[dianneemily]

I have a question for the forum.

My dd, Katy, will start kindergarten next year. Yesterday, we had a Parents as Teachers visit and I was talking to her about when kindergarten screening is, etc.

So, I asked her about the kindergarten teachers in the school Katy will go to. There is one african-american kindergarten teacher, the others are all caucasian. In fact, I believe this is the only minority teacher in the entire school (grades K-2). My Parents as Teachers teacher said that the middle schools and high schools have several teachers who are non-caucasian, but this is the only one in the primary grades.
So, I am wondering if I should make a request for Katy to have her. We live in St. Louis county and most the people Katy interacts with are white. We have a large Bosnian population and the area is becoming more diverse with hispanic and african-american people, so I suspect this will change, but for now, mostly white.

I am thinking that having a AA teacher would be a good role model/connection for Katy. What do you all think?

[mommytoEli]

i've never known anyone to do that before...but there is a first time for everything. i would see what else you could find out about the teachers first and make sure you are also making a request that is in the best interest of your dd in other ways- will their personalities match, do you believe in her behavioral system and academic approach. but that is just my opinion.

[MomtoJABE]

I would encourage you to request her as your child's teacher. As a caucasian parent to African American and Hispanic children I have already done this in preschool and school. We have a wonderful diverse community where we live and have many very close friends that are African American and Hispanic as well as Russian, Chinese, and African. But when the opportunity is there, we specifically request the class and so far everyone from the administration down has been very helpful and agreed to our request.

We can already see the advantage and blessing in all of our lives from this.

Hope this helps.

Edited: And I agree with the post above, first make sure it is a good match and situation for you specifically. So far we haven't had an issue where it wasn't the best decision.

[w8ting4Thomas]

Maybe I should think about this longer before answering...but I would not make a request simply on race. There are SO many factors to consider if you were even able to make a request (our schools here will not acknowledge such a request...public ones, that is).
We have found Guat playgroups and other local events to take Thomas (and the other 3 children to) that I feel does a good job to open their eyes to other cultures/people that don't have the same color skin we have.
Maybe after I think about this more I will change my mind, but that is my initial reaction.

[dianneemily]

I should have clarified that she was among 3 teachers that my Parents as Teachers teacher recommended as being very good. I don't know any of them, so I really don't know much about their personalities. She said that this particular teacher was energetic, nice and very good, but I realize that is not really specific.

Parents can make a request. It is not guaranteed, but you can make the request and they do try to honor the requests.

We do take the girls to every multicultural event we can find and expose them to as much diversity as we can, but none of it is as personal as a teacher would be.

thanks for the responses so far, I look forward to hearing more thoughts.

[w8ting4Thomas]

since you can request a particular teacher and she has been given good 'reviews' I would do it then. There is certainly no down side to it. I was reacting to what I would have to do here...fight a system that isn't very friendly since they typically don't allow requests. Since they do, go for it!!

[SKL]

I would seriously consider it. It's one thing to teach your children about diversity, another for them to live it.

I have a feeling (and I could be proven wrong, it's just a feeling) that blacks are not viewed positively in Guatemala. It's due to something one of the foster moms said to me about a picture of my daughter's "auntie," who is my best friend. I've also read that others on this forum have heard similar comments. I realize they came home too young to be hard-wired one way or the other, but I have noticed they usually appear afraid of African-Americans who try to talk to them. I have AA friends and colleagues, but I really don't get out with any of my friends much, even less with my kids. My neighborhood is diverse with respect to having various people of Caucasian and Asian backgrounds, but I was really glad when an African-American family moved in closeby last week.

I hesitate to make a decision based on race alone. It just strikes me as contrary to the philosophies behind what you want your child to learn. But we as parents sometimes have to put our kids' needs ahead of a lofty philosophy. So, if you feel this is best for him, I can totally understand why you might choose to do it.

Good luck in your decision!

[michelemk]

Dianne--pm me or e-mail me (do you still have my e-mail?)...as my boys have both had this kindergarten teacher you're referring to! Max had her last year actually while we were going through our adoption process with Miranda.

Michele

[Holifield99]

As long as the teacher has a good reputation, I would definately do it. I took Hope and Anna to a "Meet & Greet" for (public) pre-school today, Hope was the only brown-skinned person in the room. We did see children of various heritages in the hallways, but I would love it if she had an AA teacher.

