Evaluating impacts on professional practice

Describe in detail the consequences you might expect for the children and families with whom you work while you experience specific "–ism(s)" in your own life. Include specific examples either those you have and/or are experiencing or ones you would anticipate.

This is a very real experience that many educators and caregivers can experience. Life is sadly full of prejudices and people that judge and criticise those that are different from what they know to be “normal”.  I can tell of a true story that happened over 20 years ago when I first taught at an International school in Holland. I was a young girl from while girl from South Africa and teaching in a very wealthy International school. There was a black family that came from South Africa and I taught their young daughter. I was very excited to have the familiarity and same nationality in common as it was not common at the school. From the moment I introduced myself I could tell there was a strain in the relationship and even thought I was friendly and open, and liked by all the parents, these parents held themselves back. I had no idea what the issue could be so I made a special effort to make time for them and made sure that I communicated openly and frequently with them. It became very clear to me that there was an underlying issue that they were not prepared to discuss with me. I asked my superior at school to meet with them and share with them what and if they had any issues with me.

It soon came out that they had issues with me as a white South African and the history of apartheid and their own feeling towards white South Africans. I was completely shocked, especially since so much time had passed since apartheid regime and that we were already in our 2 decade of democracy then. If they took the time to ask they would know that I was a huge fan of Mandela and that my own father was under how arrest for teaching black children in the townships in the days of apartheid. I noticed that their adversity towards me made the little girl very closed towards me and afraid to for a relationship or trust with me. It was a long and difficult struggle for me and being young I took it personally. I wanted to prove myself and I wanted them to know how my family were freedom fighters and how I was anything but racist. I wanted them to know that I fought for black equal rights and that I believed that all children were entitled to quality education.

In time I was able to convince them of my good and honest intentions and Afundi, their young daughter and I built up a very special and unique relationship based on trust and honestly. We learnt from one another and I also learnt what drove her parents to feel the way they did initially. It is important to walk in another man’s shoes or at least stop and try.