Teachers can find conversations on racism daunting says
Menachem Moscovitz. But it is significant to discuss it. Lots of teachers give arguments on why they avoid discussing this topic.
Do school children understand the depth of the word- Race? Can a child tell what race a person belongs to just by looking at him/her? How dangerous can it be for a child growing years if introduced to racism?
All these questions are tough even for a wise person to answer, then how can we expect children to understand all of this?
One thing is for sure that children do learn things each day, they observe their surroundings and catchphrases or a word. Kids are innocent they are not aware of what is wrong and what is right.
Menachem Moscovitz believes that parents can shape the majority of a child’s thinking and behavior. These things should be first introduced to a kid through his/her parents. Many psychologists agree with the fact that not talking about racism does not help instead it creates isolation.
- How to Address the Race in a Class filled with Students?
Figuring out when to talk about racial culture can seem to be stressful, especially while including in school curriculum. But, you have to be ready and prepare your mind for this task.
- Honesty is the Best Policy
As we all have been taught all these years that honesty is the best policy. Talking about racial diversity/culture means
acknowledging what students already know- ‘world is filled with different values and people.’
Self-awareness and self-reflection is the first step to prevent racism in schools. Teachers/educators must be able to see or notice how the intersections of race, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, social-economic status impact us at different levels.
- Lessons on Race and Conflict Resolution
To prevent racism educators must talk to students explicitly about racism and have discussions about race can be uncomfortable, but with proper planning. An initially uncomfortable conversation can become a transformative
learning experience. When we learn about cultures but do not talk about the difficult aspects of our history, we are doing a disservice to our students and our society.
As a teacher you should be well aware of your role, you don’t tell children what to think, you tell them how to think. Experts agree that it’s important that adults affirm what young children are feeling. A good teacher lets students share their thoughts and does not judge them for it.
