In our society, we tend to make many assumptions. Assumptions about almost everything. I feel that we have become less open minded, and many citizens in our country have become extremely narrow minded. When reading the "mystery reading" for the week, I was shocked that people would think that there was something "wrong" with the author, Bill Ayers, because HE was a kindergarten teacher. I found it so frustrating that he had to justify himself to his wife's colleagues. What is so wrong about a middle aged man being a kindergarten teacher? The ultimate goal in my personal life is just to be happy. By the way Bill Ayers writes, he sounds to be extremely happy and content within the profession of a kindergarten teacher.
Assumptions are made in the classroom as well. We assume what students can't do based upon their "disabilities". Why don't we ever focus on what children with "disabilities" CAN do? I have friends and family members who are "disabled". In certain areas they perform better then the "gifted" friends and family members that I have. As teachers we need to realize the strengths and weaknesses of all our students. We need to recognize what our students can do.
Assuming and labeling really hinders our society and our classrooms. If we can become more optimistic, it will make for a better world. We need to look for the good in all people, I believe that there is good within everyone.
2 comments:
I agree with what you are saying here and even wrote about it in my own blog. I have a cousin that is autistic. Others treat him like he isn't even a person sometimes and it's frustrating, because they don't even know him or know what gifts he has to offer.
I think with assuming things, we often "judge a book by its cover," even when we say we don't. I think as teachers, this is something we really have to be aware of-- through student to student relationships and even teacher to student relationships.
This subject is also very close to my heart. Lauren wrote a lot about this subject in her blog, which I commented on. This labeling and stereotyping that we do really is something that needs to be changed. Its something that I try to work on, and I hope that others realize how powerful stereotyping can be, and they work to change it by first changing themselves.
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