Is this offensive?

[lilminx]

Ok- this has to do with my job, so if you're not interested, just move along....

Sept 15-Oct 15 was Hispanic Heritage month, and I've been doing activities with my students regarding it (many of them are Hispanic, but I would be educating them about it regardless of that fact). This month, for Social Studies, we are learning about families: what one is, what they do, etc...
I thought it would be nice to have a homework assignment where the children simply write a sentence naming the country (ies) where their family was from, and also to use that information to talk about HH month and families. I wanted to possibly make a graph with them about it, etc...

Well.... a few of the parents got offended by it (the ones that were offended were African-American). Another parent informed me that her child was made up of several different ethnicities, and I told her that she could have just put "The USA" if writing all those countries down was too much, because technically the child is American. I really didn't see anything wrong with the assignment: it wasn't difficult, I didn't see it as probing (hell, we're supposed to relate things that we teach to the kids to their own lives) and it fit in with two themes that we were working on.
So I'm asking people here- as a parent, would you find this assignment offensive?

 

[Thumper]

Not offensive.

Just try explaining to the kids that dysfunctional is a condition, NOT where we're from. In our case...we put the "fun" in dysfunctional.

Sounds OK to me lilminx...some people are way too sensitive and just looking for something to bitch about.

 

[estevie]

I don't think its offensive at all. I think it was a great idea. Some people just shouldn't be parents *shaking head*

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Re: Not offensive.

Sounds OK to me lilminx...some people are way too sensitive and just looking for something to bitch about.

Ditto, but you need to be able to handle the exceptions, such as those from mixed ethnicities. It sounds like you did.

Interesting that some were offended; usually people are very proud of their ethnicity.

 

[lilminx]

Re: Re: Not offensive.

Ditto, but you need to be able to handle the exceptions, such as those from mixed ethnicities. It sounds like you did.

Interesting that some were offended; usually people are very proud of their ethnicity.

That's what I figured- especially since I have such a diverse classroom- I thought it would be great to celebrate and recognize those differences by learning about them...

 

[batter]

not offensive

my children had to do something like that for school involving grandparents, countries of origin, languages, etc.
it should not be offensive to learn of ones ancestory.
many large ethnic populations in different cities here have and Ethnic week with history and food and music etc.
it is very educational for all irregardless of ancestory.

 

[lovetoread]

What a wonderful way to get the kids involved. As a mother of 3,I would love it if the teacher tried this.

 

[GuyJD]

LILMINX

I only had to read most of your post to reply to it. Generally, it isn't offensive and I, personally, don't feel offended by it. However, most African-Americans find it offensive because it often sounds like a "back to Africa" statement. My opinion, regardless of what races they may be, if they were born in America then that's what the student should write about.

Once, when I was in college, I was working at the campus library. One of my coworkers, a super fine Hispanic young lady, decided to act a true asshole one day and asked me a very stupid question. She turned to me as we sat together working and asked, "Have you ever wondered what it would be like to visit where you came from?" I turned to face two of my Caucasian coworkers and they appeared to be embarassed by her idiotic inquiry. So I politely and nicely replied, "Yeah, I ofter wondered what it would be like to visit France." She pried on the question until I asked her to recite my last name (which is French). When she did, I told her, "Now go and find a book that can tell you what that name means in French. That should answer your stupid question." She totally felt stupid then. Ironically, that was her last day working with us.

 

[lilminx]

Guy JD

About the back-to-Africa thing:
I asked one of my teacher's aides who is African-American about it. She said the same thing, but that she doesn't find it offensive. She basically said that the people who were offended were ignorant and that they didn't look for the reason behind the assignment- they just jumped to conclusions...
She also said that some African-Americans still see Africa as an undeveloped jungle and don't like to be reminded that that's where they're from. I don't know if that's the reason, but I'm just telling you one African-American educator's point of view.

 

[Angel]

Re: LILMINX

I only had to read most of your post to reply to it. Generally, it isn't offensive and I, personally, don't feel offended by it. However, most African-Americans find it offensive because it often sounds like a "back to Africa" statement. My opinion, regardless of what races they be, if they were born in America then that's what the student should write about.

I think the point was to learn about the Culture of each kid based on their backgrounds. Regardless of if you were born in the USA, your culture or racial heritage is going to reflect in your day to day life.

 

[lilminx]

Re: Re: LILMINX

I think the point was to learn about the Culture of each kid based on their backgrounds. Regardless of if you were born in the USA, your culture or racial heritage is going to reflect in your day to day life.

You're right, Angel, that was the point of the assignment. However, if a family didn't feel comfortable having their kid write the country of origin or didn't know it, the USA would have been acceptable as well.

 

[Angel]

Re: Re: Re: LILMINX

You're right, Angel, that was the point of the assignment. However, if a family didn't feel comfortable having their kid write the country of origin or didn't know it, the USA would have been acceptable as well.

Of course. I don't see where this would offend anyone. I would think it would be a chance for the kids to celebrate their differences and share their similarities - to teach them that everyone is different and that it is a GOOD thing.

I wish I had the patience to teach. It's an awesome career.

 

[morninggirl5]

Lilminx,

I don't think the assignment was offensive at all. But I wonder if a couple of my parent might. Naaah, what am I thinking, they wouldn't even know about the homework assignment anyway.


Sorry, my vent got in the way.

 

[lilminx]

Lilminx,

I don't think the assignment was offensive at all. But I wonder if a couple of my parent might. Naaah, what am I thinking, they wouldn't even know about the homework assignment anyway.


