DIVERSITY IN THE CLASSROOM

ARTICLE OF THE WEEK

Michaela Shoneye
 How to include this in your Classroom
- Having an safe environment
- where students feel they can share their feelings with you
- They can share their culture, and religion without judgement
- Teachers evaluations
- Students should be able to give their teachers feedback
- Acknowledge and Respect every student
- it can get a lot at times but NEGATIVE ENERGY IS A BIG DOWNER
- SHOW YOUR MISTAKES
- SHOW STUDENTS THAT mistakes are okay and they are learning opportunities
- PRACTICE CULTURAL SENSITIVITY
- HAVE A MULTICULTURAL DAY
- KNOW WHEN YOUR WRONG OR HAVE OFFENDED A STUDENT
- IF YOU HURT YOUR STUDENTS, IN ANYWAY TAKE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT
- LEARN FROM WHAT YOU DID AND DO NOT REPEAT IT !!!
- HAVE A LARGE VARIETY OF BOOKS
- LESSON PLANS
 LET’S TALK ABOUT IT
“wHAT i AM tALKING ABOUT IS THE SLOW DEATH, A
DEATH OF AS A BLACK TEACHER I WILL NEVER KNOW HOW
TO THE SPIRIT, A DEATH THAT IS BUILT ON RACISM AND
INTENDED TO REDUCE, HUMILIATE, AND DESTROY PEOPLE
OF COLOR ." (Love, 2019).
- Students of color do not always have the
same opportunities as white students AND
TEACHERS SHOULD HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING
OF THEIR STUDENTS LIVES
- SCHOOL IS SOMEWHERE EVERY STUDENT HAS
THE RIGHT TO BE. STUDENTS OF COLOR HAVE TO
WORK HARDER TO STAND OUT TO THEIR TEACHER
FOR THEIR WORK AND NOT BEHAVIOR
MAKE A STAND
“If you’re somebody who is white or privileged in
some way, and you don’t know how your privilege
can be used not only to be an ally and help or how
we can hurt other people, you will inflict so much
pain without even meaning to because of how you
were taught.” (Najarro, 2021)
- STudents are not always able to stand up
for themselves without getting in trouble
or shut down. Teachers need to be there
for their STUDENTS AND SPEAK UP FOR THEM
WHEN THEY SEE A PROBLEM HAPPENING.
- AS TEACHERS WE HAVE TO PUT OUR STUDENTS
FIRST AND OUR PERSONAL FEELINGS ASIDE TO
BE AN ALLY.
Equality
“The sad truth is that White people can spend their
entire lives dismissing dark people's existence and
still be successful in life… I do not think White teachers
enter the profession wanting to harm children of color,
but they will hurt a child whose culture is viewed as
an afterthought." (Love, 2019).
- AN EDUCATION IS SOMETHING EVERY STUDENT
HAS THE RIGHT TO.THE SYSTEM ISN’T EQUAL
AND THE STRUGGLES THAT STUDENTS OF COLOR
HAVE TO DEAL WITH, MAKES THEIR BASIC
NEEDS HARDER.
 What teachers should know/do?
- Teachers should learn about their students in person rather than from paperwork
- DO NOT JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER
- Students that do not have connections with their teachers have a harder time in that class
- TEACHERS THAT ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR STUDENTS’ PERSONAL LIVES WILL BE able to build a safe and
equal learning environment
- Teachers should stick up for their students when they see them being mistreated
- Students of color are not able to show their emotions the same ways as the white students
because of the labels and school staff need to be aware of this and take a stand for their
students
- Treat your students equally
- changelle each student equally
- Let students come to you, do not pressure them into doing they are not comfortable with
 WHAT I’VE LEARNED FROM MY ARTICLES?
Students of color can be effect by multiple personal problems that can go unseen by
white teachers because they can only see their students as “acting out” when things go
wrong.TEACHERS NEED TO SHOW THEIR STUDENTS THAT THEY CARE AND THEY WANT TO BE THERE FOR THEM
BECAUSE EVEN AT A YOUNG AGE STUDENT FEEL AS IF THEIR TEACHERS DO NOT ABOUT THEM. A Student
should never feel this way, BUT UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF STUDENTS FEEL THIS WAY.THESE FEELINGS
CAN CAUSE STUDENTS TO START TO LOOK AT THEMSELVES IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT AND THEY CAN START TO
WORTHLESS OR UNTEACHABLE. AS TEACHERS WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO SHOW OUR
STUDENTS THAT WE CARE, SO BEING ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT MULTIPLE CULTURES, AND LANGUAGES WILL
BENEFIT US AS TEACHERS AND SHOW OR STUDENTS WE ARE WILLING TO LEARN.
 References
Aronson, B. A. (2017). The White Savior Industrial Complex: A Cultural Studies Analysis of a Teacher Educator, Savior Film, and Future Teachers. Journal of
Critical Thought and Praxis, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.31274/jctp-180810-83
Drexel University School of Education. (2020). The importance of diversity in the classroom. Drexel University School of Education; Drexel University School
of Education. https://drexel.edu/soe/resources/student-teaching/advice/importance-of-cultural-diversity-in-classroom/
Love, B. L. (2019). Dear White Teachers: You Don't Love Black and Brown Children in Ways that Matter. Education Week, 38(26).
Love, B. (2019b). How Schools Are “Spirit Murdering” Black and Brown Students. Education Week, 3.
Najarro, I. (2021). What Do Teachers Think About Discussing Racism in Class? We Asked Them. Education Week .