Jacqueline’s Blog

    In reading this article, I was reminded of people in my life in my past that this article helped me identify with.  I went to school with a girl who was of Phillipino decent.  In high school, I remember how much it use to offend her when someone called her Asian.  There is a part of the article that talks about how 4 billion people from 50 countries could be considered Asian, including people from diverse cultures such as Turkey, Japan, India, the Phillipines, and Indonesia which in my mind explains her frustration nicely.  When I stop to think about those cultures, they do vary widely.  I can see why people might be offended by being grouped with such a large area.  Each one of those countries has a unique culture and identity.  When you put them all in a group together, you undermine the individuality that comes from each country.  If we traveled to those countries and spent some time experiencing their culture and talking with the people, I think that people might start to clarify the identities in their minds. 

I think many people in the past have just grouped all of these countries together due to a lack of knowledge and understanding.  But, in this day and time,  with all the technological advances that we have available, we should be closing this gap of understanding. We can visit some of these countries through virtual tours on the internet.  We can conduct a unit of study.  I think that as an educational community explores these cultures in more depth, we will begin to see the large differences among these cultures.  I also think that this may help with some of the trends that we are seeing in students who are performing poorly in school.  We have failed to validate this population’s identity.  Some of these kids may be growing up not feeling value towards their own culture.  By exploring more cultures in the educational context, we can affirm students who may come from one of these cultures.  This may provide the encouragement the students need to dream big.

I also agree that the main issue that may be of consequence to academic achievement is one of class issue.  However, in my mind, this issue may not be as easy to solve.  In my county, I teach in an area where the students can be transient and needing federal assistance for food.  I am also noticing that it is our schools that are beginning to fall behind in areas like teachnology.  I am not sure what we can do to try and level the playing field for these kids.   I think the playing field will need to be leveled in some way for our children to continue to compete with other kids their age.  I haven’t exactly come up with a great idea yet.  But, I have a feeling that after I complete this degree, I will begin trying my hand at writing grants in an effort to raise the “institutional resources” needed for our students to achieve.

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