Education Course

I am currently taking an education course at SMU called School and Society in conjunction with a drug abuse awareness course. We are currently focusing on the politics of education. One of the major topics in the education book we are using is the Civil Rights Movement and cultural teaching.

The Civil Rights Movement excerpts in our book have concentrations on standing up for personal beliefs. Many of the teachers in the excerpts are white and male teaching in lower-income African American schools.

It got me to thinking about my own approach to teaching. To be honest, when I imagined myself five or six years from now, I am teaching in front of a small class of predominantly white students in a Catholic private school. That is what I know. I attended a private school from Kindergarten and first grade. Then I attended a public school in second grade. It was the only public school I have ever attended. Then I was home-schooled by my mom third grade through sixth grade. After that I was a student at Bethlehem Academy for seventh grade through my Senior year. Now I am attending Saint Mary's University.

All of the schools I have been enrolled in (or are currently enrolled in) are filled with middle class white students. Except B.A. There, we had some Hispanic and African American students. I never thought of teaching in an inner-city school, or lower income community. Never crossed my mind. Maybe once, but if it did I didn't think about it very long.

Now I am starting to rethink my approach to teaching. In the most recent after-college future, I won't be teaching at a private school. I'll probably be teaching at a Naval base school. Yes, Matt has decided, after four years of deliberation, that he wants to be in the Navy. The plan is: after we get married we go the the naval base in Illinois. Then I'll follow him wherever he goes.

Lord,
May you grant me the patience and determination to work with students of all cultural backgrounds. Help me to be the best teacher I can be. Let me remember that no matter what happens, Thy will be done.
Amen.

So now I need to think about teaching different children. Not the ones I have been surrounded by. Students who are very different from me; culturally, mentally, and socially. If anyone has any advice for a very (I'll admit it) White Midwestern female future teacher, do not hesitate. :)

Well, I should really start working on homework right now. Sigh. Wish me luck.

Loves and Hugs,
Alycia