October 2008 Question of the Month

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kim Carter on October 2, 2008 at 9:44pm

I think race DOES significantly impact dialogue in our democratic learning communities. Cultural differences influence how people engage in dialogue, with differing degrees of verbal communication and assertiveness, as well as differing valuing of community agreement and individual perspective.

Add to that the power and privilege associated with skin color, and access (who is at the table for the dialogue) and trust (the degree to which people feel safe in contributing honestly and authentically to the dialogue) become key factors in the dynamics of community dialogue.

I suspect there is a developmental aspect to this - and wonder if Kindergartners might have an edge on, say, high school students. Regardless, I believe if we want true democratic learning communities where all people have voice and visibility, leaders have a particular obligation to build trust through relationships, hold space for multiple perspectives, ensure rights, responsibilities and respect for everyone, and actively develop their own and others' will, skill, knowledge and capacity for having critical conversations across differences.

I look forward to hearing others' thoughts - and especially hope for strategies and success stories from our schools!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sean Clark on October 20, 2008 at 1:00pm

Right on, Kim Carter!

As a kid from a 98% white, non-Hispanic 700 student school, it was quite an adjustment to go to a somewhat diverse college of 21,000 students. I quickly found that different people have different ways of expressing themselves and the things they value, though I remain committed to the idea that our core similarities far outweigh our surface differences.

To not acknowledge (and celebrate) those differences, and confront the history of privilege is a recipe for failure. In my mind privilege is a significantly more odious differentiator.

I, too, would like to believe in the developmental aspects of this phenomenon, but given the influence of parents and community, I fear this is not so. There's a yiddish writer, his name escapes me, who said (more or less) "I have heard, word for word, adult slanders from the mouths of children. It is into that fray we must leap, working to "de-learn" what less enlightened cultures have downloaded to their children.

Sean

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by rob williams on October 13, 2008 at 10:58pm

Race does matter. In Dr. Chance Lewis' book, White Teachers-Diverse classrooms teachers and principals can read about the ten tips for working with students of color. This chapter features students who tell their own perceptions about the impact of race on teaching and learning. It is a good springboard for staff to talk about racism. Additionally, a personal discussion about race is critical for teachers to learn about their own and other views. This open discussion, even if uncomfortable encourages a school community to appreciate each others differences. It allows each of us to appreciate of our own personal stories. Racism in schools is very real. It impacts the lives of children. I have talked to many adults who tell of teachers and principals who treat them differently because of their skin color. They speak about ridicule, racial insults, and being put in the back of the class. The best means to create a democratic learning community is to talk about being a minority student or teacher in an all white/black/ or hispanic school... for as long as it takes.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kim Carter on October 14, 2008 at 8:24am

Rob,
I'm looking forward to reading Dr. Lewis's book - thank you for the suggestion! I'd welcome any other titles you - or anyone else - could recommend. I've got a few, too. Perhaps we can start a book thread in the Forum.
Have you found that people are actually rather eager to have these conversations, "even if uncomfortable" as you so aptly note? That's been my experience, and the "for as long as it takes" is important - how will we know that we're on the right path? What will "getting there" look like?
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and perspectives!
Kim

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Meghan on October 15, 2008 at 4:40pm

Im sort of new to this website so im not sure if my comment will be as profound as it should be haha but I recently just got out of high school and something that i always noticed was that with different races comes somewhat filtered dialogue. People have to watch what they say and how they say it in order to prevent anyone's feelings from being hurt and just simply to prevent confusion.

Dialogue can be tough when there are two different races involved. I am in a public speaking class in college right now and we have a tennis player from Puerto Rico who has a very hard time making his speeches. His ideas and concepts are great, he organizes his speech really well, but the problem is no one, including the teacher, can really understand what he is saying. Unfortunately, this may impact his grade. As for what to do about this, i'm really not sure. Some people might argue, "hes in America, he should be able to speak English" and they would probably go as far as to say that he deserves the grade he gets. But the sad part is that if this boy was in Puerto Rico, everyone would be able to understand him and he would be getting As

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sean Clark on November 17, 2008 at 9:35am

I appreciate your comments, Meghan, especially the "filtered dialogue" portion. In a very short time, however, people do come to "live in one another's space" and the created common language eliminates the need for such conscious efforts.

It is a shame, but also a reality, that many still see color instead of common-ness, but that's why we're fighting the fight, right?

Sean

▶ Reply to This