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TeacherinDeajeon
Joined: 09 Sep 2010
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 Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 4:39 pm Post subject: This is so wrong... |
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So, it is the second day of winter camp for the 2nd grade middle school boys. The planned activity was face painting. One student was to paint the face of the other. All is well until I hear these two students repeating �aprika�.aprika� and then laughter. We had just completed a presentation about countries and cities. The only place to receive laughter (any animated response at all), out of a 50 min lecture was �Africa�.
So, you can imagine what came next. The aforementioned student gets out of his seat and begins to give his impression/dance of an African person. Foot stomping, cradling of the stomach and tear inducing laughter from the class ensued while the student is dancing/shouting �aprika, aprika�- and I am not exaggerating. I was speechless.
I just could not believe that such a mocking impersonation would be construed to be so unashamedly hilarious. The warm approval of my fellow co-teachers-evident by the fact that they were in stitches is what was most disturbing. I have never seen them laugh so hysterically. It was truly a cringe worthy scene that went on far too long.
Last edited by TeacherinDeajeon on Tue Jan 04, 2011 4:46 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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chellovek
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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Yes I've noticed it too. I recall one class where we were doing some activity and one involved a picture of a black guy. One of the kids said "No! Negro!" Hard to know what to say.
As well with pictures of black people conjuring up much mirth. |
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kimchi_pizza
Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Location: "Get back on the bus! Here it comes!"
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| Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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Hahaha....oops....uh...hahaha
THAT is funny! Face painting for middle school boys? Jeeez...you got
off easy. It could've been much, much worse.
Er...you didn't happen to video tape it did you? Now THAT would be funny! |
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TeacherinDeajeon
Joined: 09 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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The response of the children aside, it is the reaction and indifference, or more appropriately, the encouragement by my "colleagues/teachers" that I find unsettling.
I am just struggling to decide my response to my co-teacher. I am going to respond, I am just not sure how measured my response should be.
Chellovek- what was your co-teachers response ? |
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh
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| Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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Why is it wrong? There was no African slavery here, it's a homogeneous society; there is no stigma attached with black people, not like the West. Also, what's so offensive about dancing around like that? Sure, in the West it could be seen as offensive by blacks because of the whole slavery/blacks/Africa/racism thing, but that's not an issue here. Try to do a lesson about Japan, and see how far you get. Those kids would show you some true racism then. Other side of the coin, show them American or British stereotypes of Asians and I'm sure one or two would get pissed about them.
I wouldn't worry about it. As long as they aren't using racist terms, I would probably let it go. If you feel it's really mocking, then explain that to them and show them some sort of "Korea mocking," asking them if they think that is okay; if what they are doing is really offensive, and you can portray that in reverse, they'll come around. |
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TeacherinDeajeon
Joined: 09 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
THAT is funny! Face painting for middle school boys? Jeeez...you got
off easy. It could've been much, much worse.
Er...you didn't happen to video tape it did you? Now THAT would be funny! |
Given the materials available to them, i don't see how it could have been worse. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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| nathanrutledge wrote: |
Why is it wrong? There was no African slavery here, it's a homogeneous society; there is no stigma attached with black people, not like the West. Also, what's so offensive about dancing around like that? Sure, in the West it could be seen as offensive by blacks because of the whole slavery/blacks/Africa/racism thing, but that's not an issue here. Try to do a lesson about Japan, and see how far you get. Those kids would show you some true racism then. Other side of the coin, show them American or British stereotypes of Asians and I'm sure one or two would get pissed about them.
I wouldn't worry about it. As long as they aren't using racist terms, I would probably let it go. If you feel it's really mocking, then explain that to them and show them some sort of "Korea mocking," asking them if they think that is okay; if what they are doing is really offensive, and you can portray that in reverse, they'll come around. |
I would not do the "Korea mocking"...that's more likely to get him in hot water with the administration/cause his students to resent him then to get them to come around.
