Taking a Chance With Words

park — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:40:08 +0000

This article really hit home with me as well. I always thought that I was reserved because that’s how my dad is and/or because I was the youngest child in my large family and no one took what I said as seriously as the comments made by my older brothers. Now I wonder if it’s because I was taught not to speak up. Christina says in the article, “In my home, women aren’t supposed to speak unless they’re spoken to. It’s just the way I’ve been raised.” I never considered this to be an option since my step-mother is a very outspoken person but it could be. Why else are my four brothers less reserved than I am? ’Til this day, I can only recall my father crying on 2 occasions. Is it because he was taught that it was a sign of weakness to show his emotions, like Jeff in the article? Whatever the reason, I struggle with speaking up in class. In my profession, I’ve gotten better at it, but as a student myself, I still remain relatively quiet. For instance, I think journaling my thoughts in blogs is easier than expressing them in class. I think this goes back to my upbringing. I think it’s because it gives me a set of rules to blog whereas in class, there are no set rules. When I journal, I can go at my own pace, think through what I feel and rethink what I’ve read. I’m not as good at the spur of the moment responses as I am gathering my thoughts and taking it all in. So as a teacher, I need to be very careful when “grading” participation. There are many forms of participation besides speaking. I think this applies to any student, not just Asian Americans.

You’re Asian, How Could You Fail Math?

park — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:25:45 +0000

Wow, what a powerful article. I can totally relate to this article…perhaps because I’m Asian. I’ve been uncomfortable with the “model minority” label since probably high school. I don’t understand how people continue to lump a group of people together into one and assume that all characteristics apply to everyone within that category. For instance, I recall clearly when I took Honors Geometry and AP Calculus in high school. What a mistake. I think I took it since my dad was a math professor and it was expected that Asians, especially with a parent who taught math, excelled in math. I pulled off a C in both courses with my father’s nightly tutoring sessions. I certainly wasn’t the typical Asian math student. Another example is my husband. Often times media portrays Asian male as technologically savvy. What happened to my husband? Why didn’t he get the computer gene? ”Model minority” sounds so positive, but the impact is quite negative if you don’t fit the mold. Also, I just never took into consideration the impact that this term would have on other cultures/races/ethnicity. Have I been racist towards others by not realizing that my actions that fit the “model minority” definition are derogatory towards them? There are so many times I say to myself, “I don’t see color in my children,” but am I being really color blind? I think as an educator, we need to constantly bring in different perspectives, cultures, traditions, etc. to our classroom regardless of what month it is. Who says you can only celebrate Black History in February? Why limit Asian American celebration to the Lunar New Year or the month of May? I need to see all my students as “model” NOT just the Asian Americans.

Jen Park » Asian Americans 1/23/08

Taking a Chance With Words

You’re Asian, How Could You Fail Math?