Thursday, November 08, 2007

when i grow up...

Today one of my 2nd grade students was helping sweep up after some girls made a mess with playdough during recess. One teacher said to her, "E, you clean up so well. Are you going to become a babysitter when you grow up?" To which E responded,

"No, I wasn't born Spanish."

**My apologies to any Spanish speaking people reading this. Apparently, this student's mother owns an agency which sends out cleaning ladies to people, and apparently, they're all Spanish. Please do not be offended!

4 comments:

Toto said...

I'm MORE offended by the teacher attaching the stereotype to the kid than the child's perception of who she knows that cleans. Am I wrong?

BarbaraFromCalifornia said...

A touchy and sensitive issue, I know.

But there is a point to be made: sometimes our children reflect what their parents think, and racism and stero-types are no exception.

Ayelet said...

I don't get the connection between cleaning and being a babysitter. Am I missing something?

pobody's nerfect. said...

i think the teacher made her comment because the helpful girl was 'taking care' of her slightly disabled friend (who had been using the play-do) by cleaning up for her.
does that make things more clear?