group difference response

Group Difference Response

            My article was called “From Racial Stereotyping and Deficit Discourse” by Daniel G. Solorzano and Tara J. Yosso. I believe the authors are talking to not only educators, but the general public who would like to read on information about how race and stereotyping has an impact in the classroom. 

            My opinion on what the author’s assumptions are is that in the United States we are not color blind in the classroom. On page 4 the article says “In 1903, W.E.B. DuBois (1989) commented that “the problem of the 20^th century is the problem of color-line” (p.29) meaning that in our country and culture people are not color blind.  The simple fact of U.S. history is that race has always played a part in not only in the education department, but in the professional world as well. In my article the authors gives examples of how the general public views minorities such as Blacks, Chicanos, and Native Americans and how educators view them and stereotype them according to their race and, how their expectations effect their education.

            In the article I found that there are “four theoretical models are used to explain the lower educational attainment of minority students: 1. Genetic determinist, 2. School determinist, and 3. Cultural determinist and 4. Societal determinist” (p.5).  From reading all of these I gathered that it is crucial to know the cultural background of each of the minorities in order to see why such behaviors are occurring in the classroom. For example, on (p.5) the article states that some of the values of Mexican Americans are “family ties, honor, masculinity and putting less emphasis achieving independence and living in the now instead of the future.” If an educator knows what is valued in the cultures of these minorities I believe that one can have a better understanding of why grades might be slipping or how to motivate these students.

            I had a hard time with the quotes because I was offended by a couple of them. So on the question of was I in agreement or disagreement I completely disagree on some of it. For example on page 5 Lewis Terman (1916), the major importer and translator of the Alfred Binet’s intelligence, or IQ test gave his personal opinion on Blacks and Mexican Americans. He says: “There is no possibility at the present of convincing society that they should not be allowed to reproduce, although from a eugenic point of view they constitute a grave problem because of their unusually prolific breeding. (pp.91-92) My initial reaction was shock. Then I thought who is he to say this and be so bold as to suggest a certain group of people should not reproduce. I was offended on how everyone got generalized into a group. Also, I was shocked to read that the minorities “genetic makeup is to be blamed” (p.5) I disagree that is has anything to do with genetics but more on the school system and their expectations on all races. I also blame the parents to an extent as well, and how they mold their children’s thinking on what should be valued.  In my opinion, in the 19^th century most minorities were robbed of a good education because they were viewed as “dumb”, “dirty”, and/or “lazy”.

            In the text, I found a connection on how to improve these negative images and eliminate the stereotyping. For example, on page 114 the book discusses to educate yourself on the cultural backgrounds so you can understand behaviors in the classroom. Also, the texts suggest to incorporate “perspectives and traditions of cultures into the curriculum” (p.114). The article also suggests incorporating minorities that are involved in the media, and in the arts that are in a positive role into the curriculum as well. (p.7).   I enjoyed this topic and I enjoyed the article I read. It was very interesting.