I was forwarded this picture from a friend. It’s a journal entry eight-year-old King Johnson wrote after speaking with his mother, Robin Johnson, about the meaning of Columbus Day. His mom told HuffPost about the journal in an article by Taryn Finley titled “This Kid’s Letter To His Teacher For Lying About Christopher Columbus Needs To Be Framed”
I transcribe it below:
Today was not a good learning day. Blah, Blah, Blah. I only wanted to hear you not talking. You said something wrong and I can’t listen when I hear lies. My mother says the only Christopher we acknowledge is Wallace because Columbus did not find our country, the Indians did. I like to have Columbus Day off but I want you not to teach me lies. That is all. My question for this day is how can white people teach Black History?
The teacher’s comment, “King I am very disappointed in your journal today.”
King Johnson’s response, “Ok.”
As a former literacy educator, I know first hand that journal writing can be a powerful tool. It’s an active, not passive way for teachers and students to share ideas. It’s used by many educators to engage students in thinking objectively about the material presented that School Day.
You can elicit questions from students to explore a topic with more depth. Teachers can check for understanding for themselves and their students. I’d ask myself, “Am I delivering what I thought? Do I need to put the breaks on and rethink my approach?”
What I learned over the years was students will share things in a journal they’d never have the courage to share with the class. I learned a great deal about who the individuals I served were, and spent five days a week, or if there was a wilderness expedition, all weekend with.
Teachers serve students and their families. Ideally, we help empower them. We give our students the tools to go beyond their prior knowledge, gain confidence, master new skills, formulate their own unique ideas about the world. To cultivate an authentic voice. To be skeptical.
Students should vigorously question what they are taught. We all know, or should know, the first news report or article online rarely have all the facts, have a slant, and should be sourced.
When this photo was brought to my attention I was first impressed with King’s candor and his desire for truth. It was frankly amusing to me that this child totally debunked the lesson.
But then, as I re-read it, the more irritated I became.
I was angered by both the disservice to this smart, engaged young black boy King and the criminal lack of understanding, empathy or common sense of this “teacher”.
What a totally wasted opportunity for this teacher to connect with this student where he is. If you aren’t interested in a child’s take on your lesson, what’s the point in assigning a journal reflection? That makes no sense.
“Ask me no questions, I’ll tell you no lies.” is my motto.
I’m left with some basic troubling questions.
If this white teacher is teaching a unit on Christopher Columbus, why not include new thinking about how the “discovery” narrative is outdated and false as this clever young man pointed out?
How do Native American students in this teachers class feel about the glorification of a man that to many, symbolizes the genocide of their people? How would you feel if you were they? Clearly, by King’s reaction, it was not handled in a sensitive way.
Why undermine your own credibility with a clearly engaged, bright boy who challenges your faulty conclusions by ignoring the important topics he broached? Shutting him down saying, “how disappointed you are” in what he’s trying to share with you?
FUCK your disappointment.
IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU!
This is a perfect example of how White Fragility damages our kids. Schools are as segregated today as during the Civil Rights Era. Black and Latino schoolchildren by and large are woefully underserved in America.
These facts you can research, be my guest.
When white teachers fail black students they are still teaching important lessons. Lessons about their respective places in society and intentionally or not, these teachers are complicit in reinforcing institutional racism and white supremacy. You become gatekeepers perpetuating the status quo.
As another Black History Month comes around, I’d really like well-intentioned white educators to consider a few things.
- Please check your privilege.
- Listen.
- Ask more questions.
- Listen.
- Try becoming an Ally.
- Listen.
Did I mention listening?
Yes, we all appreciate the MLK colleges and the Fredrick Douglas book reports. These men are important, but who are your students’ heroes?
Whose stories should they know that are still living? Who are the heroic black folks THEY want to learn more about? Why do they admire them?
Are the contributions of Black Women being highlighted in your curriculum?
(Lord knows the Black Female Voters of Alabama need some recognition this year.)
Who are the celebrated heroes in their families?
Here are some questions for you. If you are a white educator of non-white kids.
Are you being “real” with them?
Are you engaging in age-appropriate conversations that you may be uncomfortable with about institutionalized racism? #BlackLivesMatter, modern segregation? #MeToo?
The School-to-Prison Pipeline?
Here’s a primer.
Did you know the Stonewall Riot started with the arrest of a Black Trans Woman?
Her name was Marsha P. Johnson, trans icon and revolutionary figure in the movement for the liberation of all LGBTQ people was found dead in the Hudson River a few days after the Riot. Her legacy as the “Rosa Parks” of the LGBTQ rights movement lives on today and has recently been reexamined in a Netflix-acquired documentary of her life and death. If your kids aren’t old enough? You should watch it.
The point is if your investigations surrounding The rise of Civilization on the African Continent, The Black Experience in The Americas and the contribution of Black Culture to the world isn’t intersectional? you are failing to serve all your students.
Look around. If there are only white kids in your school or district? You need to have a SERIOUS discussion why that is so. Do they know what “Redlining” is? Do you? Our President sure does. He was sued by the DOJ for not renting to Black Tenants. (You vote for him? Awkward.)
I’ve never protected my students from hard truths. I only helped them spot easy lies.
Let me ask you this:
What black folk today or historically challenge you or you take issue with? Example: Colin Kaepernick enjoys adulation from some and hatred from many White Americans. Have you examined why? Perhaps you need to delve in and look at him from a different perspective? A new set of eyes? Go outside your comfort zone. You ask your students to do that every day.
Walk your talk.
There is no such thing as “other people’s children”. All children deserve to be protected, and enlightened for a brighter future for all within our society.
An educated, informed and empowered populace are an inoculation against authoritarian regimes. It’s why the first signs of Despotism are anti-intellectual propaganda, persecution of Educators and the targeting of institutions of higher learning.
Teaching & Learning are Revolutionary acts.
I ask you to be the best teacher you know how to be and NEVER tell any child they are “disappointing you” by speaking their truth or sharing their perspective. Particularly if you are the one ASKING FOR IT!
You are doing them violence.
If you don’t have a solid grasp on what messages your curriculum says about your students, or how your interactions impact your relationship with them, then nephew King was correct, and you have no business teaching Black History.
I’m a firm believer in teachable moments.
How could this teacher do their job delivering curriculum AND more importantly, develop a better relationship with their students?
The latter makes the former much easier to deliver and assess. I know. I taught for 20 years. And next to being a Dad, teaching is the hardest and best job I’ve ever had.
I get it. It’s a challenging profession that doesn’t get near as much respect or recognition as it does everywhere else in the world. Yet, teachers help shape our future. What kind of future do you want?
Teach to THAT.
Teachers require administrative and parental/caregiver support, training, tools and life experiences to help guide the students in their care, and in these fact-free times, must vigorously check the credibility of their classes content.
You can only be a positive agent of change in shaping your students’ character and worldview if you know yourself and do no harm. That involves constant self-assessment to do this vital job effectively.
That’s the gig.
Because for good or ill, every day in your classroom is a learning day.
However, the lesson you deliver is totally up to you.
—
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