"You lucky you part my people because I don't fight my people." This was a comment from student to another in a class that I was substituting in. Tow of my students had a brief misunderstanding during class changes and this was how they resolved it. Now I was probably the only person besides the 4 or 5 that were standing around that heard this comment, but it bothered me. We are all people no matter what the race. As a teacher I knew that it was my place to let them children know that the statement bothered me. It wasn't a word it was a statement and the statement insulted both races. We have got to respect and care about one another. I believe that its the comments which promote racism and I feel they are better left unsaid.
How did I respond? After class I went to both children that were involved in the conflict. To the individuals I said,"Are you guys family, are you related?" their response, "No why?" I looked at the both of them and asked them to sit down. I told them that the comment they stated really hurt me. "My people," I told them, "I was really hoping that you guys were related so that I would know that you didn't mean that in a racial way." I told them that all people were the same and no certain "people" belonged to no particular race. I told them that the only 2 individuals that had the right ot even say "My people" were God and the president of the United States. "You guys are only in the 7th grade, you are making choices for your future. Lets get along, its a cruel world and lets don't add to it."
Would I have responded differently? No I don't feel I would have acted differently in any situation. I greatly dislike racism. We are all one, 'United States.' We don't need to allow or promote racial comments especially when its our children. The really don't think about their comments hurting one another the say the things that they hear said at home or elsewhere.

A situation I would be uncomfortable with...
I would probably be very uncomfortable if I had a family who didn't believe in the Lord. This would probably be one of he only situations that would be really hard for me. What would I do? Probably nothing different. I would have to have a one-on-one parent/teacher conference I would tell them that I would work with them in any way possible. I would treat them differently by no means. Discussing our differences on our religious views would be one of the main topics of our discussion. Letting them know that their child wouldn't be treated any differently because of their beliefs would be another main discussion topic. My responsiblitis as a teacher is to make sure that my student is comfortable and treated fairly in my classroom and by their classmates. Another responsiblilty of mine as a teacher and a Christian is to make sure that no judgement is placed upon this child by any individual and to just pray for his family instead of trying to pressure himher. I would have to be really careful as to what movies I allowed this child to watch, I would have to be careful in what I say and what I do. Most importantly I would tell the child that he/she could come to me regardless of the situation and talk about anything. Maybe my actions would influence the child and his family to have some interest in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Module 4

In elementary school I can remember trying to make friends or trying to understand some of the things that my classmates were going through. Elementary school is tough because its when you find out that everyone isn't just like you, everyone didn't have clean clothes, everyone don't have mother and father at home. I can see were the survey would fit in elementary school. Acceptance, diversities, adjusting...I went to a public school in Bladen County, now you tell me!! No I don't think that it had much to offer.The teachers may be nice and yes they do love the students but they just don't have to much to offer. I feel that my lack in math falls slightly at the feet of my elementary teachers-one in particular- If you don't catch on; put them in a special class- this is their theory. Not try teaching it a different way or spending just a little extra time with the student who's a little behind. How has it affected me? My math is good now because I went that extra mile to get caught up. I studied hard and I didn't let my old school teachers affect me. But yeah I was always a little slower in math because they simply don't want to take the time with you. "Either you det it or you don't, but you better have that homework or no recess." Thats why I'm seriously going to look into some different schools for my children.

I don't have any personal knowledge of the various types of schools personally. I have heard of charter shcools and I plan to check into some different schools for my children besides public school. My nephew attend a private christian acadamy for 2 years. The staff was really nice and good with the children. I felt that as far as teaching the children that they could have focused on more curriculum than just Biblical studies. After taking him out of the school and enrolling him into the public school system we can see that my nephew lacks some things. He is behind with his reading and math. Well I wouldn't say behind, he's just not familiar with the things that his new classmates are working on, and that really places some discouragement on him. As far as reading, he has improved some but he is still not on the level he should be on. For me, I wouldn't send either of my children to this school. The staff stresses the Bible, and this is good, but children of that age should be working on things that the other children their age are working on. My opinion on different types of schools is; Every child is different, some children may do good in a public school wereas some children may do better in a charter school. Same as home-schooling, magnet schools, so on and so forth, it depends on the child. I feel that if a child isn't doing well in thier studies maybe something else should be done, even if it does involve looking into some different types of schools.

When I become a teacher I am going to do my best to see that no child is left behind. I really liked the method that the teachers from the KIPP schools used. I would like to envolve some energtic activities to enhance learning, like the chanting from the videos. I would also like to try and teach a difficult subject in some different ways because as I stated before everyone learns different and some may catch on to different ways of the information given.