TheRiov wrote:
interesting sociological question: Do oppressed people tend to 'take out their frustrations' on their children?
I would have to say depends on where you are from if you are in this country and are a minority or oppressed.. EX) Americans yes. Liberians or other Africans No. They don't need to because of too much of what they have gone through to get here there kids appreciate and behave. You have to truly sit in on one of my classes to understand completely
LK/ I know exactly what you are talking about and have lived in a semi-black community and have spent most of my teaching career teaching black children. I have worked with minorities for the better part of 15 years and I would have to say it is a cultural thing in the black community regularly. We had this same issue happen at school, off school grounds, but close enough that one of my fellow teachers got involved the way you did. She is white. Her ideas stemmed the same as yours and it really bothered her. She then went to talk to one of our more veteran teachers, who is black, and she confirmed it. "Many in the black community hit their children." When I tell people doing my job is difficult, I am not lying. I don't mean it from the teaching part but the "Respect" part. It is very difficult for many of the white young female teachers to get respect in our school. I get it unconditionally because of where I came from and the way i act towards my students and parents. It is a different understanding and appreciation for the different minorities. Where I live now has progressively changed since I was a child. The neighborhood my church is in is now more latino than black and I have spent the better part of 5 years working with them as well. It also helps that I have taught every possible culturally different part of the world now for over 5 years. Mostly all Middle East, Far East, and Africa last year. All the Americas, Europe, and Australia this year. I would have to say things like that hard to swallow when you see it. We see it fairly often, but many of us in my school can see the differences in a normal kid going home and getting "beat" and abuse. I am not making any excuses for a child at all to be hit, i would never do it to my son and certaintly do not agree with it, but this is something that unfortunately regularly is apart of the community. Calling the police or CPS is up to you, but I would probably do it anonymously next time.