Racism and Patriarchy

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On Tuesday we had a lecture about racism and patriarchy within our society.

The first half of the lecture was based on racism. We were shown many different examples from the past which were upsetting. We also discussed Jim Crow Laws and The Civil Rights Movement. I was shocked to see the level of discrimination that took place in the 18th century. This made me realise how much our society has changed since then. We were then faced with the question ‘Things have moved on haven’t they?’

I think that this question could be viewed in different ways as I feel our society has changed a lot since then however I feel there are still similarities. I understand that it is important for me to be aware of these issues as a future primary teacher so I am able to detect them at early stages and prevent them from being taken further.

The second part of the lecture was based on patriarchy and how this as developed over the years. Again we were shown examples of this from the present and past. Derek showed a video by the company ‘Always’. It showed a range of people all different ages acting out things such as ‘fight like a girl’ and ‘run like a girl’. The video portrayed gender stereotypes from the older participants but not the younger participants. This made me realise that as a teacher I need to take the responsibility to ensure that each child has confidence in themselves and shouldn’t be put off by stereotypes.

In conclusion, Tuesdays lecture has made me think about different viewpoints of society and the importance of these in the classroom. Also how the issues of racism and patriarchy have improved since the 18th century but are still to be resolved.

Values Workshop Reflection

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On Tuesday I had my first workshop for the Values: Self, Society and The Professions module.

At first we were split into 4 groups with roughly 6 people in each. We all had to complete a task, which was to create a resource for a new student coming to the University of Dundee. We were all handed an envelope containing similar objects however some groups were given more resources than others. My group had a few post it notes, bits of paper, pens, paperclips and elastic bands which are very basic. We weren’t aware at this point that each group had been given different resources.

We were given 10 minutes to decide what resource we were going to make and then presented it to the class. We then worked in our groups to create our resource. As the lecturer walked round each group he made comments such as ‘great idea’ and was involved, however he only did this for certain groups.

Once we were finished we presented our resource to the class. As our group presented the lecturer had turned his back and didn’t seem to be listening which made us feel demotivated where as with other groups he was encouraging them and giving positive feedback. We scored 4/10 for our presentation where as other groups with similar ideas had scored 7/10 and 9/10.

After this our lecturer explained that these scores and resources had been given deliberately and it was to represent how some children coming from different backgrounds do not have the resources they need but this should not stop them from learning and taking part the same as others around them. This showed me that with a lack of encouragement and support it can be easy to under achieve and lose interest. By partaking in this workshop, I now understand the importance of recognising these things to ensure that the child develops to their full potential.

Why teach children?

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I have always aspired to a career in teaching as it is thought to be rewarding. By helping children in overcoming the problems that they face, it can let you see the positive outcome and improve your feeling of self-worth. Giving children the support they need, regardless of what is going on in their life out of school can make a big difference in shaping their future.

Doing a degree in teaching has many benefits but one of the biggest benefits for me is that it gives you the opportunity to work in other countries all over the world. As teaching is a transferable skill it lets you explore other cultures and how they teach, which is something I am interested in and would love to experience.

Although when you begin to teach you will have graduated and be qualified, your job will still give you the opportunity to learn and develop new skills through practice. You can carry these skills further if you ever have a career change. Having a job in teaching, I think, would be interesting as no two days would be the same, even though you would be teaching the same course you would be working with different children meaning it would give you a different experience each time.

Welcome to your WordPress eportfolio

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Welcome to your ePortfolio. This is where you will document and share your professional thoughts and experiences over the course of your study at the University of Dundee and beyond that when you begin teaching. You have the control over what you want to make public and what you would rather keep on a password protected page.

The ePortfolio in the form of this WordPress blog allows you to pull in material from other digital sources:

You can pull in a YouTube video:

You can pull in a Soundcloud audio track:

You can upload an image or pull one in from Flickr or any other image sharing site.

Teacher, Lorraine Lapthorne conducts her class in the Grade Two room at the Drouin State School, Drouin, Victoria

You can just about pull in anything that you think will add substance and depth to your writing.