Reply to MLK Day education-Teacher not equipped to handle questions on race

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[quote=Anonymous]You know when your child asks you something of a sensitive nature that catches you off guard, and you haven't thought through the perfect response before you have to acknowledge your child's question somehow?

Teaching is like that but x25 students, give or take. Sometimes kids say things that aren't "on the plan", and you can't ignore what they said but in a moment you have to think of a response that acknowledges the comment or question, but also won't open a door that you hadn't planned to open.

And, in the last 10 years or so, you also have to think of the "take home" in that split second, which is when you ask yourself what students will go home and tell their families about what you said. I completely understand why the teacher said what she said. She acknowledged the comment, which was age appropriate coming from a 2nd grader, and also reinforced that way of thinking is "cuckoo"--an accurate and age appropriate word to describe that way of thinking.

Sometimes you can't win. One day my class was brainstorming words that begin with the "sh" sound, and when it was one girl's turn she proudly exclaimed "shit!"  That afternoon my principal got a call from an angry parent complaining that I allow students to use curse words in the classroom. You can't control what kids say, you can only control how you react to it, and it may not be the perfect response every single time in every parents' eyes.

If you think the situation calls for more attention than it was given, then go deeper in detail at home. Education is not just provided in school--this would be a great learning opportunity for your family to delve deeper into this subject if you feel it deserves more attention.  [/quote]

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