For this reading discussion I decided to talk about Finding
Ways In: Community Based Perspectives on Southeast Asian Family Involvement
with Schools in a New England State by Collignon, Men and Tan. My first
observation is that they really need to shorten their title – it is way too
long to type! I found this article to be an interesting read. I have known
people how have just moved into a new state within the country and have some
issues with adjusting nevermind moving to a whole new country. I can not
imagine what that experience must be like. It does seem hard to leave behind
old customs and ways and realize that you are in a new place with new customs,
rules and opportunities. I can not even imagine what refugees go through in
their journey. I am amazed at how many Southeast Asians have come to the United
States in such a short time. Many come from homelands that were in military
conflict, their education was cut short. Now to think they would try to work
their way into and American education system. In some cases their previous
education was nothing more than teacher led memorization and repetition. Coming
into this culture would be very different. Students would be asked for their
opinions many may not know how to respond because they were never given the
chance before. I am glad to see that there are community based resources
available to these families to help make the transition easier. As a teacher I
find that it is always good to be aware of these types of things within your
classroom. The only real way to do so is by making connections with the
students and finding out their backgrounds.
Moving from district to district can be challenging, so I can't even begin to imagine what international/national immigrants must go through entering a school system. It saddens me to hear of stories of discrimination and assumptions being made, strictly on a person's ethnicity. I do not understand how people, who are employed to look out for youths can be so naive and biased. Maybe I have these views because I am not in a classroom, but it is hard for me to imagine passing judgment on a child and/or their parents because they cannot communicate effectively. If anything, I feel like I would take that situation as a challenge and reach out more to them. I guess that's easy to say since it is not my reality, but I would like to think that is how I would handle it!
ReplyDeleteI think perhaps we pass judgment without often realizing it. We do it instinctually so to speak. Snap judgments are one thing but holding on to them despite new information is another. Yes we would judge them for a lack of speaking skills but the difference is you or I would see it as a new challenge. I too become frustrated with people who make assumptions too quickly yet I also recognize that I do it myself. I am willing to change my perception though and find we will need that inside a classroom. It is good that you are willing to have the self awareness to say that you don't want to fall into that trap.
ReplyDeleteI wrote on the same article, Greg, and had some similar reactions. Its hard to think of moving to a brand new country, not to mention not knowing the language or the educational systems. These parents are trying to juggle getting settled on top of providing for their kids, and then they get criticized for not being able to attend what we decide are parent involved activities. They may not even know they are going on. I believe that we need to give parents more opportunities to speak to us on their own level and get those translators working. Either than or give our teachers a small lesson in multiple languages.
ReplyDeleteI will confess that I have moved 25 times during the 33 years that I have lived in the U.S. While it may resemble being a military child, we did it because of the transient nature of my father and his whim. So for some refugee/immigrant children moving is a normal part of their lives.
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