The Dreamkeepers

The Dreamkeepers by Ladson-Billings is a beautifully written book.   I felt quite touched by some of the things she writes about African American children.  I can also relate to some of the things she writes in her book since I am a minority myself.  I came to the United States as a graduate student.  I worked as a research assistant doing Molecular Biology research experiments, after finishing my MS.  I stayed at home for several years raising my family.  Never did I feel a sense of discrimination against me until now.  Now is when I am trying to get my foot in the door.  I am trying frantically to find a job in the school system in any capacity.  I wanted to see if I can be a teaching assistant and get some experience.  I thought while I get my formal training in education, I can work so that my tuition gets paid.  But all my attempts are of no avail.  I see a closed door, tightly shut in front of me.  I can say that I was very fortunate to find a long term substitute position in one of the upper middle class school districts.  But would this mean that I will find a long term position in this school district?  I sometimes doubt it.  But in any case, this blog post is not about me.  It is about the great teacher that Ladson-Billing is.  I can see how she has incorporated the social and emotional aspects of teaching in her book.   I particularly liked the comparison chart, Table 5.1 Conception of Knowledge, on page 81.  When I read it I almost felt that I am not ready to become a teacher.  I realize how I felt about knowledge as being “assimilationist” all the while until now.  It was like an eye opener.  It tells me that I need to change my own attitude towards teaching.  I need to learn to incorporate “Culturally Relevant” teaching when I become a teacher.