Race, Ethnicity, and Language: The Elephant in the (Class)Room

It is an obvious truth that is being ignored and going unaddressed in our educational system today.  It is an obvious problem and a risk to the success and learning of our students that no one seems to want to discuss.  But, it is an issue that can no longer be ignored.  As educators, we all know that our classrooms will be composed of learners from all different backgrounds (both academically and more importantly ethnically) and that in the majority of cases, it is these students who often get overlooked and pose a challenge to the general flow of the classroom.  Everyone knows that the needs of these students rarely ever get addressed, but if we as educators want our classrooms to be warm, welcoming, and safe environments that foster the learning of all, then it is time that every student is valued for who they are and not who the system can make them become.  It is about giving the students a sense of ownership over their education that is the most important thing an educator can provide his/her students.

            While race, ethnicity, and language may be controversial issues that may arise in our classroom discussions, they are not elephants to be ignored because we believe they are too difficult to address, too taboo.  In fact, it is from the diversity of our classrooms, the diversity of our students that we should be drawing inspiration for our lessons and for our day-to-day learning.  Why not have ESL students share some common phrases in their native tongue?  Why not have every student contribute a bit of their native culture to a lesson in a particular unit?  As an English teacher, one way in which I hope to incorporate the different cultures and languages of my students is by having their diversity reflected in the literature they are reading, and even by having them suggest their favorite books or authors.  Another thing that educators must realize is that every culture has its own customs and traditions and that sometimes your students will bring some of these habits into the classroom.  For instance, students of Asian descent may not directly look you or other students in the eye when talking or giving a presentation because in their culture it is considered an insult, and many of your German students may find it rude if you make the okay sign with your fingers.  Understanding the cultures of your students and allowing them to understand your own culture makes for an open and appreciative classroom.  Through race, ethnicity, and language, the true identity of a student is revealed and thus the path an educator must take to help each student achieve their own success.  A student’s identity is not just defined by who they are in the classroom, but who they are at home, in the community, what their beliefs emphasize, and what their interests may be.  Respect in the classroom is the first step towards creating a change in education and a change in the world.  As Herbert Spencer once said, one of “[t]he great aim[s] of education is not knowledge, but action.”  Take action in your classroom to include everyone. (JS)

“No one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure.” - Emma Goldman