Wow, it's been a while since I've posted a blog. I always think of great things to write about either while I am laying in bed at 11 pm or when I am driving in my car on a short road trip. Today, I scribe some thoughts on the upcoming school year. I am preparing for a new year at my new school of Visa Peak in Aurora.
The journey is a new and different one, full of change. I will be changing jobs from my high school business teaching position to a new place in education as a Spanish teacher for the levels of kindergarten through 9th grade. To say that the change will be drastic is an understatement. I go from high schoolers preparing for life after school to kindergarteners at the doorstep to learning.
I am excited for the challenge though and my approach will be entirely different. I look forward to the challenge.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Friday, July 31, 2009
Diversity training
8 hours of pure diversity enjoyment and training. The prior statement could be construed as negative or positive, as could all discussions surrounding diversity. The background behind the diversity training deals with my new job as a high school teacher. I am entering the new and exiting career of teaching high school business classes. Yes, on purpose. I will be taking a slight...no, not slight, a major departure from my confort zone of suburban...no bfe Parker. Ok, Parker is no longer BFE, but it is far from the diversity that IS Auora Public Schools.
Growing up in Franktown, CO and attending Ponderosa High School, I could count on two hands, my exposure to races other than my own. I was raised to believe that everyone is equal and to treat others as such. My first exposure to a "black kid" was Jennifer Urch in the first grade. The biggest concern with our interaction was the fear that my family would tease me about being boyfriend and girlfriend, which they proceeded to do. Not one word was mentioned about the fact that her skin color was different from mine. I do not particularly remember thinking it was an issue. As a young boy of 6 years old, I can understand why this thought pattern was not on my mind. The point to this aside is that from the time I can remember, I was raised in the correct manner to treat diversity as it was.
Fast forward to today. We (the teachers of Rangeview) were warned that we would experience several moments of uncomfortability (is that a word?). I was rather dissapointed with the presentation of the materials. One teacher defined the presentation as a "sit and get" training session. After several minutes, no hours, of listening, I clearly understood what she meant. The speakers had a strong ability to pass on the message, however a crowd can only endure so much torture before "powering down".
I guess I expected a certain level of uncomfort in the feelings I have not had to deal with in the world I grew up knowing. We, and by "we" I mean those who were raised and live to experience "White Priveledge". I am not condesending or negative when I mention the term. The term, "white priveledge" could be construed as a negative term intended to spread guilt upon the white contingency of readers joining my blog. I learned it is nothing like this. White priveledge is a fact of life, which I was unaware of before attending the class.
I am a self-proclaimed neophite when discussing race and my experiences. I do not consider myself racist but my biggest fear is my ignorance. I fear my ignorance will sneak out and cause me to say something racist to others without my intent or permission. What I mean by this is, I feel like, due to my lack of knowledge and experiences, I fear saying something, which I have picked up from a movie, to someone that is offensive. The intent to offend would, by no means, be present, but the damange would be caused.
The class today, as poorly presented as it was, taught me that there are two classifications: White and those that are not. White people live their lifes as it is and feel that slavery has long passed, and racism, for the most part, is not an issue. The class I attended today portrays a different story of what is still present: The most successful people of different color still deal with the issue of race in everyday interactions, such as finding places to get their hair cut, shop or dine out at places that represent their ideal food choices, or enter a place of business in which they feel they can ask for the "person in charge" and speak to someone of their own race.
Ignorance about what is occuring day to day is not an excuse to allow racism. I was not exposed to the issue before and often smirked at the nightly news when leaders such as Jessie Jackson spoke his views.
Today's enlightenment taught me about the feelings of those who were not raised under the umbrella of "white priveledge". I understand more today than yesterday and hope to gain more insight for tomorrow.
Growing up in Franktown, CO and attending Ponderosa High School, I could count on two hands, my exposure to races other than my own. I was raised to believe that everyone is equal and to treat others as such. My first exposure to a "black kid" was Jennifer Urch in the first grade. The biggest concern with our interaction was the fear that my family would tease me about being boyfriend and girlfriend, which they proceeded to do. Not one word was mentioned about the fact that her skin color was different from mine. I do not particularly remember thinking it was an issue. As a young boy of 6 years old, I can understand why this thought pattern was not on my mind. The point to this aside is that from the time I can remember, I was raised in the correct manner to treat diversity as it was.
Fast forward to today. We (the teachers of Rangeview) were warned that we would experience several moments of uncomfortability (is that a word?). I was rather dissapointed with the presentation of the materials. One teacher defined the presentation as a "sit and get" training session. After several minutes, no hours, of listening, I clearly understood what she meant. The speakers had a strong ability to pass on the message, however a crowd can only endure so much torture before "powering down".
I guess I expected a certain level of uncomfort in the feelings I have not had to deal with in the world I grew up knowing. We, and by "we" I mean those who were raised and live to experience "White Priveledge". I am not condesending or negative when I mention the term. The term, "white priveledge" could be construed as a negative term intended to spread guilt upon the white contingency of readers joining my blog. I learned it is nothing like this. White priveledge is a fact of life, which I was unaware of before attending the class.
I am a self-proclaimed neophite when discussing race and my experiences. I do not consider myself racist but my biggest fear is my ignorance. I fear my ignorance will sneak out and cause me to say something racist to others without my intent or permission. What I mean by this is, I feel like, due to my lack of knowledge and experiences, I fear saying something, which I have picked up from a movie, to someone that is offensive. The intent to offend would, by no means, be present, but the damange would be caused.
The class today, as poorly presented as it was, taught me that there are two classifications: White and those that are not. White people live their lifes as it is and feel that slavery has long passed, and racism, for the most part, is not an issue. The class I attended today portrays a different story of what is still present: The most successful people of different color still deal with the issue of race in everyday interactions, such as finding places to get their hair cut, shop or dine out at places that represent their ideal food choices, or enter a place of business in which they feel they can ask for the "person in charge" and speak to someone of their own race.
Ignorance about what is occuring day to day is not an excuse to allow racism. I was not exposed to the issue before and often smirked at the nightly news when leaders such as Jessie Jackson spoke his views.
Today's enlightenment taught me about the feelings of those who were not raised under the umbrella of "white priveledge". I understand more today than yesterday and hope to gain more insight for tomorrow.
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