In this paper there are three main focus points, each interconnects with the concept of the journey towards’ reconciliation. Racism, diversity, and indigenization are all terms that connect with our classrooms. As a teacher one’s focus is to be able to help their students excel to their best ability in their classes, no teacher wants their students to fail. In terms of wanting students to excel we also want them to be aware of social problems that are currently happening in our world and what has already happened. The goal of this paper is to show what kind of teacher I am aiming to be one day and what I believe should be taught in every classroom. One may think these subjects are “touchy” or “controversial” but personally I feel that one needs to learn these concepts to help develop them to one day be the best version of themselves they can be and to be aware of social problems one will face in their everyday lives. Teachers want to make sure their students are able to excel once they are out of school.
In the context of racism, there is the idea of white privilege. As a teacher, you should be aware of these social problems’, so you have the ability to bring awareness to the topic in your classroom. Racism is one of the most important topics to bring awareness to in your classroom, kids should be taught about this from an early age from a teachers’ perspective. When you can openly speak about racism it helps you become a more understanding, and respectful person one should never feel awkward or wrong when speaking on racism. When you have the ability to successfully teach the kids in your classroom about white privilege and when they can grasp the concept of this topic you have succeeded in your goal, therefore they have opened their eyes to the world. Everyone should be aware of the everyday challenges people of colour are no matter their race, religion, or culture. It is ones’ responsibility to educate themselves and others about racism so there can be an end to it. As much as Caucasian people do not want to accept the idea of “white privilege” it is a concept that is true. White privilege happens in Caucasian peoples’ lives every single day without them being aware they are experiencing it. In the end, racism is a real concept that every person should be educated on, and teachers should take time in their classrooms to bring awareness to one day hopefully it will all be part of history.
When you hear the word diversity it means to understand one’s differences from each other. In the classroom, the concept of diversity shows that each of our students has different needs, and every student learns best by a variety of teaching styles. For example, one student may learn best through hands-on learning, and another may learn best by reading and writing. When one is a teacher, they must have to work to the best of their ability to be able to succeed in meeting all of their student’s needs. A teacher’s main goal is to succeed in educating his/her students and for them to be able to grasp the concept and be able to speak confidently about the topics they have learned in that classroom. When more than a few students are thriving in your classroom it makes the teacher feel accomplished in the idea that they have succeeded in meeting all of their student’s needs. One student may excel in math, and another may fail in math, when diversity is perceived in this idea that means the teacher may need to help the one student more in that specific class. As a teacher you need to help ensure the student that just because they are struggling in one specific class does not mean they are failing, it just means they have different strengths than other students. Each student has unique differences and weaknesses and that is a concept of diversity, the teacher should help make the idea that everyone is different, and everyone will succeed more in different things than their peers.
After learning about the diversity of students in the classroom it has opened ones’ eyes as a teacher because it really shows how much effort one must put into their teaching to meet each one’s different needs. In conclusion, diversity has changed a perspective as a teacher as well as changed their way in how they will teach.
In terms of Residential schools in Canada and the Truth and Reconciliation, I have gained a lot more knowledge. I have learned more about the government’s participation in bringing awareness to Residential schools in Canada, and I have learned more about why it took the government so long to give a formal apology. In the context of this, I am fully aware that I will never fully understand what the Indigenous peoples went through at the time of Residential Schools, and I will most likely never know the true story unless I personally talk to a survivor. Although I do know that my decision to educate myself on this topic has helped me better understand, and I have also had the opportunity to understand why the Indigenous Peoples did not fully accept the government’s apology. I now have a responsibility with the knowledge I have interpreted while educating myself on Residential Schools in Canada. In my eyes, the responsibility I have that came with my new knowledge on this topic is that I now need to share and have conversations about Residential Schools. I have the power to educate others on this topic, it is not so much the power but more so my duty to educate others. Residential Schools are not a morning coffee type of conversation, when being talked about it one’s eyes and mind is needed to be fully open and eager to learn and listen. I now can take part in events because I have this knowledge, and I am aware that even though I have more knowledge on this topic I do not have enough. When talking to another advocate for Residential Schools I can still be open-minded and learn even more information, you can never fully understand. When I am a teacher, I hope that I have the ability to teach my classroom about Residential Schools and have conversations about it, they should never be forgotten or left out in history classes. Everything starts with a conversation.