Monday, November 10, 2008
A past film...
So, I've been meaning to comment on the film about the Proposal keeping children who were not legal from getting an education. I DISLIKED the woman (I believe her name was Debbie) who would not learn how to speak Spanish and help accommodate the children. I am elated she left the school because a teacher is supposed to better her students not discourage them. With her mindset, she would be better off editing a schoolbook. Between her and the male teacher who tried to blame the children for throwing gum wrappers on the street, I do not know who was worse. I was happy that the children were standing up for themselves and did not allow him to walk over them. I can understand why the lady teacher who was Latina voted yes on the proposal; it was from her own experience and she did not have the children in mind. However, the above mentioned woman did. She purposely did not want those children there who "did not belong". I know it has been a minute since we have seen it: Agree or disagree?
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4 comments:
I would agree with your comments, especially your thoughts regarding the female teacher who refused to learn Spanish despite the fact that large numbers of her students were Spanish speakers. To me this represented professional irresponsibility, and when you are a teacher, in my opinion, you are held to a very high level of professional responsibility (young people's future's are in your hands). It is your job to construct your classroom and practice in a way that serves the needs of your students to the best of your ability. I was surprised that the principal of Hoover would hire teachers with attitudes and abilities (such a lack of knowledge of any Spanish and a refusal to learn)so fundamentally opposed to the student body he/she and his/her school serves.
While looking at the teacher population of Hoover and the attitudes of the staff in regards to their students I was struck by the ways in which it reflected, on a micro level, the challenges Latinos face in American systems on a macro level. Social power identities were reinforced and the needs of the students were not being met through the educational system. In fact it was disadvantaging the students. Perhaps this is why so many groups are marginalized in social institutions such as the educational system.
I also disliked Debbie and agree that she voted for the proposal with the intentions of removing the children who “do not belong” from the class room. This is not right because who is she to say these children do not belong? Who is she to deny these children a better future? As we seen from the film these children were smart and articulate individuals who defended themselves against a man 10 times their age. Preventing these intelligent individuals from succeeding is just as big of an issue as illegal immigration.
I agree with what you said. For someone who teaches in that school, how could you express those feelings about your kids and their families. Instead of explaining why they are wrong, I feel like the role of the teacher is to help their kids. She should’ve been more like the main teacher, who was extremely involved in her kids’ lives and really gave her all to try to help them succeed. It’s a shame when you get teachers like that, who try, but aren’t really invested in seeing their students progress.
I was also upset by this film. I felt that the teachers who were anti Prop 187 did not have a strong argument. I think the teachers many have felt threatened by these student because it was challenging them to take a critical eye to their own teaching. It is not ok in my opinion for a teacher to share his or her own personal views in the classroom. I think teachers should be willing to work with students and help them to improve in all skill areas. For example if a student is a Spanish speaker it would be helpful for the teacher to have some background in the Spanish language. It is hard to adjust to a new school and environment and there is no need to make a child feel even more behind. There are many different ways to approach teaching and I think some of the teachers could have benefited from sensitivity and cultural acceptance training.
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