They're kids from another culture...meaning they neither have the maturity nor the cultural context to put it in perspective. |
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War Eagle
Joined: 15 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Oh, come on already. All cultures make fun of other cultures. It's a natural, harmless and I would say "playful" act: drunk Irish, snobbish French, English soccer hooligans, greedy fat Americans, Italian mafia, and so on and so forth. Plenty of people imitate them in a purely whimsical manner. You never danced around like an Indian when you were young? Imitating a sterotype of a culture and having disrespect for that culture are 2 completely different things. |
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chellovek
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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| TeacherinDeajeon wrote: |
The response of the children aside, it is the reaction and indifference, or more appropriately, the encouragement by my "colleagues/teachers" that I find unsettling.
I am just struggling to decide my response to my co-teacher. I am going to respond, I am just not sure how measured my response should be.
Chellovek- what was your co-teachers response ? |
For the negro quote, at that school my co-teacher doesn't come to class.
On occasions of other related chuckling the some co-teachers do chuckle whilst others don't. |
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh
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| Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
| nathanrutledge wrote: |
Why is it wrong? There was no African slavery here, it's a homogeneous society; there is no stigma attached with black people, not like the West. Also, what's so offensive about dancing around like that? Sure, in the West it could be seen as offensive by blacks because of the whole slavery/blacks/Africa/racism thing, but that's not an issue here. Try to do a lesson about Japan, and see how far you get. Those kids would show you some true racism then. Other side of the coin, show them American or British stereotypes of Asians and I'm sure one or two would get pissed about them.
I wouldn't worry about it. As long as they aren't using racist terms, I would probably let it go. If you feel it's really mocking, then explain that to them and show them some sort of "Korea mocking," asking them if they think that is okay; if what they are doing is really offensive, and you can portray that in reverse, they'll come around. |
I would not do the "Korea mocking"...that's more likely to get him in hot water with the administration/cause his students to resent him then to get them to come around.
They're kids from another culture...meaning they neither have the maturity nor the cultural context to put it in perspective. |
I thought about how to best phrase that and just gave up. I agree with TUM to an extent.
My personal experience - my middle school kids were teasing me about American beef back in '08. I told them to knock it off, they wouldn't. So I told them that I had never heard of Dokdo, they must be talking about Takeshima. Those kids got SO pissed and started yelling and hollering. I told them that they had two choices - American beef was the most delicious, tastiest beef in the world; Dokdo was Korean. American beef was "crazy-cow" with the flower in the ear, Takeshima was Japanese.
Needless to say, those kids would have happily slaughtered and eating a raw American cow on the spot. So, to clarify what I meant, you have to make the kids understand HOW it bothers you and then get them to understand that. "Mocking" is not the best term to use, but I think I've explained my thoughts on this a bit better? |
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TeacherinDeajeon
Joined: 09 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Oh, come on already. All cultures make fun of other cultures. It's a natural, harmless and I would say "playful" act: drunk Irish, snobbish French, English soccer hooligans, greedy fat Americans, Italian mafia, and so on and so forth. Plenty of people imitate them in a purely whimsical manner. |
This is a classroom. A classroom is not the place to perpetuate stereotypes in a whimsical manner.
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| You never danced around like an Indian when you were young? |
No, I did not.
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| Imitating a sterotype of a culture and having disrespect for that culture are 2 completely different things. |
Yes. Imitation stemming from a fundamental lack of respect for other cultures is my concern. Allowing this kind of imitation to occur encourages disrespect. |
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TeacherinDeajeon
Joined: 09 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 5:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| So, to clarify what I meant, you have to make the kids understand HOW it bothers you and then get them to understand that. "Mocking" is not the best term to use, but I think I've explained my thoughts on this a bit better? |
I don't think that the beef and Dokdo examples are analogous to the original
scene I mentioned. It did bother me, though my personal reaction aside, such
teaching moments world require the assistance of the co-teacher, and they
were too busy bowled over in laughter. |
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creeper1
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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Doesn't apply.
Last edited by creeper1 on Tue Jan 04, 2011 6:18 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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lawyertood
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul, Incheon and the World--working undercover for the MOJ
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TeacherinDeajeon
Joined: 09 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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UrbanMyth
| Quote: |
| They're kids from another culture...meaning they neither have the maturity nor the cultural context to put it in perspective. |
Yes, and part of why it is so wrong is precisely that the Korean adults in this situation (this is by no means an isolated incident) do not possess the maturity or perspective to put this in perspective. |
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