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That you for "respectfully" disagreeing. > What do you mean by "uninformed"? I mean that the author doesn't seem to be very informed with respect to race rela

That you for "respectfully" disagreeing. > What do you mean by "uninformed"? I mean that the author doesn't seem to be very informed with respect to race relations or social equity issues. > What you mean by "traditional"? I mean a school system that fails to take into account or fully address the same issues that I state above. It is hard to tackle these issues because it is still too hard to have a reasoned conversation on race and the great injustices of the past (both very intentional and unintentional) that have lead students to the despair they find themselves in today. The author of this article is part of the problem IMHO.

smsm42 8y ago
> I mean that the author doesn't seem to be very informed with respect to race relations or social equity issues. "Race relations" is kinda wide topic, encompassing more or less the whole human history. It would be more useful if you point out which relevant aspects of this huge topic, in your opinion, the author got wrong and how, in your opinion, it influenced her discussion about education. I understand this could potentially also be huge, but at least 2-3 of major examples would be very helpful. > I mean a school system that fails to take into account or fully address the same issues that I state above. Yes, but address how? Any school system could fail to fully address one or the other aspects of the full history of race relations and social issues. It is impossible not to - it's the whole human history in all its vast diversity, and nobody would ever be able to account or fully address all aspects of it. Pointing out which aspects and how are not addressed would be much more interesting than just saying "oh, race relations, therefore whole article is invalid". I don't see how it adds anything, it just sounds dismissive of an experience of the real person and painstaking work she made of recording it and sharing it with us. What do you thing she have done wrong, specifically? > It is hard to tackle these issues because it is still too hard to have a reasoned conversation on race True, it is not easy. But I think that's not the reason to not try? > The author of this article is part of the problem IMHO. I do not see how. She honestly tried to help those students who want to learn and advance, despite harsh conditions that surround them, and she found her efforts consistently being contradicted and nullified by the system, which does not help people who want to learn, and allows people who behave destructively to continue their behavior not only to their own detriment, but to the detriment of others. She spent a lot of time and effort trying to teach people despite these circumstances and despite constant assault on her human dignity. If that counts as being part of the problem, what isn't?
- externalreality 8y ago
  > "Race relations" is kinda wide topic What I mean by race relations is directly related to how the teacher did not know why it is not OK for her, as a white women, to use a particular word. Her stance: "why can't I use it, you used it." This shows a complete lack of understanding regarding the history of the word and how it was reclaimed and repurposed by large segments of the African American community. In short (very short) the word is not hurtful coming from the mouths of certain people when spoken a certain way (anyone who has lived in a foreign country and learned a foreign language would know that some words/phrases should not be spoken by foreigners - its kind of the same thing here). The author is unaware of that and is thus uninformed. The author believes that she is actually teaching the students when she is the one that should, in fact, listen to what the students are trying to tell her. > True, it is not easy. But I think that's not the reason to not try? Trying has little consequence for white Americans, trying has very grave consequences for African Americans. I've seen whites deny accusations of racial mistreatment to the point where they are seriously contemplating having the African American committed. > I do not see how. She honestly tried to help those students who want to learn and advance. If feel the adjective phrase "students who want to learn" is an unintentional euphemism for "White students". Know that some students are in a society that from day one tells them they are worthless and are undeserving. Any human being would develop psychoses in such an environment. It doesn't help that the majority of self-positive imagery for these students (imagery that show, at least, healthy, un-impoverished individuals with confidence) comes from explicit rap videos, not royalty in ancient castles, scientist, tech entrepreneurs, or otherwise. smsm42, I hope you understand.
  - iguy 8y ago
    > What I mean by race relations is directly related to how the teacher did not know why it is not OK for her, as a white women, to use a particular word. No, I think she understood perfectly well the usual taboo. And snapped and used the forbidden word anyway. And then used the episode as a teaching moment, maybe the only time (in the article) when she had the students' attention. And managed to point out to the students how thin their logic around this taboo actually is. Is this the only way in which you think her uninformed? Your comments seem to come back to this one point repeatedly, which sounds like it occupied 15 minutes of a decade's experience.

smsm42 8y ago

> I mean that the author doesn't seem to be very informed with respect to race relations or social equity issues. "Race relations" is kinda wide topic, encompassing more or less the whole human history. It would be more useful if you point out which relevant aspects of this huge topic, in your opinion, the author got wrong and how, in your opinion, it influenced her discussion about education. I understand this could potentially also be huge, but at least 2-3 of major examples would be very helpful. > I mean a school system that fails to take into account or fully address the same issues that I state above. Yes, but address how? Any school system could fail to fully address one or the other aspects of the full history of race relations and social issues. It is impossible not to - it's the whole human history in all its vast diversity, and nobody would ever be able to account or fully address all aspects of it. Pointing out which aspects and how are not addressed would be much more interesting than just saying "oh, race relations, therefore whole article is invalid". I don't see how it adds anything, it just sounds dismissive of an experience of the real person and painstaking work she made of recording it and sharing it with us. What do you thing she have done wrong, specifically? > It is hard to tackle these issues because it is still too hard to have a reasoned conversation on race True, it is not easy. But I think that's not the reason to not try? > The author of this article is part of the problem IMHO. I do not see how. She honestly tried to help those students who want to learn and advance, despite harsh conditions that surround them, and she found her efforts consistently being contradicted and nullified by the system, which does not help people who want to learn, and allows people who behave destructively to continue their behavior not only to their own detriment, but to the detriment of others. She spent a lot of time and effort trying to teach people despite these circumstances and despite constant assault on her human dignity. If that counts as being part of the problem, what isn't?

externalreality 8y ago
> "Race relations" is kinda wide topic What I mean by race relations is directly related to how the teacher did not know why it is not OK for her, as a white women, to use a particular word. Her stance: "why can't I use it, you used it." This shows a complete lack of understanding regarding the history of the word and how it was reclaimed and repurposed by large segments of the African American community. In short (very short) the word is not hurtful coming from the mouths of certain people when spoken a certain way (anyone who has lived in a foreign country and learned a foreign language would know that some words/phrases should not be spoken by foreigners - its kind of the same thing here). The author is unaware of that and is thus uninformed. The author believes that she is actually teaching the students when she is the one that should, in fact, listen to what the students are trying to tell her. > True, it is not easy. But I think that's not the reason to not try? Trying has little consequence for white Americans, trying has very grave consequences for African Americans. I've seen whites deny accusations of racial mistreatment to the point where they are seriously contemplating having the African American committed. > I do not see how. She honestly tried to help those students who want to learn and advance. If feel the adjective phrase "students who want to learn" is an unintentional euphemism for "White students". Know that some students are in a society that from day one tells them they are worthless and are undeserving. Any human being would develop psychoses in such an environment. It doesn't help that the majority of self-positive imagery for these students (imagery that show, at least, healthy, un-impoverished individuals with confidence) comes from explicit rap videos, not royalty in ancient castles, scientist, tech entrepreneurs, or otherwise. smsm42, I hope you understand.
- iguy 8y ago
  > What I mean by race relations is directly related to how the teacher did not know why it is not OK for her, as a white women, to use a particular word. No, I think she understood perfectly well the usual taboo. And snapped and used the forbidden word anyway. And then used the episode as a teaching moment, maybe the only time (in the article) when she had the students' attention. And managed to point out to the students how thin their logic around this taboo actually is. Is this the only way in which you think her uninformed? Your comments seem to come back to this one point repeatedly, which sounds like it occupied 15 minutes of a decade's experience.