Yelling Class Speaks
I've gotten a few responses to my e-mail from the various teachers from my program. The relevant bits are below -- generally, if they indicate that they are a member of a minority, they are. If not, they are white. And yes, this is a biased sample of those who cared enough to respond. Still.
I am reminded why I love these people so damn much.
Regent Park 2007/8 TCs (now teachers) speak:
First Response
In regards to the group discussions we had at Regent Park, I have to admit that I started to get agitated during the end. Not because I didn't agree with what was being said but because of the cyclical nature of these discussions. I think it opened some people's perspectives wider. However, there were some arrogant attitudes in the class as well. It seemed like some people just didn't want to listen to others or were more interested in hearing themselves speak than actually having a dialog. I think any discussion, activity or dialog that broadened my perspective, understanding and insight into other people helped make the program worth it. And not to sound condescending, but when I saw the flash of illumination on some people's faces it restored my faith in people and in the program. I do think there was a large contingent of people who didn't really get it though.
I found that there was an oversimplification of racial/ethnic issues in the program and a lot of what we talked about seemed to be about exorcising past demons as opposed to discussing what we can do now and the immediate future. Sometimes it felt futile. But to reiterate what I said before, I think any dialog which expands, challenges or broadens your current perspective is definitely worthwhile.
Second Response
I believe that I did benefit from the discussions we shared in class, primarily Beverly Jean's class. Learning takes its best form when people are challenged and I think that the topics and issues had really turned into powerful discussions in our class. Whether everyone were able to take that learning experience and "pivotal moments" with them is undetermined. Perhaps people who can relate more to diversity and race (e.g. visible minorities like myself) feel that their voices are "finally" being heard. While others who have never direct racism and prejudice may also benefit from this learning experience, because it opens up new lens and perspectives (hopefully in a positive way). I am glad that such discussions have taken place.
In my undergraduate program for Social Work, my classes have always turned into heated debates and discussions about race, culture, diversity, equity and social justice. Although I'm used to these discussions, it's interesting to see what people have to say in different disciplines. At times, I felt bad for people who might have felt like "victims" from the discussions and especially when we talked about "white privilege" and etc...
Although I understand that it is important for people to be aware of their own privileges and oppressions (visible and invisible), we could still be tactful in the way we confront and challenge these discourses. Sometimes I felt Beverly Jean was a bit too direct or harsh... (I'm not sure whether you agree with me with this one). Either way, it was coming from her own personal experiences and emotions.
Third Response (note on the last paragraph: he is unfamiliar with everything relating to what has been called RaceFail other than my explanation "there has been a blowup in fandom over racism in SF/F"; it's all his own reading experience, which made my eyebrows go up in light of recent context)
As for my own experience with the Regent Park Program, I'll start by saying that I had a few mentors in my undergrad who were very much like Marguerite and Beverly. In a precious few of my classes I was blessed with instructors who challenged, encouraged, and supported me, and I grew incredibly. I'm glad I had this support at a time when I was just becoming aware of how racism and racial privilege affected so much of my life and how I saw myself.
So, come Regent Park, very little of what you described was new or ground-breaking for me, but I wouldn't say I didn't get anything from it. What Regent Park did do, was validate my experiences as a person of colour, and ensure that my teachers college year was a thoroughly anti-oppressive and inclusive experience. Recognizing, naming, and working to address the various forms of oppression that those in the minority live with every day, in my opinion, is a must for beginning teachers. If it takes a bit of time for those new to the concept to get up to speed, that's fine with me. I don't think change happens any other way: those willing members of the majority need to catch up!
For those who refused to recognize their relative privilege, be-it gender, racial, class, etc., I drew comfort in the knowledge that on the few occassions they had the guts to express their views in the open, they would be challenged by fellow classmates and the instructors. note: challenged and engaged, not silenced. My undergraduate experience, with the few incredibly important exceptions mentioned above, was quite the opposite. My experiences were neither acknowledged nor valued. Some aspects of my undergrad were rather old-school, and conservative, and the population of my school was rather White.
