•How comfortable do you feel with handling issues of race and culture in the classroom? How can you ensure that you are not discriminating against students of a different color or culture in your classroom?

When the discussion of race and culture arises in the classroom, I would feel comfortable in handling such issues. I would feel comfortable because I would offer the upmost amount of respect to each student. As an educator, it would be my job to handle any type of issue that poses as a barrier to a student’s education. To ensure that I am not discriminating against students of different color and culture, I could enforce several strategies. One strategy would be to make sure that I would allow every student the opportunity to express their questions or concerns. Secondly, I would treat every student the same as the other to prevent the idea of favoritism.

 

•How would you use the ethnicity and race of your students to teach a lesson in the subject you are planning to teach?

I would use both ethnicity and race several ways to teach a classroom lesson. The idea of having a diverse classroom would allow a variety of different point of views. When teaching a lesson, the idea of race and culture should never be the deciding factor in a student’s education. The fact of the matter, I would allow my students to learn the history of each race and ethnic background. Everyone will be able to relate to one another in some sort of way. The one major area that I would reveal is that no matter the culture or color, every student has the right to learn and further their education.

 

•How does one become prejudice? Explain.

There are many ways that one could become prejudice. You main way you can become prejudice is just by the way you are raised. So many kids are taught at a young age to do and say things that they don’t understand as being prejudice. While I was growing up I never really faced it, but my friends would do and say things that I could not believe. When you live in an old southern town it really shows just how prejudice people can be. They believe blacks shouldn’t have the same rights as them, or anyone gay should be murdered almost. It’s sad to see how many prejudice people there are just from how they were raised, they don’t know any better.

 

 •Who is at fault or responsible for discrimination? Explain.

The person at fault for discrimination is the person discriminating. Even if you have grown up believing those things you should at least know to respect people no matter how you feel about them. Do I agree with everything someone does? No. But I will not make sure to bash them or make them feel like they are some awful human being. People need to learn to own up to their wrong doings and not blame it on someone else. You have your own beliefs, you do not have to always go with what someone else feels is right.

 

•Can you cite some personal examples of prejudice and discrimination? This example could be personal or something that you witnessed.

There have been plenty of times where I’ve seen examples of prejudice and discrimination. I have been at a local convenient store and actually heard someone straight up call a group of black people “dumb niggers”. It’s crazy to me how people can be so disrespectful. From me personal I have been in many of situations with the opposite race has said awful things to me. I’ve been called names, I’ve been excluded from so many things, I have had blacks purposely not talk to me because of my skin color.

 

 •You may have heard this phrase - "Nothing like leather". Where did this originate and what does it mean?

The definition of “nothing like leather,” means: An expression mocking one who has a chauvinistic attitude toward his own craft or field. Attributed to an Aesop fable, nothing like leather was popularized a verse in a song.

 

“A town feared a siege, and held consultation

 Which was the best method of fortification;

 A grave, skillful mason said in his opinion

 Nothing but stone could secure the dominion.

 A carpenter said, “Though that was well spoke,

 It was better by far to defend it with oak.”

A currier, wiser than both these together,

 Said, “Try what you please, there’s nothing like leather.”

 

•Provide some general comments on the video associated with this lesson.

I really enjoyed the video. I thought that it really did do well with telling people that sometimes the compliments they make aren’t really compliments. People think that it’s okay to tell something nice but make it in a way that it’s just downright rude. The video had many examples that really are used a lot. I’ve heard plenty of people say the “oh you aren’t like most black people”. People have to learn that even though you think it’s a compliment you are actually just being racist in a way.

 

 •Summary

Lesson one dealt directly with how educators could deal directly with the idea of race and culture in the classroom. Also, the question arose how we as educators could implement a class lesson based on race and ethnicity. These particular areas will always be present in the classroom. As a future educator, it is our job to make sure we treat every student fairly, regardless of their physical appearances. Overall, these two questions are extremely important in making sure you have a functional classroom.