Many Aboriginal students don’t want to attend school because they are unable to deal with the verbal attacks. They are frustrated because no one comes to their defence. The newspaper articles have nothing to do with them, yet they are the target of their classmates. Discussion Questions What should the non-Aboriginal students have done when derogatory comments were made about Aboriginal people? What should the Aboriginal students have done the racial slurs? If you were a teacher in this school, what might you have done as a result of the newspaper articles? Case 3 - Points To Consider - Students need a foundational understanding for why Aboriginal protests occur. There is a historical context as a colonized people who have suffered greatly and lost much that is often unknown by the general public, including the parents of students who influence the views of their children. Presenting the historical context which informs the current reality of the Aboriginal experience is essential toward building positive relations between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in this country. -Rather than telling students that their parents are (which seems very inappropriate), ‘wrong’ opportunities could be offered for students to question what they know and how they know it. Assisting students toward developing a critical conscious and forming their own opinions based on factual information is perhaps the best a teacher can give his/her students. -Teachers shouldn’t be afraid to address current events in the class. Local events addressing Aboriginal issues are wonderful opportunities to explore the local Aboriginal experience. However, this must be done with care ensuring that all perspectives are presented in a respectful manner. Case 4 Response to Name Calling –
Many Aboriginal students don’t want to attend school because they are unable to deal with the verbal attacks. They are frustrated because no one comes to their defence. The newspaper articles have nothing to do with them, yet they are the target of their classmates. Discussion Questions What should the non-Aboriginal students have done when derogatory comments were made about Aboriginal people? What should the Aboriginal students have done the racial slurs? If you were a teacher in this school, what might you have done as a result of the newspaper articles? Case 3 - Points To Consider - Students need a foundational understanding for why Aboriginal protests occur. There is a historical context as a colonized people who have suffered greatly and lost much that is often unknown by the general public, including the parents of students who influence the views of their children. Presenting the historical context which informs the current reality of the Aboriginal experience is essential toward building positive relations between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in this country. -Rather than telling students that their parents are ‘wrong’ (which seems very inappropriate), opportunities could be offered for students to question what they know and how they know it. Assisting students toward developing a critical conscious and forming their own opinions based on factual information is perhaps the best a teacher can give his/her students. -Teachers shouldn’t be afraid to address current events in the class. Local events addressing Aboriginal issues are wonderful opportunities to explore the local Aboriginal experience. However, this must be done with care ensuring that all perspectives are presented in a respectful manner. Case 4 – Response to Name Calling
Nicole_Bell_social_studies_pilot_lesson.docx