tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912473846357210564.post2638346837260182155..comments2023-09-25T07:43:05.293-07:00Comments on Summer Reading Series sponsored by the Caucus of Working Educators & TAG: Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?- Meeting 1Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181435867134435551noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912473846357210564.post-72354938341338614162015-07-23T11:13:17.313-07:002015-07-23T11:13:17.313-07:00I realized something painful while reading three b...I realized something painful while reading three books for the WE book groups (Teacher Wars, Multiplication is for White Kids, and Why are all the Black Kids) that was reinforced by Mr. Edmin's talk. In college I redefined myself as an activist. Then I read Savage Inequalities by Jonathan Kozol. I cried and decided I was going to bring peace and justice to the world by teaching the children of north Philly. I cringe to realize that I was pushing the bolder of white guilt. I realize now I joined a centuries old line of white missionary teachers wanting to save the less fortunate. I think I realized pretty quickly my first year teaching in Overbrook that my job was not to "save" my students. It was they system, the system I am part of, that is broken, not them.<br /><br />I think I finally broke away from my original intentions when I started studying and implementing student voice in my classroom. (See: http://www.academia.edu/2005793/Increasing_student_voice_and_moving_toward_youth_leadership for more info) Mr. Edmin's reality pedagogy reminded me instantly of student voice pedagogy. I don't like the name student voice though, because it's not just giving students voice, it's empowerment. It's redesigning school structures so that students, teachers, and administrators have equal voice. However, I think what students voice pedagogy and research are missing is how race, ethnicity, gender and economics play into who has voice and power in schools. I am interested in researching more of Mr. Edmin's work.Kathy Cohenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06683434262987363832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912473846357210564.post-52387537737508206382015-07-22T05:39:27.281-07:002015-07-22T05:39:27.281-07:00By the way, here is the link to one version of Mr....By the way, here is the link to one version of Mr. Edmin's talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y9tVf_8fqoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912473846357210564.post-42148068701243133812015-07-22T05:38:15.440-07:002015-07-22T05:38:15.440-07:00So, in the bell hooks group, Elizabeth Kim recomme...So, in the bell hooks group, Elizabeth Kim recommended a Ted talk by Christopher Edmin. I was introduced to his words a few months ago. He does well at being blunt, honest, aghast and polite all at the same time. I re-looked at this talk, yesterday, and along with the Tatum ideas, it emphasizes, for me, that, at the very least, we must all be aware, then, mindful and vigilant, to always consider ourselves in the world, our place, our stance, our portrayal of ideas and emotions, and how they affect others. Yet, that is not nearly enough. We must act on our beliefs and on behalf of truth and justice, we must speak up and ruffle feathers!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com