Today, I had my LLT307 MSU course which is the course through which I'm volunteering at the RDC as a tutor for. This class is about learning to teach English as a second language, and is titled "Methods of Language Teaching". Although I had planned to blog about only my RDC tutoring experience, after today's class session I felt I needed to blog today as well.
Throughout the week, after the election, none of the teachers had addressed the election. This surprised me as I have primarily education classes, a Chinese culture class, and a media communications class. In one of my TE301 classes, we had field placements in an elementary school with a student we've been working with individually all semester and I asked my professor what we should do if our students bring up the election and she actually asked us to avoid the subject with them. Later during a debrief over our student sessions, one classmate shared that her elementary student came in crying because she was "worried she will get killed".
After the events throughout the week, I was sure that coming into my LLT307 class there would be a discussion about the election. However, upon entering this class my professor also said we won't be discussing the election in this class. Although she allowed us to write a few words on our feelings about the current events and turn a scrape paper into her, she didn't address anything specifically.
After class, I asked her about this decision and shared with her that the RDC adult ESL class had chosen the same path as her and also shared my concern for the lack of conversation about this much debated topic. My professor emotionally, and kindly, explained and helped me understand the complexities of introducing such a debatable and emotional topic into the classroom especially without knowing how students feel about the election. She helped me to understand that for a teacher to introduce that kind of subject into the classroom, she must be completely prepared to deal with whatever comes from it. For our class specifically, she shared that she wasn't sure how all my classmates were taking it or if this was even a good place to open up to. After discussing with her, I felt much less frustrated at the lack of conservation being had throughout the week and even felt empathy towards my professors who weren't discussing it.
Later this the week, I also received a class email from this professor about various events such as "Healing Spaces" which were occurring around MSU campus and allowed an outlet for peers to give or receive support depending on what they needed regarding their feelings towards the election.
I also later received an email from the Refugee Development Center head office sharing some talking points and basic protocol regarding the election, as well. The protocols were as follows:
"1. Please do not initiate conversation with students/clients regarding the election or its ramifications. (We cannot assume students want to discuss this.)
2. If a student/client initiates a conversation, your number one goal is to keep calm, smile and alert an RDC staff to help facilitate the conversation. (We do not want to add additional worry.)"
We were also given these points to consider:
In addition to these pointers, we were given the following websites:
https://www.muslimadvocates.org/hate/reporting-hate-crimes-in-your-state
http://www.hrc.org/resources/what-to-do-if-you’ve-been-the-victim-of-a-hate-crime
Although confused at first and even a little bit frustrated, after being explained from a professor's point of view by my LLT307 professor as well as receiving the email from RDC, I feel as though I have so much more of a deeper understanding. Although I'm currently studying education, there are some things that teachers face and one can only learn through experience. There are some things that even education majors have not yet considered. Although at times difficult, this week especially, has confirmed my desires to be a teacher and helped me understand how teachers much make difficult decisions especially in controversial times like these.
Throughout the week, after the election, none of the teachers had addressed the election. This surprised me as I have primarily education classes, a Chinese culture class, and a media communications class. In one of my TE301 classes, we had field placements in an elementary school with a student we've been working with individually all semester and I asked my professor what we should do if our students bring up the election and she actually asked us to avoid the subject with them. Later during a debrief over our student sessions, one classmate shared that her elementary student came in crying because she was "worried she will get killed".
After the events throughout the week, I was sure that coming into my LLT307 class there would be a discussion about the election. However, upon entering this class my professor also said we won't be discussing the election in this class. Although she allowed us to write a few words on our feelings about the current events and turn a scrape paper into her, she didn't address anything specifically.
After class, I asked her about this decision and shared with her that the RDC adult ESL class had chosen the same path as her and also shared my concern for the lack of conversation about this much debated topic. My professor emotionally, and kindly, explained and helped me understand the complexities of introducing such a debatable and emotional topic into the classroom especially without knowing how students feel about the election. She helped me to understand that for a teacher to introduce that kind of subject into the classroom, she must be completely prepared to deal with whatever comes from it. For our class specifically, she shared that she wasn't sure how all my classmates were taking it or if this was even a good place to open up to. After discussing with her, I felt much less frustrated at the lack of conservation being had throughout the week and even felt empathy towards my professors who weren't discussing it.
Later this the week, I also received a class email from this professor about various events such as "Healing Spaces" which were occurring around MSU campus and allowed an outlet for peers to give or receive support depending on what they needed regarding their feelings towards the election.
I also later received an email from the Refugee Development Center head office sharing some talking points and basic protocol regarding the election, as well. The protocols were as follows:
"1. Please do not initiate conversation with students/clients regarding the election or its ramifications. (We cannot assume students want to discuss this.)
2. If a student/client initiates a conversation, your number one goal is to keep calm, smile and alert an RDC staff to help facilitate the conversation. (We do not want to add additional worry.)"
We were also given these points to consider:
- "Many in Lansing and around the country are working hard to support and protect newcomers. Agencies all over are looking for ways to maintain this region as one that is welcoming and affirming for all. They are NOT alone.
- It is important to let refugees who have come here through legal channels know that there is almost no likelihood they will be deported.
- Our nation’s founding principles, including freedom of religion, are as important today as they have ever been. Right now, we have the opportunity to reaffirm these values by being more, not less, welcoming to people no matter where they are from or how they choose to worship.
- This means we are committed to listening to our neighbors and building community with everyone who lives here.
- While we cannot predict exactly what will happen in a new administration, what we do know is that we have democratic processes in the United States, we will protect them, and we will use them.
- Please remind those who are the victims of undesirable or illegal behaviors to report so everyone is able to enjoy the rights he/she deserves."
In addition to these pointers, we were given the following websites:
https://www.muslimadvocates.org/hate/reporting-hate-crimes-in-your-state
http://www.hrc.org/resources/what-to-do-if-you’ve-been-the-victim-of-a-hate-crime
Although confused at first and even a little bit frustrated, after being explained from a professor's point of view by my LLT307 professor as well as receiving the email from RDC, I feel as though I have so much more of a deeper understanding. Although I'm currently studying education, there are some things that teachers face and one can only learn through experience. There are some things that even education majors have not yet considered. Although at times difficult, this week especially, has confirmed my desires to be a teacher and helped me understand how teachers much make difficult decisions especially in controversial times like these.