Academic Integrity: tutoring, explanations, and feedback — we don’t complete graded work or submit on a student’s behalf.

Can you please give me some key take aways from this article? “Colorblindness” i

ID: 432352 • Letter: C

Question

Can you please give me some key take aways from this article?

“Colorblindness” is problematic because it could lead a teacher to believe or portray that they are being fair, impartial, by seeing no differences between students. When in reality they could be just refusing to accept the diversity in their classroom. When a teacher does not accept the diversity in the classroom, she creates a learning barrier for students who do not meet the dominant culture in the classroom.

I really don’t see a benefit to “colorblindness” unless it is absolutely used for nondiscriminatory purposes. Then, all students would benefit. I believe a teacher who uses “colorblindness” as a way of refusing to accept diversity, is giving all students a disadvantage in learning. So much rich culture and backgrounds would be omitted and rob students of the opportunity to learn about each other’s beliefs, culture, and backgrounds.

The three educational implication of “equal is not the same” are:

Acknowledging the difference that children bring to school. This would include all differences such as race, gender, ethnicity, social class, religion, sexual orientation, language, and others. To refuse this acknowledgment may result in teachers and schools labeling children’s behaviors.
Admitting the possibility that students’ identities may influence how they experience school. This may influence how they learn but does not mean that teachers should lower the bar or “water down” curriculum.

Accepting differences also means making provisions for them. The teacher should view students’ diversity as an asset, not a burden and meet students where they are.

When culture is treated like a process students experience that culture. They learn from being engaged with one another and from their own capabilities. When culture is treated as a product it becomes a more of a cookie-cutter type of learning. Students are given the same instruction, the same material, and the same amount of support. Thus, leaving some students unsuccessful.

Explanation / Answer

Ans: The discussion post is regarding the racial ideology & teaching.

Colorblindness is one of the tenet of Critical Race Theory. This emphasis on utilizing culturally responsive teaching strategies to improve academics of African American students.

In Colorblindness one recognizes the race but ignores its existence. In the first paragraph, it mentions that the teacher should be impartial and should accept diversity in the classroom.

Colorblindness is the racial ideology that suggests the best way to end discrimination is by treating every individual equal. In the second paragraph it suggest that the teacher should include culturally responsive teaching and should accept diversity. This will help students to learn about each other’s beliefs, culture, and backgrounds.

The “equal is not the same” came from reverse discrimination. It is discrimination by a majority group against historically disadvantaged group. The “equal is not the same” means that treating everyone in the same way will not necessarily lead to equality; rather it may end up perpetuating the inequality that already exists. Three educational implications are:-

First, acknowledges the differences ... If in teaching we do not acknowledge the difference, will result in deficient child behavior.

Second, admitting the possibility... Being aware of connections among culture, identity, and learning should in no way devalue children’s backgrounds or lower our expectations of them.

Third, Teacher should accept individual differences in teaching and view diversity as an asset.