Other People's Children By Lisa Deplit

    I'm choosing the option of reflection for this post about Other People's Children by Lisa Deplit. This reading begins with two different people of color sharing their experiences in predominantly white environments. The first is a black male grad student reflecting on his time at a predominantly white university. This student says, “It seems like if you can’t quote Vygotsky or something, then you don’t have any validity to speak about your own kids” (Delpit 21). While I absolutely validate his experience and feelings, I feel as though not all white people think like this. He made incredibly broad statements about white people as a whole. I know that there are absolutely white people who think that, but I also know that there are white people who value the perspective of a black student in the classroom. The other person is a black woman who teaches in a multicultural elementary school but works with predominantly white teachers. Again, she makes the generalization that “white folks are going to do what they want to do anyway” (21). It's incredibly frustrating and saddening to see that people of color have to experience these situations where they feel unheard. But, to make generalizations about any race no matter what is also incredibly damaging. It causes more hostility and creates a bigger divide. I believe that now the Department of Education as a whole is more willing to hear from educators of diverse backgrounds on how to teach students of diverse backgrounds. 

Deplit then goes on to discuss the aspects of power, one of them being “Issues of power are enacted in classrooms” (24). This aspect of power is incredibly eye-opening as one may not see just how many power dynamics are going on in a classroom. The final aspect also was an eye-opener. It is “Those with power are frequently least aware of – or least willing to acknowledge – its existence. Those with less power are often most aware of its existence” (26). This aspect has some real validity to it. Many teachers do not realize the influence they have on the children they teach. Compared to the student body who usually knows how much power teachers and admin have over them. She later goes on to say “I further believe that to act as if power does not exist is to ensure that the power status quo remains the same” (39). This is incredibly true and I feel that it is our job as educators to teach children about power dynamics and how they affect not only the people in power but the people who are without power as well. We need to teach our students that each of them is capable of holding power one day in the workforce. That is how we ensure that the power status quo does not remain the same. What are some ways we can enforce that in our classrooms? Let me know!


Comments

  1. Hi Catherine! I really enjoyed reading your reflection. I agree one hundred percent with your point about teaching power dynamics to students so that they can break the status quo. In previous classrooms I have been in, teachers claim that students have a voice and have choice over their education, but go ahead and take all that voice and power away. This just continues to instill the power dynamic in the classroom, and it spirals into everyday life. Students don't have a voice in the classroom even if they are told they do, and so because of this, for example, they don't go out and vote because they don't think their voices will be heard (since they've been lied to in the classroom setting). It may seem like just a power dynamic in the classroom, but the esteem and power that is built or destroyed in the classroom carries onto other aspects of life, all of which makes a big difference in our society.

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  2. To answer your question I think that we can teach our students by educating students stories from the past or in todays time about real life situations that happened to show how to be cautious when approaching one another with respect. Also, by teaching them what power they hold as a student and help them strive to become a better student and even a better person outside of the classroom.

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  3. I really enjoyed being able to connect and understand your opinion on the quotes you picked out!

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