that is tough. You can't do anything to change the past, but by telling your story (and what you know of his) perhaps you are helping to bend the arc of history towards justice. do what you can to make it happen, in memory of your friend.

[Anonymous]

The problem for a lot of people to try to overcome is the logical disconnect. In many gentrifying neighborhoods, there is street crime. It comes in two forms.

The first is the "in the life" kind whereby somebody is shot in retaliation for something related to gangs or drugs. In this case, both the perpetrator(s) and the victim(s) are black. Occasionally there are collateral victims, also black, and this generates extreme community concern.

The second form is typically a robbery or street mugging and occasionally a sexual assault. In this case, the perpetrator(s) are exclusively AA, usually teenagers, and the victim is usually white, possibly male or female (though the sexual assaults appear to be aimed at females) and occasionally AA females (also sexual assault).

Since I get the daily MPD reports via email, it's depressing in a data-driven and obvious way exactly who the perpetrators of criminal behavior are. Glaringly obvious.

“There is nothing more painful to me at this stage in my life than to walk down the street and hear footsteps... then turn around and see somebody white and feel relieved.”

Jesse Jackson

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People in the AA community need to start encouraging reverse bias. Look to hire well-qualified AA candidates -- recruit them, interview them, hire them. Then, after they are hired, look out for them, mentor them, and promote them. Ivy league alums do that openly and proudly. The AA community needs to do that openly and proudly.

DC has a large AA community and as such, there should be lots of AA preschool teachers. If there is not an not AA preschool teacher in every school in DC, then the AA community needs to start encouraging AA teachers to be applying for those spots, taking them, and nurturing our future generation.

If it is the AA preschool teachers are the ones discriminating against AA preschoolers, that is a problem for the AA community to resolve. Every member of the AA community should be looking out for every child (black or white, but especially AA). If you see an AA parent who hurts a AA child, it is your job to speak up as a fellow member of the AA community. You make sure that child is loved, fed, cared for. You offer to pick up that child from school and talk to his/her teachers. You don't just sit there and watch a parent be mean to any child.

As the member of a minority group who has a long history of discrimination and mistreatment, I have watched us look out for each other. The AA community needs to do the same. Obviously there is no excuse for discrimination ever but if you know it is happening, at the very least, move your child to a school environment where they can be safe and loved.

+1

I totally agree that the black community needs to ensure adequate faculty representation in our schools. My DC is truly a sweet, well behaved child. DC attended a predominantly AA school last year and was truly loved and looked after by the faculty. We lotteried into a HRC this year (so, of course took the spot) and are doubting our decision. We don't see that same kind of concern for our child at this school, which has minimal AA faculty, and can't help but wonder if racial bias is at play, and if the love for school, teachers and learning DC had last year will dwindle away in this new environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People in the AA community need to start encouraging reverse bias. Look to hire well-qualified AA candidates -- recruit them, interview them, hire them. Then, after they are hired, look out for them, mentor them, and promote them. Ivy league alums do that openly and proudly. The AA community needs to do that openly and proudly.

DC has a large AA community and as such, there should be lots of AA preschool teachers. If there is not an not AA preschool teacher in every school in DC, then the AA community needs to start encouraging AA teachers to be applying for those spots, taking them, and nurturing our future generation.

If it is the AA preschool teachers are the ones discriminating against AA preschoolers, that is a problem for the AA community to resolve. Every member of the AA community should be looking out for every child (black or white, but especially AA). If you see an AA parent who hurts a AA child, it is your job to speak up as a fellow member of the AA community. You make sure that child is loved, fed, cared for. You offer to pick up that child from school and talk to his/her teachers. You don't just sit there and watch a parent be mean to any child.

As the member of a minority group who has a long history of discrimination and mistreatment, I have watched us look out for each other. The AA community needs to do the same. Obviously there is no excuse for discrimination ever but if you know it is happening, at the very least, move your child to a school environment where they can be safe and loved.

But yet you bitch about this when white people do this very thing and label it privilege. I would say what you suggest would be a problem but honestly even if it happens it won't possibly be in numbers enough to move the needle.

[Anonymous]

The fact is that, if a misbehaving classmate--of any race--hits, bites, bullies, etc., a kid of any race, the parents of the victim will want, nay, demand, that appropriate action be taken against the perpetrator. Equal punishment foe equal misdeeds, of course. But the buck always stops when it's personal. The rest is just blather.