Teach Out Project Proposal

CHOOSE A TEXT:

Review your whole blog to remind yourself about what we have read so far in class. What texts have stayed with you so far? What articles inspire you?  What topic matters most to you in terms of your own work? Are there any of these texts that you would like to share with others in your life? 

Two texts that have stayed with me are:

“Colorblindness is the New Racism”

Margalynne Armstrong & Stepanie Wildman

    Colorblindness is said to be the new racism- being color blind is believing we are all the same.  We are not. We are not all granted the same privilege or treated the same and ignoring that makes it harder to address.  When we claim we do not notice race, we are not denying prejudice or promoting equality, instead we are making the reality of racial discrimination invisible.  This mindset may be well-intended or inadvertent, but in failing to see race, we dismiss the cultural identities and erase the lived experience of people of color.  In doing this, we also ignore the unique struggles others continue to face.  Being color brave means not being afraid to “notice your race and the race of others around you” and acknowledging that race really does matter. Having “color insight” or being color brave is being aware of the unfair advantages and unearned privilege of being white.  It is about realizing and admitting that racism still exists and that one’s identity and cultural background directly impacts how they are perceived and treated. Once we acknowledge these differences, we can shift from being part of the problem and start being part of the solution.  Colorblindness arises from not only wanting to be seen as a good person but also the discomfort of having difficult conversations about race and tension this may create.  However, by choosing to remain silent or neutral we are actually supporting an unfair system.  Real change can only happen when we are brave enough to name the problem and speak up to challenge the system.

    This text along with Mellody Hobson's TED talk "Color Blind or Color Brave" was a real eye-opener for me. At first, I didn't get it. It was hard for me to understand that my way of thinking was wrong and to recognize that racism still exists on so many levels. I was not looking at society as a whole or even the fact that I had certain advantages being white. Despite having this new awareness, I think these conversations may still be difficult for me but I will not avoid them. Michele had made a comment on my post encouraging me to "lean in with questions and listen more than speak" . I am also glad that I was able to have a conversation with my cousin who is bi-racial.- a conversation that I am fairly certain would have never taken place if not for this class.

Shifting the Paradigm from Deficit Oriented Schools to Asset-Based Models:

Why Leaders Need to Promote an Asset Orientation in Our Schools

Shannon Renkley & Katherine Bertolini

  The deficit-based model of education focuses on perceived “deficiencies” or what astudent cannot do instead of their strengths and skills. This model assumes that all

students learn the same way at the same time.  When a student does not perform well

academically,  it is thought to be due to lack of ability or a lack of effort.  This can lead

to mislabeling.  I thought about how we use a deficit based model in the nursing world

as well.  Our nursing care plans tend to focus on patient weaknesses:  Self-Care Deficit,

Knowledge Deficit etc. The asset -based model focuses on student strengths, talents and

abilities rather than weaknesses creating a positive learning environment that values

diversity and experience.   Cultural backgrounds, experiences and language are

considered positive attributes or assets to be built upon rather than barriers to learning.  

For example, a student who comes from a non- English speaking home would be

recognized as a multilingual learner rather than a student having a language barrier.

Using an asset based approach focuses on student strengths, talents and abilities rather

than weaknesses creating a positive learning environment that values diversity and

experience. 

        This text also spoke of the importance of family and community involvement as

well as the forty developmental assets.  I was at first surprised to learn that studies over

the last thirty five years have consistently shown the greatest decline occurred during

middle school years This made me reflect on classmates that attended school with me. 

Our elementary school provided a great deal of support to the students.  For some, that

was probably their only source of support.  I thought about  how some of those kids may

have become lost leading them to choose different life paths when they no longer had

that positive influence. I worry about some of the students at my school and what will

happen when they move on to middle school, losing the support of our school.

    

WHO DO YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH?

Are there people in your life with whom you would really like to talk about these texts? Colleagues? Students? Family members? Friends? Children?

    I would like to share the text "Colorblindness is the New Racism" with my adult daughter who is an educator and also a mother. Since she teaches at a high school with a diverse population, it will be interesting to discuss ways to adapt lessons with consideration to different cultural backgrounds. I know that she has not yet discussed race with her own children. I think this would be a perfect starting point to begin teaching my grandchildren about race and noticing differences. Since I always taught both my children to not see color, I plan to also extend this Teach Out to my youngest as well, but for this project I will be focusing on my adult daughter.

WHAT FORMAT MIGHT WORK FOR YOU?

Individual interview? Small group discussion? Art activity? Professional development workshop? Poster for your office? Pamphlet to share? Lesson plan? Etc?

    The format that would work best for me is discussion. I plan to meet with my daughter at her home (My son-in-law will take the kids for ice cream). I think having a quiet environment will be more conducive for a teach out. We'll read the text and watch the TED talk together. After this we'll discuss the key points. We will share our thoughts and perspectives. We will then brainstorm how we can improve our current practice and ways that we can apply this to real life situations: in our educational settings as well as home life. I also found a couple videos about racism that are age appropriate. As I stated, I think this conversation will be a good starting point to begin teaching my grandchildren about race and noticing differences.