FNED 502 Social Issues in Education

June 7^th, 2018

 

Defining Racism "Can we talk?

By Dr. Beverly Tatum

The article written by Dr. Beverly Tatum titled Can We Talk? Is about an Era where School segregation was the nornm. Dr. Tatum took her time to investigate and find a way for "racism" to be defined and thoroughly explained.

Throughout the text, Tatum made vast attempts of explaining the meaning behind the word "racism." The article discusses how racism starts at a young age for many people due to limited interaction with others outside of our racial/ethnic/socio-economic/religious backgrounds from our own and the lack firsthand experience with people different from others. It also discussed how stereotypes come from what we have not been told which was interesting perspective to look at for me because we typically say that stereotypes come from pre-conceived notions. The definition of beauty has long been on the basis of race. The article then goes on to discuss prejudice and describe it as preconceived judgment or opinion, based on the limited knowledge people have.

Here is where the article got very interesting.  Dr. Beverly Tatum defines racism as a system of advantage based on race; not just prejudice but a system.  She goes on to define Cultural racism as cultural images and messages that affirm assumed superiority of Whites and assumed inferiority of people of color. Dr. Beverly Tatum attributes racism to what she calls “Smog in the air” Smog is visible at some points but still less apparent at others and yet many people still breathe it in.  Dr. Tatum continues to say that for the dominant culture racism, is not completely our fault but it is our fault.  This comment makes me think of the video I am not Your Negro. Just like Dr. Tatum Mr. James Baldwin Believes that “racism is not a race problem, racism is a human problem. We are all affected by this plague.

Dr. Tatum goes on to say that the “pollution” of the air happens when we allow our personal prejudices to intervene in our lives as we interact with different people throughout our interactions because we lack knowledge of certain groups. The results will be our rejection of the fact that we have prejudices. So we should ask ourselves, do I have positive images of another group before I truly know anything about them? Unfortunately many people create a negative image, perception about other people (group(s) before they even get to meet them.  Other people create negative images, perception about others based on comments made by other

Dr. Tatum goes on to discuss what she calls Passive Racism versus Active Racism. Active racism is racism that continues to superficially display racist ways and ideals such as the KKK. Passive racism is racism in which we see malicious intents happening yet one continues to allow the racism to occur. Who can help to end racism? Society still has a lot of work to do in order to end racial discrimination and social segregation in many communities around the nation. The responsibility to end racism is not exclusive to one race. Rather, the responsibility belongs to all of us.



FNED 502 Social Issues in Education

June 7^th, 2018

Schools, Prisons, and Social Implications of Punishment: Rethinking Disciplinary Practices



“Throughout the United States, schools most frequently punish the students who have the greatest academic, social, economic, and emotional needs”

 

Pero A. Noguera states in his article that students that are most likely to be suspended, expelled, or removed from the classroom for punishment are students who are low achievers. This clearly reveals that minorities (especially Blacks and Latinos) are vastly overrepresented. Noguera also explains that the enactment of zero tolerance policies related to discipline in school districts has contributed to a significant increase in the number of children who are being suspended and expelled from school.  The information read on this article makes me think of how in my School district as well as in other Districts were friends of mine work, have a similar mentality when it comes to handling persistent behavior problems. Unfortunately, minority children are always over represented and always looked at being the main source of behavior problems around the school. Some School Principal think that removing difficult who exhibit bad behavior will be a positive. They think that removing them will make the school a safer place to learn.

Some schools employ plans where removing difficult children and send them home to be home-schooled while still collecting funds from the state for their average daily attendance work for them.  Under the plan, work would be sent home and, occasionally, a teacher or counselor would make visits to monitor the student’s progress. Because many schools focus their attention on tackling unwanted behavior, school authorities are not thinking of what the root of the problem is/are. So, I wonder, what is it about the way schools throughout the United States operate—without any apparent adaptation or uniform code; which results in the consistency of these patterns? Why is it that in order to keep peace and safety in school buildings Principals decide to punish the neediest and most disadvantaged students?  

Why are the poorest students being the ones most likely to be punished? I do not think that removing students with behavior issues is the answer to minimize these problems.  I believe that the needs of students are not being met due to the inability of schools to meet those needs. No none is paying attention to the fact that children who are behind academically and who are unable to perform at a level commensurate with grade-level expectations, often engage in disruptive behavior, either out of frustration or embarrassment. School’s lack of support results in students being disciplined constantly. Sad!

Noguera had an opportunity to tour an Elementary school in California. The assistant Principal of the school made a comment which to me is unfair. The Assistant Principal stated “Do you see that boy? There’s a prison cell in San Quentin waiting for him.” Pedro was surprised by the c comment the Assistant Principal made.  I aIso wonder, how was this person able to predict the future of this child? Unfortunately the boy’s father, uncle and older brother were imprisoned.

