3 Beliefs

1. I believe that teachers should make a conscious effort to become knowledgeable about themselves and their own communities as well as their students and the communities in which they teach. This is the first step towards an effective anti-bias teaching practice. Every individual brings their own culture, values and beliefs to the classroom. In order for teachers to foster an environment in which all cultures are respected, they must constantly reflect upon their own culture and biases and those of their community. They must also make an effort to learn about the culture of their students and the school community in order to understand how to best serve the children in their classrooms. As Delpit states, "When teachers do not understand the potential of the students they teach, they will underteach them no matter what the methodology." As new teachers, we can come into the classroom with all the theory in the world, but if we don't know our kids and their communities, we won't be able to adapt these theories in a way that is meaningful for our students.

2. I believe that a school should be a community based on the values of equality and respect. This means getting families and the larger community involved in the school and getting the school involved in issues in the larger community. Teachers and administrators need to foster a sense of professional community within their schools in order to create a space where they can support, challenge and learn from each other. Students need to learn to be responsible members of their school communities as well as their larger communities. In order to do this they need to learn to communicate across difference from a place of respect and equality.

3. I believe that children deserve to be taught to be critical thinkers. Children should be given spaces to pursue knowledge that is relevant to them, ask questions and challenge the information and knowledge that they receive. As we read in Henry Giroux's work, children should be trained as leaders of society rather than just participants in a society led by others. In a world with so much human suffering, we desperately need critical thinkers who can challenge our present society, envision a better future and take action to make it happen.