Reflect

  Growing up in a white middle class family, I have always known I was privileged. I grew up going to a school where almost all of my classmates looked and lived just like me. I saw myself reflected in TV shows, books, and movies that I watched. A lot of this still holds true. I would say that although work is being done to try and change our current curriculum to reflect all groups of people, our standardized tests are still very much catered to our white students. I know that in our school we use the Amplify CKLA curriculum which does address the Civil Rights Movement , but there are questions on state tests that reflect knowledge that only certain students may be able to access. I feel like in order to make our classrooms and schools more equitable, we first need to really get to know our students. Once we know the group of students we will be better able to give all students access to books and materials where they may see themselves reflected.

I know that because I am a middle class, white female I have privilege and experience minimal marginalization, if any. I don't think I ever felt oppression growing up due to any of my identities. It's hard to see and hear that there is marginalization, but I know it's a reality. Using my privilege in the classroom and school community can bring attention to those who are the target(s) of a majority. I think something we do well in our classroom is communicating from the beginning that everyone needs different things at different times. While the learning in the classroom will be taught to everyone, it's important and critical that each student's needs are considered before the learning can take place. Making an equitable "starting line," however that looks for each student and especially those who are marginalized, is a good place to start. 

After taking the quiz and reading through the checklist, I realize that I am very privileged and have never really experienced marginalization. As a kindergarten teacher, I do see my life, as well as many of my students lives reflected in my curriculum. In our ELA curriculum, the students are introduced to different "Superkids". These kids do come from different ethnic backgrounds, with different interests and different talents. Their family backgrounds are not discussed, but I do enjoy that my students are able to chose favorites based on their similarities. In kindergarten, I could use my privilege to make my classroom more equitable by being aware of my students backgrounds, family history, and being understanding that others may not have the same privileges my family and I have. 

I have never experienced discrimination due to my race or religious background. Growing up, I went to catholic schools, therefore I was always surrounded by others who shared the same religion as myself. There are times when I do feel uncomfortable in certain situations based on my gender. For examples, walking to my car at night or going out grocery shopping with my two small children. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to take this class so I can better educate myself on the issues of racial identity and privilege. With this knowledge, I can help better educate others and start real change. 

How do you experience privilege and marginalization?
I experience privilege more often than not and cannot recall a time that I feel that I have been marginalized. Each week I complete these badges on a work issued laptop using my own home wifi. I am cognizant of the fact that not all my students have the privilege to have a reliable wifi connection in their homes. 

Who sees themselves and their own lives reflected in our curriculum and our classroom materials?
My district is a rural and nearly 100% white school district, therefore, most of my students see themselves reflected in our curriculum and materials. I did post evidence in the Act requirement of a piece of evidence that articles that I use and share with my classes are from scientists of different races and cultures. 

How might you use your own privilege to make your classroom and school more equitable?
I will be taking the privilege I have of having the opportunity to participate in this equity challenge to make my classroom and school more equitable. I will do so by continuously auditing my curriculum to make sure many different ethnicities are being reflected. I will be an advocate and help my teammates to see their privilege and/or marginalization by sharing what I have learned throughout this badge challenge.

I am extremely priviliged and life has rarely been a struggle. I don't think I have ever considered myself marginalized. In our classrooms, children who do not struggle academically are privileged. Children who come from homes that are enconomically and emotionally unstable are often the children who struggle with their education, and struggle socially. I think our school works really hard to support the needs of these children while in school. However, I also see how these children are treated differently by some staff and students and do become marginalized. I am drawn to the children who are marginalized. I want to show them my support. I want to show them that they are important. I want to put my effort into helping them close the gap in their education. I want to support them emotionally and help them socially. It is what has made me a better teacher.

I have lived a privileged life, despite the fact that I have made various choices throughout my life which have presented me with challenges, and some real struggles along the way. I grew up in a home where both of my parents worked to support our family.  I was raised to work hard, appreciate what we had and be grateful for the blessings.  I feel that everyone would benefit from an education that was more gender fair, multiculturally equitable, socioeconomically aware and globally informed, therefore, it would be helpful if schools looked into their curricula and shifted some of the information to meet these goals.  I feel like this is a complicated subject because I have had to train myself to look at systems and patterns in social life as well as understand a person's individual experiences.  It feels uncomfortable at times to look at yourself systemically, and then see the oppression that other people have experienced as a result of the systemic patterns in our lives.  I feel like some of the readings on privilege make the reader feel accused, and that will make change a little harder to achieve when people are made to feel defensive.  Now that I am more aware of my privilege, I feel I can understand others' lack of privilege and I will be more supportive of diversity and inclusion in the future.

I can honestly say that I have had a privileged life.  While I was never rich, I didn't lack for things growing up.  I have a supportive family.  I have a roof over my head, healthy kids and a job to contribute to my family.  When I think about how this impacted me, I was probably sheltered more than I realized.   One of my best friends tells me that my life was a fairy tale compared to her upbringing.   As a teacher, I try to keep in mind that not everyone has the same experience.  I also try to remember that not all is as it appears.   It isn't always as it seems or looks.  It is our job as teachers, to realize that privilege comes in many forms... or rather lack of privilege.   The comment or quote I read about if you never have had the courts deciding on your rights, then you have privilege hit home.  

As a white woman I experience privilege and marginalization in different ways. Being white I have advantages that other people do not have, coupled with being Roman Catholic, I have representation in government, and in community buildings everywhere. I can see myself reflected in multiple people in every setting. Although my ethnicity often makes people ask what nationality I am, my lack of an accent has it's advantages. Being female I experience marginalization because when I was in elementary school and junior high school girls were told to select a job in the customer service industry, such as nurse, librarian, secretary, hairdresser or waitress. We were encouraged to take short hand and discouraged from taking advanced classes in math and science in school and our parents often felt like higher degrees were a waste because we would end up simply raising children. Public media and social idealization regularly repeated the same messaging. These direct and subliminal messages kept us in low paying jobs, reduced our access to freedoms that our male counterparts had and jeopardized our families stabilities.  
Today I use my classroom to help students of all identities make progress and see themselves as capable and worthy. I assist them with all subjects and connect them with mentors and social workers, I cheer them on in every capacity that I am able.

Whether or not I want to admit this, I do have privilege because I'm from a white, middle class family that was able to help raise me with excellent ethics and moral responsibility. I have also been educated - some of my college was paid for by my parents and I paid for my graduate work. So, I'm privileged in that respect. My parents had to work hard for every little thing and taught me the value of the dollar. 

I don't have a classroom, however, I still see in my ELA classes that the bridge to experiencing multicultural literature is still not built. We typically read things by white, male or female authors and I am leaning towards male in the majority. Most of the literature our school teaches is very "old school." I feel this is something we really need to work on. Not only should we be more focused on multicultural literature because America is a melting pot, but also because we are seeing record high influxes of other people coming in on our southern borders. We really need to start opening up conversations about why people are rushing into America so that Americans can see the "real" reasons that people seek asylum here. I'm sure there are many personal family struggles that have led people across the terrain to escape into America. As this country continues to move forward, I'm sure that a great deal of our culture - art, literature, poetry, music, etc. will start seeing these influence. Why not embrace it and learn whatever we can from each other?