The culturally competent teacher involves and works with families and community resources, understanding the differences in families, the important influence of family and participation in students’ learning and the benefit of collaborating with the wider school community.
With becoming a teacher an individual brings on a series of struggles not only with the education system but with the parents and students that are welcomed into your classroom. A family can influence many things about a child such as beliefs, behavior and communication. As a teacher it is your obligation to meet the needs not only for just the children, parents and school but also the needs of the community.
When it comes to the parents of the children a teacher can run into many different complications. One major complication that you may run into while dealing with the parents is that fact that they may or not may like how or what you are teaching their children. Another may be that they do not approve of children in the classroom due to ethnicity, culture or linguistic background. Parents may also feel that the way you are teaching in the classroom may not be acceptable and that the children cannot really relate to what is being taught. There are many complications that a parent and teacher can run into throughout a school year but those are some of the most common. When being confronted with a conflict of a parent I will do my best to try and come to an understanding between what we all feel is best for the students in question. By taking the time to listen and form a compromise between myself and the parents shows the parents I have a great deal of respect for them as well as their children, and that I do understand they want the best possible education for their children.
I feel that no matter how far we progress in a teaching environment we as teachers will always have to overcome the demands of parents and the community. Compromises will have to be made to meet the standards of not only the parents and community but also of what you expect as well as the education system. Being a teacher brings on many struggles and those who are confident in thinking they may be able to over come all odds I believe make great teachers and allies between teacher and parent.
Lisa Delpit author the "The Silenced Dialogue: Power and Pedagogy in Educating Other People's Children" goes into depth about this type of situation in her article we read in class. In this article she goes on to talk about the struggles a teacher may have with dealing parents and students while working in a classroom. Delpit states "I want the same thring for everyone else's childrean as i want for mine."(page6) Delpit also discusses the impact a family and community can have on a child and how this may affect the child in a learning enviornment.
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I also connected this prompt to Delpit! I think you make great points of conflict that can arise between a teacher and a parent. I think one of the main problems that exists between teachers and parents is the communication of how the information is being presented to the students. I really liked the part where you said "no matter how far we progress in teaching environment we as teacher will always have to overcome the demands of parents and the community". I think that this is absolutely true and something that needs to be recognized in order for progress to be made. I also agree with the part and talked about it in my own blog where you said that you have to let the parent understand that you respect them and understand that they want the best education possible for their child. Sounds like you had a good experience, good luck in the future!:)
ReplyDeleteI used this prompt and related it to Delpit as well! I like the quote you used form her article. I want the same thing for everyone else’s children as I want for mine.” I got the impression that this quote stood out for all of us in class. And I like how Delpit challenged this idea. She goes on to argue how certain people deny the fact that white children get sole access to the best schools and American Jobs. And then quotes another theorists by throwing it out there that the biggest difference between black and white people are that black people KNOW when they are lying. Strong statement, huh?
ReplyDeleteDelpit also states that “the authoritative person gets to be a teacher because she is authoritative…. That is, “The teacher is the authority because she is the teacher.” How unproductive, right? It sounds like from this blog that you will not be this kind of teacher. I like how you discussed what would be a good teacher. Someone who is confident and who can compromise. I also like how you stated that a good teacher make ALLIES between parent and teacher. Great word! I think your knowledge and confidence will make you a great teacher. Good luck =)
Hi Laci,
ReplyDeleteYou mention Delpit in your post, a relevant connection. I encourage you, however, to re-read the section you quoted. She is actually interrogating this attitude. She challenges teachers to see children as individuals. Some children come equipped with cultural capital; others need to have the rules and codes of standard English made explicit. Your point that a child's heritage has an effect on the child's learning is well-taken, however.
Keep thinking on these things,
Dr. August