Special classes for teachers to learn to teach to African American children?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a black woman this is beyond insulting. Why do you need special training to teach black kids??

Another black woman chiming in here. It goes way beyond insulting. This special training implies our boys, in particular, are subhuman. The whole issue concerning different standards of punishment when in comes to suspensions and expulsions, I've been aware of this during my children's years in private schools.

These were the same issues I grew up with several decades ago. Sadly, most of the boys that I grew up and attended school with didn't survive past 25. We attended preschool-high school together, most were bright and happy boys.

I don't see it as insulting or implying that our boys are subhuman. I thought 20:34's response was a good one that showed why it may be needed in some areas.

If you can acknowledge the issue in bold as being true, why are you against a class that helps teachers confront their prejudices? There's been research that shows that the prejudice against black students (particularly black boys) isn't just shown in unfair punishments, but also in how the students' work is graded.

Seriously? Classes to train teachers to eliminate their biases in the classroom? Wouldn't a racist teacher resent having to waste their time in such a class and not take the "training" seriously? Why would a non-racist teacher need special training?

[Anonymous]

Some of the comments on this thread really show why we need to be more sensitive to all of those around us. In the DC area we live with many racial differences, cultural differences, etc. The DC area is fast become majority minority. Maybe we don't need teacher training - but as a community we do need to deal with reality. I am sure there are teachers with biases that perhaps they don't even realize they have. However, I am frankly more worried about the commuity as a whole when I read some of the ignorant comments on this thread.

[Anonymous]

Teachers should have a training that forces them to confront any biases they might have about ANY group -- white, black, indian, jewish, asian, middle-eastern, poor, rich . . . We live in a very international area, and there are assumptions people have about different groups that could hinder equal and appropriate treatment in the classroom. Limiting it to African-American kids is ridiculous; making it about "how to teach" African-American kids -- as if they are a monolith -- is even more ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

A Black PP here.

I am not against "diversity training" that examines differences across a broad variety of stereotypes, including AA, Asian-Amercians, Latinos, SE disadvantaged Whites, children of Gay parents, etc." In any professional setting, that is helpful and educational from time to time. What I object to is that AA kids are being singled out as needing special care and handling. Because you know what? Requiring AA specific training actually reinforces the incorrect stereotype that AA kids cannot function in the mainstream without some special accomodations.

Every public school has issues - especially HS. A couple of MCPS non-AA examples (names omitted to protect the innocent). One public MCPS has a fairly significant Latino gang issue going on right now. Another public MCPS (that is comprised mostly of SE advantaged Whites) has a prevalent alcohol and drug culture. My DS goes to one and I volunteer at the other. In both cases, I am nervous about allowing my AA DS to hang with his friends at either of these schools. How does AA specific traning help teachers deals with these types of issues?

[Anonymous]

How interactive are these classes or is it just more intellectualism on how to deal with the black other?
Lessons in decency?

Yes, I agree pps separate but equal treatment.

[Anonymous]

ITA with the posters who are offended by the OP and the proponents of "AA are so much different than the the rest of you that we need to be treated much differently. We are not like you." I honestly feel sorry for people who walk around believing people hate you for the color of your skin. I am taking my DS out of a school that is TEACHING the Balkanization of America. When I was growing up, you were not allowed to stereotype. you were not allowed to get bad grades. You respected your family aou did reflected your family values. OP, you are LOST.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of the comments on this thread really show why we need to be more sensitive to all of those around us. In the DC area we live with many racial differences, cultural differences, etc. The DC area is fast become majority minority. Maybe we don't need teacher training - but as a community we do need to deal with reality. I am sure there are teachers with biases that perhaps they don't even realize they have. However, I am frankly more worried about the commuity as a whole when I read some of the ignorant comments on this thread.

Yes lets all be sensitive and bury our heads in the sand and pretend that there are not serious problems in classrooms caused by minority students. Ask ANY teacher who causes the most disruptions in their classrooms and who are the most difficult to deal with. Why do you think that when there is an opening at schools like Poolesville, Churchill, Whitman, Quince Orchard or their feeder schools that there are hundreds of applicants? Why? They want to get away from the jungle that the east side of the county has become.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the comments on this thread really show why we need to be more sensitive to all of those around us. In the DC area we live with many racial differences, cultural differences, etc. The DC area is fast become majority minority. Maybe we don't need teacher training - but as a community we do need to deal with reality. I am sure there are teachers with biases that perhaps they don't even realize they have. However, I am frankly more worried about the commuity as a whole when I read some of the ignorant comments on this thread.