So, Regent Park was a wonderful expereince for me too. It felt good to be part of an institution, and cadre of new teachers that was actively working to change long un-recognized and un-addressed oppressive practices in education. It was an incredibly validating and healing experience.
It sounds like you got a whole lot out of it too, and I'm glad. I for one, as you know, am an insane sci-fi fan who enjoys the odd forray into fantasy, AND I see much racism, sexism, andro-centrism etc. in it. Particularly, in the military sci-fi I read AND ENJOY (e.g. John Ringo, William C. Deitz, David Weber, Orson Scott Card, Julie Cochrane). And, that's not to say that the likes of Elizabeth Bear aren't doing a wonderful job changing the rules.
Fourth Response
But as to your request in your letter, I got a lot out of the program at Regent park. It opened my eyes to so many things, and although it felt like some days we were going around in circles and talking about the same issues over and over again, there are so many layers of prejudice (pre-judging) that are so automatic and so embedded that it was far into the year until I really began to understand the depths of how hidden, complex and serious the issues of diversity and equity really are. (it all seems so obvious now, but I'm ashamed to say that even though I considered myself so liberated and well-informed at the beginning of the course, I still had a fair distance to go to cut through the layers of all that I had taken for granted). Beverly Jean's course was part of the awakening (and sometimes through the process, unfortunately, of the closing down), but it was as much the input of Marguerite, Kirby, Terence, other classmates' points of view, comments, books (especially "Beyond Heroes and Holidays"), experiences at placements, experiences at ArtHeart, etc. that helped to shape where I am now. It was the whole package, and now being at Rose Avenue (where out of a student population of over 900, I think I've seen three blond-haired kids) I feel truly grateful for my time at Regent Park. I continually question myself, check myself, and try to stay as open as possible to where my students (and their families) are at while bringing in as inclusive a curriculum as possible. It's not perfect of course. I certainly notice that most of the teachers are white (European descent, including myself), while almost all of the student population is South East Asian, North African or Middle Eastern, and I wonder how that impacts on them. But you do what you can do.
Fifth Response
Regarding your online debate, I'd like to specifically address the person's comment that "I'm generally unsure what those members of the class who were minorities gained from it."
The Regent Park program was a life changing, or more accurately, an "awakening" experience for me. As a child growing up in an town that had only two Chinese families that I could recall (ourselves included), I was conscious of racism every time I left the door of my home. The thing about racism is that it's extremely easy to pinpoint verbal and physical attacks. But what the Regent Park program pointed out so effectively for me, are the insidious, invisible effects of living in a culture that does not recognize and support who you are. Beverley-Jean's class made me conscious of huge parts of my history that I remembered but could make no sense of.
The desire to feel accepted and to fit in is such an integral part of human nature. And for many of us, being "banana" (yellow on the outside and white on the inside) was an automatic survival response. Looking back, when I think of being a Chinese child, the words that spring to mind first are shame and pain. And these feelings contributed in a big way to the person I became. I rejected who I was in favour of trying to be something else. As an adult, I avoided the whole messiness of race and racism by priding myself on being "colourblind." I remember being taken aback and offended when Beverly-Jean addressed "colourblindness" in class. I couldn't understand at the time why we couldn't focus on the positive. After having taken that class, I now understand. Looking squarely at history and current events in all their unpleasantness, feeling those uncomfortable emotions are all necessary precursors to action. I certainly feel it on a personal level.
Yes, all those discussions in class were frustrating, but I felt they were valuable. It was the first time in my adult life that such intensely personal issues were addressed in such a "public" forum and it was incredibly empowering. I think however, our frustration lay in the fact that it is very hard if not impossible to convey experience with mere words. A good analogy would be trying to teach a course in "what it feels like to be a parent." You could take a Ph.D on the subject, but it would be a pale substitute for the actual experience. In lieu of any alternative, discussion remains an extremely valuable tool I feel. Any increase of awareness, no matter how small, is of great value. The program was an incredible experience for me.
