Evaluating Impacts on Professional Practice

Evaluating Impact on professional Practice 

The impact of my personal experiences dealing with isms could have the potential of becoming a deciding factor of how I treat and receive my student and their families if I allow it to.

As an educator, I have a responsibility of accepting and receiving children and their families of all races, cultures, heritages, and beliefs without discrimination, but what happens to the teachers who are discriminated against for who they are, and/or what they look like? What about us and our feelings? Although we’re adults who’s educated about the dangers and destruct ions of discrimination and all the isms; such as, racism, class-ism, sexism, and stereo typing, we get just as hurt when someone practices any of these behaviors on us. We must stay respectful and kind, open and receiving of all our students and their families, but it often seems like we’re exempt from receiving the same in return.

Ethnic American’s, and Hispanic race of people seems to be more misunderstood, and stereo typed than any other race of people. It has been my experience and understanding that the two races of people are accepting, and understanding of one another. Also, from my experiences Hispanics tend to be watchful, alert, and concerned for their acceptance from others, and if they are being stereo typed, but what if their practicing the very thing they are watchful of onto another group of people?

Understand that I am not displaying discrimination towards, or against my Hispanic brother and sisters, but sometimes we do things that cause others pain, by practicing actions that are hurtful and stereo typed. I am entertaining this subject because of my sadly disturbing incident the weekend of Mother’s day.

An example of being careful of what we are doing and are saying to others. The week before Mother’s day, I stopped in a hair salon because I was in need of the service and this shop was near my temporary location at the time. This solon was owned and operated by a Hispanic woman, I asked her did she do ethnic hair and how much would she charge me to fix my hair. She answered yes that she can fix my hair, and she will charge me $60 for the job, but she could not take me now. I answered I am not expecting you to take me now I am only inquiring so I can make the plans. I called her that next week which was Mother’s day weekend when I had my appointment. While she worked with my hair I again asked her was she okay with doing my hair, and she once again said that she was that it’s just hair as any other hair. Well, she worked with my hair and did a good job but also did not know enough to put an anti-freeze on my hair so of course it didn’t last through the day. When it came to paying her she calculated and said to me my charge was $120.00 I said no you told me that it was $60.00 for a basic service. She said to me that because my hair is thick and long, and she had to work with it and that it took time away from the other customers. I thought, am I not a customer too? And, didn’t she see my hair when I came into her shop initially, so why didn’t she tell me that from the start? Furthermore, she was not the only stylist there. I told her that she told me $60.00 and that I was prepared to pay that, but paid her $70.00 after a couple of rounds of no I did not and yes you did. She told me that she will take it, but next time that is what she will charge me. I can’t begin to explain how hurt, out of place, and embarrassed I felt. I was discriminated against and was made to feel bad for who I am and that having my type of hair is bad, therefore I have to pay more. My initial thoughts were that I would give her, my Hispanic sister the business, but after I thought I was welcomed it turned out that I was not. As stated above this group of people are watchful for mistreatment and discriminatory treatment towards them from others.

I have had many Hispanic students among other nationalities of students, and I have never caused them or their families any hurt feelings from disrespect for who they are, or treated them in a stereo typical way, so it’s really hurtful when those who you accept, respect, and welcome mistreat you. Again, I ask what if we kind, open hearted, and full accepting educators are mistreated, discriminated against, and stereo typed? Who helps us feel better and accepted when we are negatively judged, stereo typed, and discriminated?  My only plea is the question, are we really going to keep this type of disturbing behavior up? Neither race of people is any better than the others, so the practice of superiority must stop.

 The children are watching and are taking their ques and learning by example from the adults in their lives, so what are they being taught? Mainly, what type of world are we preparing them for?