Looking Beyond Stereotypes
I created a short Ignite Presentation on my experiences working with boys of color at a middle school in Oregon. I was especially committed to this work because my sons were also attending the middle school at the same time as I was teaching there.
Current students in our Public Education system look differently and act differently than decades before. Educators and administrators alike are attempting to lessen the achievement gap between English Language Learners, students of color and the white and affluent populations in their districts. Of particular concern, are our boys of color.
These are our students, who need to be heard, understood and supported. We have to be flexible in our approaches and in our minds. We must be without judgment and listen to their stories so, we can understand their hopes and dreams, and capture their interests. When they know we are interested in them, they will become more interested in school.
I believe that one of the reasons why boys of color are not engaged, is because we don’t understand them. Their perspective of the world is different from their privileged counterparts. Grade school students, hold a special protective place in our society. We try to protect this time called childhood. These students come with more varied experiences and a sense of maturity that we need to understand.
Boys of color are very conscious about financial responsibility. Many parents have multiple jobs. It’s hard supporting a family on minimum wage jobs. To make up for it, parents have more than one job. Their children see this and being good sons and daughters, they help out.
Childcare is expensive so it tends to be provided in house. It is not uncommon for eldest boys to make breakfast and take care of cousins, bring younger relatives to school, pick them up after school, and see they are fed. This is more common than teachers realize.
The legal impacts of immigration policies effect these communities and touch these boys. Five years ago, I walked by the school office and saw many of my English Language students inside, sent there for disruptive behavior. The day before, the INS had raided a small factory in Portland. Later I discovered that all the boys had someone they know arrested during that raid.
Because of working poor student, several of my students worked the fields during the summer harvest. On entering the fall session, students would proudly tell me of how much they worked and earned. The young boys of color were especially proud to support their mothers since their fathers were gone, giving nearly all their wages towards rent money so their family would have a place to live for the next 4-6 months. Already economically empowered and knowing they can sell their hard labor, it is not uncommon for students to earn thousands of dollars a month during the summer months.
Boys of color have a code of honor. They are protective of their families, friends and younger siblings. Students keep their word, protecting friends and even teachers. There is a collective sense of community. They cover for each other. One will take the blame for the group if needed to protect friends or family. They will do all they can to protect their own.
Because of their unique backgrounds, we must be flexible offering support to our boys of color so they can be successful in the educational system.