I am reminded why I love these people so damn much.
Regent Park 2007/8 TCs (now teachers) speak:
First Response
In regards to the group discussions we had at Regent Park, I have to admit that I started to get agitated during the end. Not because I didn't agree with what was being said but because of the cyclical nature of these discussions. I think it opened some people's perspectives wider. However, there were some arrogant attitudes in the class as well. It seemed like some people just didn't want to listen to others or were more interested in hearing themselves speak than actually having a dialog. I think any discussion, activity or dialog that broadened my perspective, understanding and insight into other people helped make the program worth it. And not to sound condescending, but when I saw the flash of illumination on some people's faces it restored my faith in people and in the program. I do think there was a large contingent of people who didn't really get it though.
I found that there was an oversimplification of racial/ethnic issues in the program and a lot of what we talked about seemed to be about exorcising past demons as opposed to discussing what we can do now and the immediate future. Sometimes it felt futile. But to reiterate what I said before, I think any dialog which expands, challenges or broadens your current perspective is definitely worthwhile.
Second Response
I believe that I did benefit from the discussions we shared in class, primarily Beverly Jean's class. Learning takes its best form when people are challenged and I think that the topics and issues had really turned into powerful discussions in our class. Whether everyone were able to take that learning experience and "pivotal moments" with them is undetermined. Perhaps people who can relate more to diversity and race (e.g. visible minorities like myself) feel that their voices are "finally" being heard. While others who have never direct racism and prejudice may also benefit from this learning experience, because it opens up new lens and perspectives (hopefully in a positive way). I am glad that such discussions have taken place.
In my undergraduate program for Social Work, my classes have always turned into heated debates and discussions about race, culture, diversity, equity and social justice. Although I'm used to these discussions, it's interesting to see what people have to say in different disciplines. At times, I felt bad for people who might have felt like "victims" from the discussions and especially when we talked about "white privilege" and etc...
Although I understand that it is important for people to be aware of their own privileges and oppressions (visible and invisible), we could still be tactful in the way we confront and challenge these discourses. Sometimes I felt Beverly Jean was a bit too direct or harsh... (I'm not sure whether you agree with me with this one). Either way, it was coming from her own personal experiences and emotions.
Third Response (note on the last paragraph: he is unfamiliar with everything relating to what has been called RaceFail other than my explanation "there has been a blowup in fandom over racism in SF/F"; it's all his own reading experience, which made my eyebrows go up in light of recent context)
As for my own experience with the Regent Park Program, I'll start by saying that I had a few mentors in my undergrad who were very much like Marguerite and Beverly. In a precious few of my classes I was blessed with instructors who challenged, encouraged, and supported me, and I grew incredibly. I'm glad I had this support at a time when I was just becoming aware of how racism and racial privilege affected so much of my life and how I saw myself.
So, come Regent Park, very little of what you described was new or ground-breaking for me, but I wouldn't say I didn't get anything from it. What Regent Park did do, was validate my experiences as a person of colour, and ensure that my teachers college year was a thoroughly anti-oppressive and inclusive experience. Recognizing, naming, and working to address the various forms of oppression that those in the minority live with every day, in my opinion, is a must for beginning teachers. If it takes a bit of time for those new to the concept to get up to speed, that's fine with me. I don't think change happens any other way: those willing members of the majority need to catch up!
For those who refused to recognize their relative privilege, be-it gender, racial, class, etc., I drew comfort in the knowledge that on the few occassions they had the guts to express their views in the open, they would be challenged by fellow classmates and the instructors. note: challenged and engaged, not silenced. My undergraduate experience, with the few incredibly important exceptions mentioned above, was quite the opposite. My experiences were neither acknowledged nor valued. Some aspects of my undergrad were rather old-school, and conservative, and the population of my school was rather White.
