Reflection #11

In a classroom a teacher gets about twenty five to forty children. Each child will be unique. A teacher could not predict how much diversity he/she will have in the class. Everyone has a different ethnic and racial identity, as well as different beliefs, values and attitudes. All kids are raised with essential fundamentals of their cultures thought which will reflect in the kid’s behavior. As a teacher I will have to transmit a message without offending anyone’s beliefs, values and attitudes. To teach inclusively I must let the students be aware that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs, values, attitudes and physical differnce. But no matter the culture there is a common set of values that I will have to instill to my students.

We grow up valuing that the common in our culture is good; and what’s not common in our culture is bad. When an individual, situation or object is identified to be different (bad) by another person, there is a tendency to express hatred, or prejudice to that object, person or situation. People who behave negatively (according to American ethics); do not consider they are doing anything wrong because their culture considers it right thing to do. Although the negative beliefs, values and attitudes result in antilocution, avoidance, physical attack, discrimination, and/or genocide.

The most important thing that I have learned in order to develop multicultural awareness/consciousness it is necessary to change ones beliefs, values and attitudes. This is one of the reasons why change is essential to become multicultural awareness/consciousness. Operative values are unwilling to change, however conceived values are susceptible to change. People will not change unless presented with factual information. However, people respond to change and take many forms. Operative values will be refined when someone’s knowledge and understanding grows, and living conditions alter.