Sorry, my vent got in the way.

Believe me, Morninggirl, I feel your pain- if you want to start a venting thread about work, I would gladly join you there...

 

[Nolan]

it doesn't sound offensive

But remember some people go through a lot to get into the usa and some people want to forget their past.

 

[Gary1]

Genealogy ...

Where do we come from? At which point in our genealogical history do we select? Which parentage line do we select? I have some grandparents that came to this country in the mid 1800s. Some other that came in the early 1700's. Some came from Scotland, Denmark, Sweden, and Russia. I can follow some lines that were part of the crusades that were born, lived, and died in the middle east. Some that did the same in norther Africa... hmmm... guess that means that I could say that I am Arab, and could say that I am African... Where did I come from originally? I would have to ask ... at what point in my genealogical history do I use? The last 50 years, 100 years, 200 years, 800 years ... or what?
I think the parents should have asked a few questions instead of going off the handle doing a knee jerk reaction... Many of my ancestors were vikings and settled in many places ... how do I select where I am from ... without more knowledge from the teacher of a time-frame? You did nothing wrong ... the parents should have been more involved.

 

[paganangel]

If you're not still mad at me...

They were simply foolish. I'd wager they immediatly felt anything to do with a racial assignment had racist overtones, when in fact the opposite was true. Some people only see what affects them. Clearly, in this case, the effect was not what was intended..enlightenment. Some people embrace ignorance and feel safer closed off from the out side world. Those people don't have to "go back to where they came from," but they certainly are living in the wrong counrty. Definitly the wrong city. New York is no place to be afraid of different people!

"I like all the meats in our cultural stew!" - Homer Simpson

 

[lilminx]

Not still mad at you, but you're still a moron...

Yeah- I think they jumped to conclusions out of ignorance. Oh well *sigh*... you can never please everyone...

Thanks everyone for your input and opinions. It made me feel much better about the situation

 

[paganangel]

um yeah, it doesn't sound like you are still mad at me.
and i know you liked my quote

 

[Debbie]

IMHO it wasn't offensive.
As a parent I would have been proud to help my children do this homework. My children are Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Norwegian, English and New Zealand.
Some parents misunderstand but a quick chat with you could have sorted this out.

 

[Domcop]

i feel that some people who are miserable - for whatever reason- will look to anything that they can remotely express their displeasure with. lord knows you did not seek to divide or alienate any of the children. there was nothing wrong with your assignment. it is my opinion that we should look to our past to find out who we are today and get a better idea of our direction as to where we would like to be tomorrow. their complaints are evidence of their ignorance.
if my words above dont give you any support,
how does this work? -
some people just really really suck!!

 

[Mischka]

Perhaps as an alternate option to naming other countries, the students can name regions of the United States? The US is larger than most other countries, and there are distinct regional communities. And if the family goes back a few generations within the local area, that is as distinct as a second generation student with roots in another country.

As for the overarching question, I agree with everyone else - there is nothing offensive about highlighting the diversity of the class. The US prides itself on being a melting pot, and to visually represent the breadth of native countries/regions represented within one class would really help the students understand that concept. I'd say to keep up the great work, and ignore the bad apples. The students will appreciate you for it.

 

[sch00lteacher]

She basically said that the people who were offended were ignorant and that they didn't look for the reason behind the assignment- they just jumped to conclusions...

This, alas, is the story of education. I've been at this a few years and I see it all the time.

No matter how much you put into a lesson one or two parents will find it offensive.

No matter what you do, on or two parents will become upset with you.

I currently work in a setting where 90% of the kids are Black. I do have one African-American. His father is from Nigeria. The rest are from the United States.

Oh, I'm white. Shouldn't make a difference but it does. I have told you guys that I work in alternative education, read discipline school.

If I could supplement my paycheck with the racial crap I have faced, I would be a rich man.

No big deal if a student writes Mr. ***** is a cracker on his desk. What if a white student wrote Mr. ***** is a nigger on desk?

Then there was the guy whose son I wrote up for cursing me out. He came in mad at me, as his son was suspended for five days. "You can not understand the young black man, your white". This is how he started off the conversation. Down hill from there.

Guess I need to go back to the teacher's rant thread.

But anyhow Lilminx, your lesson sounds great. Don't throw it away. And you sound like a very sensitive, and caring teacher. Don't throw that away.

 

[Marxist]

White people never get it and never will. American Negroes are a race straight out of science fiction. We've been damned into being regarded as reactionaries and have become reactionaries by persecution. No one wants revisit our slavery in-depth. Africans regard us as degenerates and war captives that they sold off to Arab traders. Yet how many Muhammeds and Abduls have been named in the American Negro community in the past 50 years? It's a kind of cultural schizophrenia. We are uncomfortable because we built a country but have only recently been included in it to a full degree. Our pedigree makes us survivors. Stacked like ricks of wood and made to lie in sickness and filth in the bottom of a boat for a very long trip, then bound in chains and separated from familial unit after familial unit. I bet my family has been in America 100 years longer than most all Americans on this board, yet when did they not only get the right but the ability to vote?

Were those parents that opposed you wrong? Yep. Real education allows one to see subtle differences and make informed judgements. But excuse me if I don't shed a tear for any consternation that some ignorant brothers or sisters cause. And if anyone wants to say that this is some kind of excuse they should know that that's the last thing we want or need.

MARXIST

 

[Cheyenne]

I bet my family has been in America 100 years longer than most all Americans on this board, yet when did they not only get the right but the ability to vote?

In relative terms, about the same time as women got their right to vote?