Practicing Awareness

Early this week was the last day of classes at my elementary school. One of my duties was to help place children in their classes for next year. These children were placed based on good and bad combinations and great matches with teachers and etc. Then the next year teacher got the chance to view their new classes. One of the 4^th grade teachers viewed her class and automatically said why do I have to have so many of them in my class. I was so upset with this statement. First and foremost the school’s main demographic is African Americans. So when this teacher was speaking of “them” she was speaking of African Americans and it was rude and ignorant. If she doesn’t want to teach them she should probably choose to teach at a different school. I thought it was very unprofessional of her.

I was angry with her. I felt as though she was assaulting me as well. Her comment made me think twice of her abilities to care and educate children. If she was having a hard time looking past their color I can only imagine what other things she discriminates against.

This week’s observation affected my perception of the fellow professionals I hang out with in a contradiction manner. Although all of the teachers were sad to see their children leave for the summer and for their next classes, they were still very mean when it came to discussing these kids and how much of a chance they have to succeed. It makes me nervous about my own future in education. Will I eventually be in their shoes, loving the children while discriminating and categorizing them? Furthermore is that a normal thing, based on the teachers prior knowledge about these particular students are they merely examining their cultures and just preparing themselves?