As I look back over this class and all of the reading and discussion that has taken place I realize that as a society we have a lot of growing to do. As I listened to the book reviews of my classmates I realize how we, as humans no matter what information is given to you, you only see what you want to see. (or should I say what you are ready to see) So many of these intelligent people gave very interesting presentations, but, in my opinion, they did not see the 'heart' of the stories in which they read. Acceptance is such a vital part of being an educator and it frightens me that so many educators lack this quality.
I understand that we are products of our environments and sometimes we can only accept what is important to us and nothing more than that. But what if we all decided to walk a mile in someone else's shoes just for a brief moment? I wonder how many of us would be running back to walk in our own? But the real question is when we get back in our shoes, what would we do to try and help the one's whose shoes we could not endure to walk in? In this class we have looked at so many of the wrongs but have not really ventured into what could be changed/altered? Not just in the lives of those who suffer but in our own perceptions? What could we change about ourselves that would benefit those around us? I guess that should be the ultimate question of the course, huh? Now that you have the information, statistics, and truth what are you going to do to change you?
To answer this question on a personal level I am going to hang up some of my own stereotypes that I have. Judging the parents of my students is a big issue with me due to the fact of how they chose to approach certain situations. I am going to listen to their reasoning first and try to offer a friendly suggestion if it gives them an easier solution. Then I am going to try to be more tolerant of my colleagues, who lack patience with our students. Leading by example is the most effective way to lead someone to change. Last, I am going to be more open to new relationships with people who do not look like me. Upon my return from living abroad I have to admit that I have been a bit stand-offish with people of different races due to the fact of my ill experiences of those who chose to live in ignorance. Upon this revelation within myself, which was very difficult to admit, I realized that by making this change maybe someone would get a clue, as did I, that people are just people. We all desire the same thing no matter where we come from, acceptance. . .
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