“Lamps are different, but the light is the same.” – Rumi
May 30th, 2022
Flexidemics Insights
By: Jennifer Nelson
https://www.Flexidemics.com
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Dear Friends,
I would like to share a reflection that I wrote in June 2020. The question was how can schools improve the climate in diverse classrooms. The following is my response.
Schools can improve the climate of their classrooms improving the quality of the thought forms they promote. For example, Matthiessen (2015) mentions that diversity in classrooms leads to tolerance.
I don’t believe in “tolerance” in the way that it’s taught or the connotations that it comes with. I believe in acceptance. I don’t need anyone to “tolerate” that I have the right to exist in peace. No one has that power over me. If I am taught that others “tolerance” of me determines my quality of life, then that leaves me very disempowered with a victim mentality, and default it leaves others with overinflated egos.
Instead, there needs to be acceptance that everyone has the right to exist and thrive in peace and freedom as long as they are not causing harm to others. There needs to be more lessons on how we are all unified through our diversity, as opposed to this focus on confining people to boxes; because this leads to a concept that’s called “othering”.
Cherry writes that, “Othering is a phenomenon in which some individuals or groups are defined and labeled as not fitting in within the norms of a social group… This process essentially involves looking at others and saying “they are not like me” or “they are not one of us.”…Othering is a way of negating another person’s individual humanity and, consequently, those that are have been othered are seen as less worthy of dignity and respect .”
Though labels and categories can give context and useful information, who my students are as beings has very little to do with the labels that are placed upon them. My job is to help educate the whole being, not the label. Though circumstances may be different, what is most important is that we all share the experience of being human.
Self-empowerment and building self-esteem is where freedom begins. When we have a foundation of self-love, then there’s little need to try to gain power over others mocking, teasing, and other things that might be done to gain peer acceptance. The more that students feel loved and empowered, the more likely it is to have an environment that doesn’t accept bullying, harassment, and toxic thought forms as norm. It’s called resonance.
Though labels and categories can give context and useful information, who my students are as beings has very little to do with the labels that are placed upon them. My job is to help educate the whole being, not the label. Though circumstances may be different, what is most important is that we all share the experience of being human.
Self-empowerment and building self-esteem is where freedom begins. When we have a foundation of self-love, then there’s little need to try to gain power over others mocking, teasing, and other things that might be done to gain peer acceptance. The more that students feel loved and empowered, the more likely it is to have an environment that doesn’t accept bullying, harassment, and toxic thought forms as norm. It’s called resonance.
Scientifically this can be described as, “a phenomenon in which an external force or a vibrating system forces another system around it to vibrate with greater amplitude at a specified frequency of operation” (BYJUS, 2020). Philosophically, this means that if most students have a foundation of self-love, compassion, and confidence, then that will vibrate throughout the environment. Yet perhaps the focus should be on teachers because we are the ones who set the tone.
I mostly work as a private tutor, but I teach group classes sometimes. I’ve been very pleased at how welcoming and supportive my students are towards one another – especially in cases where there are great differences. But they don’t tease each other – they encourage one another.
I give them all the credit for their behavior, yet maybe they didn’t always show this in their other classes. I once heard a student tell another to not be rude in my class because I was a nice person. And he didn’t act out again. This shows me how students can influence one another in positive ways.
Overall, maybe the teacher sets the tone because it is not likely that a student in my class would feel anything other than appreciated for the wonderful being that they are. That is because unity and harmony are a core part of my personal values. Therefore it is my opinion that schools need teachers who embody the values that they teach.
The intent of this newsletter is to increase awareness of available educational options in order to encourage environments where students can align to their true gifts and talents.
When people are aligned to their true nature and in touch with their loving hearts, they are able to co-create a harmonious world.
With Love,
Jennifer
Remember to love yourself and to always follow your inner guidance. Therefore, take what resonates and discard the rest.
References
BYJUS. Resonance. (2020, August 7). https://byjus.com/physics/resonance/
Cherry, K. (2020). What is Othering? https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-othering-5084425
Matthiessen, C. (2015, August 27). Why diversity in classrooms matters. Parenting. https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/why-diversity-in-classrooms-matters/
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