[shelbydog]

Am I the only person who this doesn't sit right with? I understand requesting a teacher based on his/her qualifications, reputation. But based on race? Isn't that, well, a bit unfair? I can see trying to select a school, area, city based on more opportunity for diversity, but choosing a teacher, which is a qualified profession based on skills, not skin color doesn't sit right with me at all. I would be offended, and if I was one of the other teachers, would take offense if this was the sole reason for the request. Isn't that against the example we are trying to set for our children? Yes, I want diversity in my child's life, but in general - not where I am selecting those that interact with her specifically based on skin color and heritage. It just seems un-natural.

My bio son went to a preschool that was very diverse. He was one of just a few caucasians in the class. The rest were Indian, Hispanic. I didn't choose the class - he was assigned to that teacher. I would have never requested a class made up of more white students. Nor would I request the opposite for my adopted daughter.

It's an interesting topic for sure. But it just doesn't sit right with me. I just think diversity and acceptance go hand in hand, and should happen more "naturally" and not be forced to such a specific level.

[Wonk]

I think if you are white and you have a child of another race and you don't think race is important, you really need to go and hang out with some people of another race. Race means a lot in our country no matter where you are, no matter your economic class and no matter anything. I have a friend who adopted two African-American boys and just had the great pleasure of explaining to her 13 year old why he was followed at the Best Buy (in a very white suburb). (He's a great kid by the way...) I think it is hugely important that our children have role models that are not white. I remember one child of African descent talking about thinking how he was going to grow up to be a janitor because the only non-white person in his world was the janitor. Diversity in teachers was one of our criteria in picking a daycare. Her current lead teacher is from the Philippines, one is Hispanic, and one has an obvious chronic medical condition. We also have consciously gotten to know families of different races and also some leaders in those communities just so our daughter has those images.

[shelbydog]

Originally Posted by Wonk

I think if you are white and you have a child of another race and you don't think race is important, you really need to go and hang out with some people of another race. Race means a lot in our country no matter where you are, no matter your economic class and no matter anything. I have a friend who adopted two African-American boys and just had the great pleasure of explaining to her 13 year old why he was followed at the Best Buy (in a very white suburb). (He's a great kid by the way...) I think it is hugely important that our children have role models that are not white. I remember one child of African descent talking about thinking how he was going to grow up to be a janitor because the only non-white person in his world was the janitor. Diversity in teachers was one of our criteria in picking a daycare. Her current lead teacher is from the Philippines, one is Hispanic, and one has an obvious chronic medical condition. We also have consciously gotten to know families of different races and also some leaders in those communities just so our daughter has those images.

I do have a Guatemalan child and I do hang out with "other people" of other races but not because of her and not because of their skin color! Your reasoning above is why I don't think such an emphasis should be placed on race. Because people let it define them. I teach my children to be kind and accepting of all people, regardless of their race. And children of all races, regardless of their color, should be encouraged to be all that they can be, regardless of skin color. I've consciously gotten to know families with whom we have things in common with, have fun with, who my kids have fun with and who share the same values and ideals as us - regardless of skin color. I do not choose them for their skin color and get to know them later! I wouldn't pick a daycare because of the color of their teachers (or their medical conditions!). I would choose it for the reputation, love and care they give my children - I don't care if they are purple, have one eye or look like Christie Brinkley!!

Race means alot, but IMHO it's because people give it too much emphasis. I don't call people white, black, Asian, Hispanic - I simply call them people, and hope my children will too.

[kacmom1]

Excuse me, but I think this is silly. You should ask for the MOST QUALIFIED teacher for your child, not a teacher who has a certain color skin.

[DDAmasa]

Originally Posted by shelbydog

Am I the only person who this doesn't sit right with?

No, it doesn't sit right with me either. I don't think my school system would ever allow it and I don't think it should be allowed. It's might even violate ant-discrimination laws to allow such a thing. There are plenty of people out there who would chose a white teacher for their child over a minority teacher. Our own children may get passed over by others because of their
race. I think even with the best of intentions, to chose someone because for their race is not a just road to take. Just my opinon of course.

[keirasmom]

Originally Posted by shelbydog

Race means alot, but IMHO it's because people give it too much emphasis. I don't call people white, black, Asian, Hispanic - I simply call them people, and hope my children will too.

I couldn't agree more. I think when we focus on the differences in people then we just perpetuate the the division between us. I'm very happy to have a very diverse family as well as community. Maybe that is why race isn't really something I think about.