Yes lets all be sensitive and bury our heads in the sand and pretend that there are not serious problems in classrooms caused by minority students. Ask ANY teacher who causes the most disruptions in their classrooms and who are the most difficult to deal with. Why do you think that when there is an opening at schools like Poolesville, Churchill, Whitman, Quince Orchard or their feeder schools that there are hundreds of applicants? Why? They want to get away from the jungle that the east side of the county has become.

Since hundreds and hundreds of white teachers are leaving town to avoid teaching minority (black) students, what about the ones with predominately black classrooms who remain? Are they just going through the motions until they land a better position?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the comments on this thread really show why we need to be more sensitive to all of those around us. In the DC area we live with many racial differences, cultural differences, etc. The DC area is fast become majority minority. Maybe we don't need teacher training - but as a community we do need to deal with reality. I am sure there are teachers with biases that perhaps they don't even realize they have. However, I am frankly more worried about the commuity as a whole when I read some of the ignorant comments on this thread.

Yes lets all be sensitive and bury our heads in the sand and pretend that there are not serious problems in classrooms caused by minority students. Ask ANY teacher who causes the most disruptions in their classrooms and who are the most difficult to deal with. Why do you think that when there is an opening at schools like Poolesville, Churchill, Whitman, Quince Orchard or their feeder schools that there are hundreds of applicants? Why? They want to get away from the jungle that the east side of the county has become.

Wow! So....Blair is a jungle? Blake? Paint Branch? Springbrook? How do the behavior issuses at those schools compare to BCC, Richard Montgomery, Gaithersburg? Where is the data to back up your dogma? And do not quote me disciplne stats because there are many studies that show that Hispanic and AA boys get harsher discipline than White boys for the same offenses.

Oh and did you know that 2 of the schools that you cite are in the top 4 in the county in suspensions/expulsions due to in-school drug possession? And NONE of the top 4 are East county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a black woman this is beyond insulting. Why do you need special training to teach black kids??

Another black woman chiming in here. It goes way beyond insulting. This special training implies our boys, in particular, are subhuman. The whole issue concerning different standards of punishment when in comes to suspensions and expulsions, I've been aware of this during my children's years in private schools.

These were the same issues I grew up with several decades ago. Sadly, most of the boys that I grew up and attended school with didn't survive past 25. We attended preschool-high school together, most were bright and happy boys.

I don't see it as insulting or implying that our boys are subhuman. I thought 20:34's response was a good one that showed why it may be needed in some areas.

If you can acknowledge the issue in bold as being true, why are you against a class that helps teachers confront their prejudices? There's been research that shows that the prejudice against black students (particularly black boys) isn't just shown in unfair punishments, but also in how the students' work is graded.

Seriously? Classes to train teachers to eliminate their biases in the classroom? Wouldn't a racist teacher resent having to waste their time in such a class and not take the "training" seriously? Why would a non-racist teacher need special training?

Everyone is biased and not just in regards to race. It's not as simple as racist vs nonracist. There are people who are not homophobic who have biases against gay people. There are people who are not racist who hold prejudiced views against people of another race.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a black woman this is beyond insulting. Why do you need special training to teach black kids??

Another black woman chiming in here. It goes way beyond insulting. This special training implies our boys, in particular, are subhuman. The whole issue concerning different standards of punishment when in comes to suspensions and expulsions, I've been aware of this during my children's years in private schools.

These were the same issues I grew up with several decades ago. Sadly, most of the boys that I grew up and attended school with didn't survive past 25. We attended preschool-high school together, most were bright and happy boys.

I don't see it as insulting or implying that our boys are subhuman. I thought 20:34's response was a good one that showed why it may be needed in some areas.

If you can acknowledge the issue in bold as being true, why are you against a class that helps teachers confront their prejudices? There's been research that shows that the prejudice against black students (particularly black boys) isn't just shown in unfair punishments, but also in how the students' work is graded.

Seriously? Classes to train teachers to eliminate their biases in the classroom? Wouldn't a racist teacher resent having to waste their time in such a class and not take the "training" seriously? Why would a non-racist teacher need special training?

Everyone is biased and not just in regards to race. It's not as simple as racist vs nonracist. There are people who are not homophobic who have biases against gay people. There are people who are not racist who hold prejudiced views against people of another race.

