According to infoworks when the students were asked about their ethnicity 30% responded African American/Black, 30% Latino/Hispanic, 22% Multi-response, 8% White, 8% Native Hawaiian or
Other Pacific Islander, 3% Asian. This was 4th and 5th graders. I am a reading buddy with 3 kindergarten students and 3 first graders. Not one of them is white. If I had to guess I would say that they are Black and Hispanic. Their is no language barrier, maybe an accent but nothing too heavy. If I remember correctly most of the teachers were white. I found this too be interesting. The students seem to listen to the teachers and do what they are told. A few of my students were shy at first but once I worked with them for a little while they became more open and friendly with me. Since this school is such a diverse school I feel the students will not feel uncomfortable around people of a different ethnic background. This is very important considering our society is becoming more and more diverse. This may work against them since they will not have any white privileges but I think it will benefit them more than hurt them later in life.
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You bring up a good point: these students are comfortable in this diverse background, which is an asset in order to work well with people of diverse backgrounds down the road. check out Elizabeht's latest post on this... Let's think about what kind of questions need to be addressed for you as their teacher?
ReplyDeleteEddy,
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting that you noticed that while most of your students are African American or Hispanic, most of the teachers are White. This is very similar to my school. The ethnicity of my Elementary school is 51% Hispanic/Latino and 22% African American. However, I have only seen White teachers. I can't even say that I have seen one teacher who matches the student ethnicity. I also find this amazing.
You also bring up a good point about the children being comfortable in their diverse school. I agree that this will benefit the students because they will encounter diversity throughout their entire lives. They will also learn to treat people fairly no matter their ethnicity.
Johnson wrote in Privilege Power and Difference, "I mean that you'd think we could treat one another with decency and respect and appreciate if not support the best we have in us."
I think that if more children grow up in more diverse schools, they would be able to treat one another with respect and decency no matter their ethnicity. Going to school with students who do not look the same as you will no longer be out of the ordinary.
Hope you have fun at your next visit!