Freire, Lake, And Sensoy: Diversity In The Classroom

After being exposed to literature about education, I have realized how complex it is to educate others. Not only do teachers have a responsibility to teach what is required, but to do so while appreciating and encouraging diversity within the classroom. By reading Blackburn, Freire, Lake, and Sensoy, I have learned that teaching requires far more than surface level thinking. A teacher must be able to teach common core standards while differentiating instruction for the multiple types of learners that appear in a classroom. Furthermore, teachers must take an interest in each and every one of their students and learn who they are as a person. It is a teacher’s job to encourage their students to be their true selves, while also encouraging equality
Lake, in his letter to his son’s kindergarten teacher, explains that his son is being viewed differently because of his culture. When I become a teacher, I hope that my student’s never feel as though they are being outcasted for being themselves. Lake states that his son “came home crying and said he wanted to have his hair cut. He said he doesn't have any friends at school because they make fun of his long hair” (Lake, 1990). I believe that this situation should have never became an issue. The teacher should have realized that bullying was taking place and put an end to it. Furthermore, the teacher should have emphasized the first day, and every day since then, that everyone is unique and that are differences are what make us who we are. Also, with knowing who you are means self-reflecting which Blackburn emphasizes the importance of in “Think”. Blackburn states that: “Human beings are relentlessly capable of self-reflecting” (Blackburn, 2001). I believe that promoting self-reflection as a teacher is important because with self-reflection we begin to understand why we believe certain things and why we act certain ways. Only through self- reflection can we truly understand who we are, and be more accepting of