JaQuita Jackson
Strayer University
Assignment 1 Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Course
EDU 505Contemporary Issues in Education
Dr. Bobbi Jo Taylor
Fall 2016
Introduction
In this case study you one can observe how Ms. Lawson sensitive response to racial issues in the school environment. Ms. Lawson’s previous school was not as diversified as her new school environment. Her expectation was to make a difference in a multi-cultural environment after completing a study of diversified cultures. Ms. Lawson’s aim was to utilize the skills of understanding diversity of cultures to form a better relationship between teachers and students. This bond would create a different perspective that would …show more content…
Ms. Lawson was set in place to establish order and give direction for the class she was responsible for. Although she receive proper training in cultural diversity and classroom order, her reaction to the situation proved her failure to understand the students she was entrusted with. Ms. Lawson allowed fear and anger to control her, rather than a response of love and knowledge. As an educator Ms. Lawson failed in regards to protecting her students and allowing them to know the truth of the N-word. She assumed that Anthony and his piers were knowledgeable of the N-words origin and its usage in history. Ms. Lawson failed to see that the new generation had transformed the spelling and the meaning of the word to show a level of respect rather than hate. The student’s needed guidance and understanding, rather than embarrassment and discipline. Ms. Lawson was presented with an opportunity to be a true educator and challenge the student’s to see how one word segregated a nation of multiple …show more content…
If Ms. Lawson used the challenge to invoke the class to learn, the response from the students would have been of a different outcome. One must listen to a young person by engaging their perspective of a subject and why they believe their meaning is defined as truth with supporting evidence. Ms. Lawson should have allowed the students to have an educational debate to argue their point and learn from one another. After the students shared their perspectives, Ms. Lawson could have given a homework assignment to survey their peers, parents, and teachers to understand the social perspective of the N-word. The data gathered would reveal the truth of the word and how their peers, parents, and teachers understand the word to be used in