Nova

At the school I teach we have many students who are English language learners. It is school policy not to allow them to use their native language during the academic day. It seems counter to what I have learned in this program to restrict this use of student language. We have been told that not allowing students to use their home language is sending the message that their culture is inferior to American culture. I understand that it is our schools goal to provide these students with opportunities to learn English however it is important that students feel their culture and language is also valuable.

Assistance

When I was researching for the threaded discussion 2 I found that two school who were not meeting their benchmarks had a low percentage of students who were receiving the free tutoring. It made me wonder why not. I think that from the wording of the act schools do not have to offer the tutoring to parents instead parents can request it. If this is in fact the case then parents who don't speak English might never know what is available to them. Also what if these families are illegal immigrants and they don't think they can get it or are afraid to ask for it if they do know what it is. It seems like there is still some inequity in what families are receiving from the schools.

Scriptures

Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

Many times in our history as a people we have deemed things as acceptable when the word of the bible says otherwise. In education not too long ago women and minorities were not permitted to get an education. Now this idea seems absurd but there is still inequity in the way both groups are being educated. Minorities are taught a curriculum that caters to the larger group and does not value individual background and experiences.

John 17:15 prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

In education teachers have a huge responsibility to our students to teach them equality and love for each other even when they do not experience that view and reasoning at home. We are given the world around us and we all have to make sense of it and do our best to keep the children in our classrooms safe and healthy

Romans 14:10 You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat.

It is not the responsibility or right of an individual to judge one another

Galatians 3.28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

I like this scripture because it speaks directly to equality. In the eyes of the lord we are all one people. There is no black, brown, white or red and there is no rich or poor. In the end we will all be judged on the same scale and will have to answer to the lord for our sins. In the classroom we have to approach our students with this same sentiment. They are all equal in our eyes and no one is more important than another and they should all know this.

1 John 2:9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. ¹⁰Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him^[a] to make him stumble. ¹¹But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

Sometimes it can take admitting that you don’t have all the answers and that you are not on the right path t get you going in the right direction. As educators we are supposed to hold the knowledge that students need to be successful but if we do not try and live outside ourselves and appreciate the differences in our students and not see their culture as inferior or strange or scary or weird then we can truly be in the position of better understanding.

Proverbs 12:11 He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.

For a teacher the land is the classroom and to work the land you must have a deep understanding of what is need to grow your class. Knowing the background and dynamics of each students will help build a stronger classroom and give more meaningful direction for lesson planning

Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.

If students are respected by the teacher they are going to enjoy the classroom environment more easily.

Ephesians 3:18-19 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.