On Being Racially Discriminated

It dawned on me today that the major root of my classroom management problem is that because I was being treated with racial discrimination. This morning I was trying hard to get my students attention to no avail, but when my black co-teacher spoke to my class they all went really quiet. She didn’t even have to yell at them. When she said ‘I want you to stop talking’, the kids listened. When I said the same thing students ignored me. They always have something to say to me no matter how much I asked them to pay attention and be quiet.

I remember hearing a student long ago making a comment, ‘she can’t teach black kids’. At that time I ignored that comment, now it’s getting clear. Maybe he’s right. I can’t teach black kids. I can’t, unless they let me.

Students would make an issue over my pronunciation. Today a student never stopped laughing no matter how I try to ignore her. When I asked her to keep focused she kept on ignoring me and treated me like trash.

Coming from a different culture, I have the mistake of always assuming that students will show respect. That's why I get really very hurt when it doesn't happen. In my kind of teaching environment one has to struggle everyday to be heard, be seen, or if you're lucky, be respected.