 

 The Assistant Principal added “see from how he behaves already that it’s only a matter of time before he ends up there too”. Noguera Promptly asked the man, “Given what you know about him, what is the school doing to prevent him from going to prison? Unfortunately the Vise Principal thought, this boy was not his responsibility. In fact, he was getting ready to give this child on an indefinite suspension from school.  Suspending, expelling students from schools due to behavior for many students becomes a vicious cycle of punishment that eventually leads to entanglement with law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Sadly, the Assistant Principal predicted that this misbehaving youngster’s future is troublingly prophetic.

Schools typically justify using removal through suspension or expulsion by arguing that such practices are necessary to maintain an orderly learning environment for others. Schools segregate and isolate minority students supposedly because according to administrators this will guaranteed a safe learning environment within the school building.  But does isolating/separating minority students from the rest of the school population actually work?  Schools whose main focus is minimizing negative behavior, will certainly produce low test scores.  The article mentions how teachers are worried because their test scores are low. Why? Simply because everyone at the school was trying to manage classroom disruptions. This issue will be alleviated when specialists are hired to work with behavior students.

Obtaining and employing the resources needed to meet the needs of the disadvantage will be a better solution to these problems. Providing student with the correct academic and social support will help them improve drastically.  Isolating/segregating students is simply not the solution.  Students should not feel they are in a prison or in a detention center(s).

Just like Noguera, I truly believe that just like affluent children, poor children are no less deserving of nurturing and kindness, and in fact they may require it even more than affluent children do. Children of all backgrounds should be treated respect and kindness. Just like Pedro Noguera, I also believe we should not have a rigid hand. We must show students values and we should value them as a human beings. Poor children are no less deserving of nurturing and kindness, and in fact may require it even more in order to overcome their obstacles and become successful lifelong learners.  Expelling minority students who exhibit negative behavior out of school will only add to the existing disciplinary issues many schools face.    

 

 



FNED 502 Social Issues in Education

June 5^th, 2018

Race, Racism and White Supremacy in Education  

                                 I Am Not Your Negro: A documentary video narrated by James Baldwin and Raoul Peck

The documentary film I Am Not Your Negro exposed the terrible experiences that Millions of African Americans faced during the times of Civil Rights Movement in the United States of America (1954 – 1968). Throughout this film prejudice is clearly visible all around the nation. Bias and injustice towards “Black Men” was evident everywhere. The story of “The Negro in America, is the Story of America and it is not a pretty story” James Baldwin words are deep and sad, it is well known that only the people in power are the only ones who will living from having a good and just life. Unfortunately the people who say they care for us, are precisely the ones who fail to protect us all the time. The film makes a remarkable depiction of how African Americans were marginalized and kept separate from the white population simply because they were seen as a plague (just like the Native American Population as seen by the European that conquered the US). Different laws were written and adopted in favor of “whites only”.  Laws like Jim Crow laws were established in the South beginning in the late 19th century.  T

he law mandated that Blacks couldn’t use the same public facilities as whites, live in many of the same towns or go to the same schools. Interracial marriage was illegal, and most blacks couldn’t vote because they were unable to pass voter literacy tests.  Even though this law was not adopted in the Northern States, millions of African American man, Woman and Children experienced discrimination at their jobs or when they tried to buy a house or get an education. To make matters worse, laws were passed in some states, where voting rights for blacks was limited or prohibited.



Black Civil Rights in the USA is a 5-minute video which documents exploitation of Blacks in the United States of America during the middle of the 20th century. https://youtu.be/mcXNRqlgXGo.

The documentary I Am Not Your Negro showed the devastation that social inequality produced in tour nation. Millions of African Americans men and women lost their lives as they publicly protested as they only wanted justice, peace and equality for all men. The Government and Whites did not want equality for all men simply because white people could not recognize and would not accept, a former slave of theirs to be one step closer or being at the same social level as they were. It is unfortunate to see how in 2018, 50 years after President Lyndon Johnson singed the Civil Rights Act in on July 2, 1964, Equality still elusive for millions of American Citizens. African American men have made many economic and educational gains, but still fall short.

 

For many generations, African Americans and other minority groups have had many unfortunate and deadly encounters with police, and other agencies which continues to confront minority groups simply because they are seen as a powerful Plague which MUST be erased, eliminated from the face of the planet. All African Americans wanted is freedom, but freedom and success still seems to be a distant dream for many African American as well as other Minority groups in the US. Power will still be a big obstacle for many of them. Mr. Baldwin himself stated on the Film that he had to move to France in order to achieve his goals and become a successful citizen in The US.  

This documentary was an astonishing and challenging sharp examination of race in the United State. Confronting how the country's history repeats and how Baldwin insisted we must remember, relentlessly question, remain conscientious and resist.

Mr. James Baldwin lived a difficult and amazing life. I love to see how he managed to crawl out of poverty and out from under the burden of a segregated America to achieve a place as one of the heroes of its betterment. Unfortunately, not every African American is able to confront injustice and be victorious! People like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, tried to be the change maker in America, but were confronted by evil power. They made the ultimate sacrifice (lost their lives). They raised their voices to stand up for the rights of those who had no voice.