Prejudiced views in this situation meaning blacks are of inferior intelligence?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the comments on this thread really show why we need to be more sensitive to all of those around us. In the DC area we live with many racial differences, cultural differences, etc. The DC area is fast become majority minority. Maybe we don't need teacher training - but as a community we do need to deal with reality. I am sure there are teachers with biases that perhaps they don't even realize they have. However, I am frankly more worried about the commuity as a whole when I read some of the ignorant comments on this thread.

Yes lets all be sensitive and bury our heads in the sand and pretend that there are not serious problems in classrooms caused by minority students. Ask ANY teacher who causes the most disruptions in their classrooms and who are the most difficult to deal with. Why do you think that when there is an opening at schools like Poolesville, Churchill, Whitman, Quince Orchard or their feeder schools that there are hundreds of applicants? Why? They want to get away from the jungle that the east side of the county has become.

Since hundreds and hundreds of white teachers are leaving town to avoid teaching minority (black) students, what about the ones with predominately black classrooms who remain? Are they just going through the motions until they land a better position?

Who said anything about leaving town? Ask any teacher (if you know one) where he/she would rather be teaching if given the chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a black woman this is beyond insulting. Why do you need special training to teach black kids??

Another black woman chiming in here. It goes way beyond insulting. This special training implies our boys, in particular, are subhuman. The whole issue concerning different standards of punishment when in comes to suspensions and expulsions, I've been aware of this during my children's years in private schools.

These were the same issues I grew up with several decades ago. Sadly, most of the boys that I grew up and attended school with didn't survive past 25. We attended preschool-high school together, most were bright and happy boys.

I don't see it as insulting or implying that our boys are subhuman. I thought 20:34's response was a good one that showed why it may be needed in some areas.

If you can acknowledge the issue in bold as being true, why are you against a class that helps teachers confront their prejudices? There's been research that shows that the prejudice against black students (particularly black boys) isn't just shown in unfair punishments, but also in how the students' work is graded.

Seriously? Classes to train teachers to eliminate their biases in the classroom? Wouldn't a racist teacher resent having to waste their time in such a class and not take the "training" seriously? Why would a non-racist teacher need special training?

Everyone is biased and not just in regards to race. It's not as simple as racist vs nonracist. There are people who are not homophobic who have biases against gay people. There are people who are not racist who hold prejudiced views against people of another race.

I agree that everyone is biased. However, when authority figures (teachers in this case) use their prejudiced views to destroy the potential of children of a specific race that is indeed racist behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the comments on this thread really show why we need to be more sensitive to all of those around us. In the DC area we live with many racial differences, cultural differences, etc. The DC area is fast become majority minority. Maybe we don't need teacher training - but as a community we do need to deal with reality. I am sure there are teachers with biases that perhaps they don't even realize they have. However, I am frankly more worried about the commuity as a whole when I read some of the ignorant comments on this thread.

Yes lets all be sensitive and bury our heads in the sand and pretend that there are not serious problems in classrooms caused by minority students. Ask ANY teacher who causes the most disruptions in their classrooms and who are the most difficult to deal with. Why do you think that when there is an opening at schools like Poolesville, Churchill, Whitman, Quince Orchard or their feeder schools that there are hundreds of applicants? Why? They want to get away from the jungle that the east side of the county has become.

Since hundreds and hundreds of white teachers are leaving town to avoid teaching minority (black) students, what about the ones with predominately black classrooms who remain? Are they just going through the motions until they land a better position?

Who said anything about leaving town? Ask any teacher (if you know one) where he/she would rather be teaching if given the chance.

I've been given many opportunities to teach in some of the schools perceived to have the better reputation. And while I did open up a new high school, I stayed for only two years before moving back to a downcounty school. I've spent the bulk of my teaching years as the "minority" in my own classroom.

While I am free and comfortable in having discussions about race - as I do have plenty of friends who are not white - it does become difficult at times hearing a lot of blame placed upon white teachers. There will come a point where some of the better teachers - who avoid confrontation at all costs - will leave. And sadly, I've seen fewer and fewer minorities enter the profession. So there are no role models for our students of color.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a white parent of a non- white child. A few years ago, before she was in elementary school, I would have agreed with several of the AA posters - the idea that this class is needed is insulting.

But now that my kid is in school? Believe me, white teachers need the class. If nothing else, it teaches them that their subtle and not so subtle biases are indeed able to be perceived by both students and parents and they need to try harder.

You are ridiculous, PP.

conflicted, too, I'd say

So don't preach to us when you can't even seem to find a balance with your own "non-white" child.

WTF?? Why am I "ridiculous" and "conflicted"? And what are you talking about "find a balance"?