Thursday, January 17, 2013
MY ACTION PLAN
My action plan for ameliorating the conditions/circumstances that lead to some student populations being denied full access to challenging content and the opportunity to demonstrate learning and achieve excellence is that it starts with myself. I cannot see the nation as the project. I have to start small and within my own self to make a change first and foremost in my classroom. I will take all the knowledge that I have gained through thinking up inequities, to researching a reflecting on verses, and start implementing them in my own classroom. I have been guilty of thinking of students as unequal because of academic abilities and behavior problems. I have dismissed some students as impossibilities, but I have done so because I have taken my focus off the true goal. The true goal being that God has a plan for that student and it may not be to be the perfect and model student that I want or that my administration wants. I have to realize that I serve a God and not man. I am a vessel through which he will use to inspire and show love to these students of mine within my classroom. I am not expected to undertake the entire nation and correct inequity in the school system. That is utterly ridiculous and quite impossible if I may say. The specific actions I will take it to first pray for myself and my students daily. Before planning a lesson, I will also pray for God's plan. And if there are any students he would like me to focus more on because of a need or certain plan, I will ask that he make his plan or desires known to me so that I can serve him the way which he would so desire. I would also go to him with my problems and not try to fix them myself or fix the students myself. It can be quite an exhausting task to try and change a student so that he/she can act like a model student. We all know that everyone is different and that this is impossible. Giving the students knowledge and content teachings will bring improvement, but will not perform miracles. For now, that is my action plan for my own self and classroom. I am excited to bring this into what I already have going. I think it will be a wonderful focus and important necessity to have in my classroom.
My insight, knowledge, and skills
The insight, knowledge, and skills gained through this assignment specifically to the influence of the Christian worldview on identity, diversity, equity, dignity, worth, and value of the individual in the teaching/learning environment is that at the end of the day, God is the only one who can judge all of us. We are all equal is the sense that once death comes upon us, we will be judged according to our acts and many other things God has stated. We are here on the earth not to judge others or place ourselves at higher esteem than those that surround us, but to do God's work and bring people to him so they too can have everlasting life. To be more specific on identity and diversity, it doesn't matter what identity we hold and what type of diversity we fall under, because according to God, we are all equal in his eyes. With regard to equity, as God's children, I believe we have to keep that frame of mind at all times. No matter what kind of student we have in front of us or in our classroom, we are to treat them equally and act as though all of the students are equal. Their worth and value is great and equal. Not one child is more valuable or worth more than any other. And as a teacher, it is crucial for us to not only treat the students that way, but actually believe it ourselves because the students will feel and see right though us if we try to fake it. The students need to see that we care, value, and appreciate all of their unique identities and diversities. Our hearts should be pure towards students regardless of race, gender, academic ability, behavior, and work ethic. We must see ourselves as servants to a God who has greater things in mind for those students and were are merely a vessel through which his work shall be done.
Reflection to Verses of Equity
1. Isaiah 11:4
but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
In this verse I interpret it such that he will judge the needy through righteousness. For those that have done evil and wickedness, he will speak and slay those and bring upon justice for the poor.
2. Proverbs 1:3
for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair;
Without the verses surrounding this verse I cannot comprehend the entirety of what the Lord is saying here.
3. Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
In God's eyes and Christ's eyes (same thing), everyone is equal and no one is greater than any other.
4. John 13:16
Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
In the cases of master and servant, a servant is not greater than the master and in the case of a messenger, he/she is not greater than he/she who sent him.
5. 1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
In this verse I believe it is asking the husbands not to treat their wives as inferior and disrespectfully. In some other verses it refers to women submitting to their husbands and I believe some husbands took advantage of that and treated their wives as inferior. My interpretation of this verse is that if men want their prayers answered, they need to make sure to treat their wives with respect and both being heirs together of the gift of life.
6. Psalm 98
So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter.
When there is no justice or righteousness, honesty cannot be present. Because honesty can sometimes bring justice and honesty is definitely a part of righteousness.
7. 2 Corinthians 8:13
Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.
In this verse I see that others cannot carry your burdens. You have to carry your own burden, but in cases where you do have burdens to carry, it is God's desire that it isn't brought upon by inequality.
8. Acts 10:34-35
Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
God does not show favor, but the one's who fear him, regardless of where they are residing, are the ones who are doing right. And on the contrary, those who do not fear him are doing what is wrong.
8 Examples of Inequity in Schools
1. Segregated Whites and Blacks in the south.
2. The amount of money a school gets per child. It is different.
3. Inequality in opportunity to learn at different school sites.
4. Low achieving schools get less money.
5. There are choice schools available. However, busing is not.
6. Private schools are not available to low-income families.
7. Sports are only available to non-disabled students.
8. Spanish-speaking students are required to do the same work as others with more English knowledge.
2. The amount of money a school gets per child. It is different.
3. Inequality in opportunity to learn at different school sites.
4. Low achieving schools get less money.
5. There are choice schools available. However, busing is not.
6. Private schools are not available to low-income families.
7. Sports are only available to non-disabled students.
8. Spanish-speaking students are required to do the same work as others with more English knowledge.
8 Bible Verses on Equity
1. Isaiah 11:4
but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
2. Proverbs 1:3
for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair;
3. Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
4. John 13:16
Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
5. 1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
6. Psalm 98
So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter.
7. 2 Corinthians 8:13
Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.
8. Acts 10:34-35
Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
2. Proverbs 1:3
for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair;
3. Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
4. John 13:16
Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
5. 1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
6. Psalm 98
So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter.
7. 2 Corinthians 8:13
Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.
8. Acts 10:34-35
Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)