Other People’s Children

"Other People’s Children is one of the books that all educators should read because it really gives a different perspective on teaching children who may not be of the same race or socioeconomic background. I think it’s always important for teachers to understand the cultural norms and expectations that prevail in the school environment where they work. Teachers need to be cognisant, not complacent, about teaching across difference. Other People’s Children helps educators ask themselves the right questions and gives them a lens through which they can view and think about how cultural dynamics play out in the classroom. I think that her perspective is worth considering. When I was training to teach, I was taught a lot about cooperative learning and giving students autonomy. But once I got in the classroom, I found that what my kids really craved was structure. A number of them had very chaotic home lives, so when they came to school having the freedom to explore wasn’t what they wanted. What they wanted was to know step-by-step what to expect and what was expected of them. They responded well to structure, so that’s what I gave them. I learned to adapt my methods to their needs. Adjusting your approach to fit the cultural dynamics of a classroom – without lowering your expectations for kids’ achievement – is what Delpit really advocates, and I agree. Adults often make sweeping proclamations, like kids are going to learn better from teachers that look like them. When I was working as the chancellor of the District, I’d talk to kids a lot about who their best teachers were and why. I never spoke to one kid who said, “What I need to learn well is someone who looks like me as a teacher.” Kids might poke fun at teachers who are different from them, and teachers need to know how to handle that, but what kids ultimately wanted was teachers that had high expectations of them and teachers who were willing to go the distance to make sure they were successful."