So, Regent Park was a wonderful expereince for me too. It felt good to be part of an institution, and cadre of new teachers that was actively working to change long un-recognized and un-addressed oppressive practices in education. It was an incredibly validating and healing experience.
It sounds like you got a whole lot out of it too, and I'm glad. I for one, as you know, am an insane sci-fi fan who enjoys the odd forray into fantasy, AND I see much racism, sexism, andro-centrism etc. in it. Particularly, in the military sci-fi I read AND ENJOY (e.g. John Ringo, William C. Deitz, David Weber, Orson Scott Card, Julie Cochrane). And, that's not to say that the likes of Elizabeth Bear aren't doing a wonderful job changing the rules.
Fourth Response
But as to your request in your letter, I got a lot out of the program at Regent park. It opened my eyes to so many things, and although it felt like some days we were going around in circles and talking about the same issues over and over again, there are so many layers of prejudice (pre-judging) that are so automatic and so embedded that it was far into the year until I really began to understand the depths of how hidden, complex and serious the issues of diversity and equity really are. (it all seems so obvious now, but I'm ashamed to say that even though I considered myself so liberated and well-informed at the beginning of the course, I still had a fair distance to go to cut through the layers of all that I had taken for granted). Beverly Jean's course was part of the awakening (and sometimes through the process, unfortunately, of the closing down), but it was as much the input of Marguerite, Kirby, Terence, other classmates' points of view, comments, books (especially "Beyond Heroes and Holidays"), experiences at placements, experiences at ArtHeart, etc. that helped to shape where I am now. It was the whole package, and now being at Rose Avenue (where out of a student population of over 900, I think I've seen three blond-haired kids) I feel truly grateful for my time at Regent Park. I continually question myself, check myself, and try to stay as open as possible to where my students (and their families) are at while bringing in as inclusive a curriculum as possible. It's not perfect of course. I certainly notice that most of the teachers are white (European descent, including myself), while almost all of the student population is South East Asian, North African or Middle Eastern, and I wonder how that impacts on them. But you do what you can do.
Fifth Response
Regarding your online debate, I'd like to specifically address the person's comment that "I'm generally unsure what those members of the class who were minorities gained from it."
The Regent Park program was a life changing, or more accurately, an "awakening" experience for me. As a child growing up in an town that had only two Chinese families that I could recall (ourselves included), I was conscious of racism every time I left the door of my home. The thing about racism is that it's extremely easy to pinpoint verbal and physical attacks. But what the Regent Park program pointed out so effectively for me, are the insidious, invisible effects of living in a culture that does not recognize and support who you are. Beverley-Jean's class made me conscious of huge parts of my history that I remembered but could make no sense of.
The desire to feel accepted and to fit in is such an integral part of human nature. And for many of us, being "banana" (yellow on the outside and white on the inside) was an automatic survival response. Looking back, when I think of being a Chinese child, the words that spring to mind first are shame and pain. And these feelings contributed in a big way to the person I became. I rejected who I was in favour of trying to be something else. As an adult, I avoided the whole messiness of race and racism by priding myself on being "colourblind." I remember being taken aback and offended when Beverly-Jean addressed "colourblindness" in class. I couldn't understand at the time why we couldn't focus on the positive. After having taken that class, I now understand. Looking squarely at history and current events in all their unpleasantness, feeling those uncomfortable emotions are all necessary precursors to action. I certainly feel it on a personal level.
Yes, all those discussions in class were frustrating, but I felt they were valuable. It was the first time in my adult life that such intensely personal issues were addressed in such a "public" forum and it was incredibly empowering. I think however, our frustration lay in the fact that it is very hard if not impossible to convey experience with mere words. A good analogy would be trying to teach a course in "what it feels like to be a parent." You could take a Ph.D on the subject, but it would be a pale substitute for the actual experience. In lieu of any alternative, discussion remains an extremely valuable tool I feel. Any increase of awareness, no matter how small, is of great value. The program was an incredible experience for me.