5/22 Assignment A (UPDATED to JOHNSON ARTICLE) and a bonus read about classroom vibes/space

 Privilege, Power and Difference

By:  Allan G. Johnson

UPDATED BLOG:  ( I wrote my blog about the wrong article  I misunderstood I thought the short one was for today.

When reading Privilege, power, and difference by Allan Johnson  I was impressed with his openness to take accountability for white privilege and how it is avoided.

the 3 points in this reading that stood out to me were:

1. We could make ourselves part of the solution by accepting we are part of the problem.   

so many avoid the topic because it makes them uncomfortable to talk about.  Why is white sufferage a "no-no" but minority sufferage acceptable.   Systemic racism is our foundation and the house is crumbling.

2.  He understands that he may not have the answers or direction for everything as a white male but is willing to listen to others for answers.  The world is so male dominate however how can males answer things that they have NO experience in.

How do we speak on what is good for others or what others need if they are not like us.  So much can be shared and utilized from other cultures that would make for communities that heal together.  Why does my skin color determine my "expectations".  The world needs to be willing to listen and make group choices about what is best for a community.  None is solo we all need someone, we should all need each other.

3.  It will take all of us or at least most of us to make this change.

I love this saying in his writings because there will always be someone who does not jump on the band wagon but it all we need is a majority.  

I feel that Johnson argues that racism is unchangeable if we are not willing to own it!!!!  

this link is to an article by Robin DiAngelo called How White fragility supports racism and how whites can stop it.

BONUS READ REFLECTION 

Introduction: Creating Classrooms for Equity and Social Justice

After reading this article I was resonating with a few things.  I love this classroom he speaks of with the youth having more voice and free space to dig into topics and learn as a group.  A space that a teacher can be honest and also not know everything willing to research and figure it out together or even better learn from a student who already jumped into the topic.   students eager to learn but open to mistakes and correction from peers or teachers.  A few grabs from the reading are 

1. Respect makes room for care of another.  Building that space encourages group healing and learning.  a safe space to ask the hard questions and wrestle with the sometimes harder answers but always ready to help another in that struggle.  Imagine the education that could be given in a room of honest mutual respect.

2. The concept of allowing youth to question the real around them.  Disagreeing and looking for more until it is understood, changed and cherished by others.  Being able to debate with youth in a healthy and engaging,  building their skill to defend what the believe and know to be true or valued.

3. Knowing your demographic and being culturally aware of your community and curious about the "vibe" of the population.  Being open and understanding and engaging families in the learning process.  I think it is important to understand the lives of those you teach to be able to provide a space that is diverse in belonging and welcoming ideas for sharing experiences and beliefs.  that care of others plays in well here it allows for grace in learning, honest acceptance in care makes such a difference in the development and ability to learn for youth.

I watched this momma walk around with her big belly until this baby giraffe was born! It was the longest two months of late nights (2am-3am) of my life but I was hooked.  Little Leroy ( that is what I named him I deserved to name him it has been 2 stinking months I have been watching this live cam, countless lunch breaks checking the cam to be sure I didn't miss it) hahahahaha  lol    ok fine....   Taj was born in April.  It was the best education I have in forever.  I was so mesmerized by this I had to know everything about them I research and asked questions and watch videos.   An education really can look like anything why not a open space for discussing topics current and archived led by youth.  I love this giraffe... unfortunately he has passed.

This is a link to a classroom at the Gordon School in East Providence, RI that starts at an early age with this same concept of the article we read I love this framework and I love that Pre-K in US is heading in this direction it is the bringing to changing what education space looks like.