The other day this week I had two young boys come up to me and ask me for my autograph. They went onto Trinity's website and printed off a picture of me from basketball and wanted me to autograph it. I couldn't help but just laugh, and I signed the picture. After reading in Chapter 4 and 5 about labeling and then sterotyping. This certain situation got me to thinking about that.
When I was in middle school and junior high you always had your different "groups." Not only did you have different groups, but kids were labeled as diffferent things. You were almost guaranteed that you would have a few kids in your class that would be the teachers pet. And there was always a comedian and then there loud and obnoxious students, but also quiet students. Everyone got a label it seemed like. In my short time with this field experience, I even find myself watching these students and then making assumptions about them. One girl always seems to be talking, and in my head I found myself thinking that oh she must cause a lot of trouble in class all the time. It's hard not to start labeling kids and stereotype about what they are like.
Just observing these students, I can see for some of them how it is such a struggle to try and fit in with the rest of the class. This often times can be where sterotyping starts, when kids tend to be a little more quiet then the rest or a little different then the rest. There is nothing wrong with that, but with our society there is so much pressure in being like the rest. From there kids start to make fun of others and assume they are "weird" or many other things. I caught two boys the other day making stuff up about another kid that I knew were obviously not true. These two boys were telling a group of students many things that put the kid down and they got everyone laughing. I was standing not too far away listening and I quickly put an end to it. I told them it was unnecessary and assured everyone that the things they were saying were not true. Ever since I go to this school and started aiding, I could tell that this young boy was going to be made fun of a lot. People called him a nerd and loser, and he had done nothing to them. He just enjoys doing things that the other boys in his class don't enjoy. He is a very smart individual, and he's very easy to talk to. It's such a shame that he has to be made fun for being himself.
Going back to the teachers pet label, I think its also very important that we as teachers not have favorites in our class. I find myself struggling with that even with teacher aiding. I often talk to the same kids, and I need to remember to treat and talk to everyone equally. It can be very difficult at times, especially with the students who are more shy, but if I show everyone the same attention, that will benefit myself and my class..
Jon, thanks for sticking up for the kid that was being ridiculed. Kids can really be merciless, and teachers (and future teachers) must insiste that there is no place for such activity in our schools or really anywhere. Now days they often resort to technology tools and social networking sites to do their bullying. I think of Jesus, the greatest teacher ever, and how he always stuck up for the poor, the downtrodden, and the other "scum" of society. He obviously didn't think of these people as lesser. In fact he said that the last will be first. I want to encourage you to continue being the voice of Jesus in your placement.
ReplyDeleteJon,
ReplyDeleteI think we often are quick to reprimand students who label others, but like you said, we as future teachers are also prone to labeling students as well. It is difficult not to put a child in a certain category. The important thing is not to act on that. It is also hard not to have your favorites. You find some kids who were just like you and it is hard not to connect with them on a different level. But I think it is the same in this situation. In my opinion, you can have your favorites, but as soon as you act on those feelings, you are not being fair to all your students. I believe it is hard to not have favorites. That's the way we were created. I also think that students this age will do anything to get laughs or be cool. Like the students in your class, putting other students down makes them feel better about themselves and also they may feel "cooler". I appreciate the fact that you stood up for that student. It really means a lot to them and shows them you care.
Jon,
ReplyDeleteFirst off, like Megan said that was good that you stood up for the student who had different interests than the other boys. I can imagine that meant a lot to him to know that an old guy would stick up for him. It sucks for students who have different interest than the “normal” group of students; they are typically the ones who get ridiculed the most for simply being different. I think that it is important for students to understand that they all have differences, but that those differences should be a means of negative conduct towards them.
Also, going along with what you were saying about your younger years and how students make groups. I know exactly what you mean, I think everyone did it. It is still evident today in almost every classroom certain types of students flock together and others are left out to be alone. Children were the same back when we were young and they are still the same today, unfortunately.
Jon,
ReplyDeleteYou had a lot of good points in here. I also chuckled when I read that the students wanted your autography. That's great that they think you are a celebrity. What a great way to relate to them and make them realize you are a person too and not just a teacher and authority figure.
I also agree that it is great that you helped stick up for the student. I have had experiences as well where students have been picked on and seem defenseless. Afterwards, the student has come up to me and shared their appreciation, if not by words, by their actions. I am sure you experienced the same thing.
And labeling is such a difficulty thing. It is so easy to do! This past semester I was a grader for a class and I found myself constantly having to remind myself to not look at the name of whose paper I was grading. It makes it much easier to grade the short answer with an open mind. As teachers we need to try to have that open mind as much as possible.