Visual Profiling

The two video clips of reading teachers were very powerful examples of two distinctly different teaching styles, but more notably two very different appearances.  Two quotes come to mind:  "You only get one chance to make a first impression" and "Don't judge a book by it's cover."  We all make assumptions about other people at first glance.  Much of what we project upon another person is based on our own experiences, baggage, biases, etc.

Dana presented as a very professional, conservative, middle class educator.  He was soft spoken and led an entirely teacher directed lesson.  Rick had a casual, "hip" appearance, leading very individualized reading instruction.  At first blush, I would prefer  my child be in Dana's class.  He appears organized and professional.  Rick appears to be non-traditional, with less professional constraints.  After watching the video, I could see the student population was different as well, and perhaps Dana's instruction style wouldn't fly with Rick's students.  To be honest I was getting glassy eyed during Dana's lesson, and when I reviewed the video a second time I watched the students, who at first appeared bright eyed, but after awhile I could see glassy eyes on them as well.  I believe they were trying to remain engaged as they knew the lesson was being video taped.  So after "judging" Dana to be the preferred teacher for my son, then watching the clip, I could see how my son would be more engaged in Rick's class.  Though his interaction with students seemed disingenuous at times, as they did not all respond to his very  intimate approach (closeness, eye-contact, touch on back/arm, etc.) While Rick's appearance didn't make me dismiss him, I do have to admit, that one dangle earring bugged me.

What biases did I demonstrate?  As site director I have certain expectations of professionalism.  I don't mind my teachers wearing jeans, as they are on the floor and getting messy with pre-k projects. I do though, as a rule, expect teachers to present themselves as professionals and dress as such. I felt Rick's personal style was too casual for his profession, and made an assumption he was probably a musician as well.  I have no way to "know" whether of not he is, but based on my own experiences, (schema) that is what came to mind.  I also wondered about his personal hygiene as he scratched his head and beard several times.

I have had people make assumptions about me based on my appearance.  I have had one co-worker loathe me because I reminded her of someone from her past who caused her grief. I've had people assume I was wealthy or privileged or spoiled based on my appearance. No could would know my heritage nor upbringing based on face value.  We all do this.  We draw from our schema.

Unfortunately we live in a time of unrest, and with the recent Boston bombing and other terrorist attacks, many people are being racially profiled. This is an extreme case of visual profiling, where a person only has one concept of another's race or culture.  Chimanda Adichi spoke of the Consequence of the single story very eloquently in the  TED video.  I was very impressed with her poise and tolerance of years of people visually profiling her.  I loved her story anout her roommate who assumed she was a "savage."  I shared on google+ that I had an African American roommate from the Bronx my freshman year of college.  Many of the women on our floor were from predominately white middle class communities in CT and MA. One day my roommate came into our room and said "I am so glad YOU are my roommate!  These other white girls they be wanting to know if I'm black all over, and want to touch my hair and my fingernails!!" (She had excessively long curled nails)  I laughed and responded I knew she was the same color everywhere and wouldn't ask to touch her hair.  We both laughed.  I think the difference was that I was a Navy brat.  I traveled all over the US and Guam, moving every 3 months to 3 years.  I had friends from diverse backgrounds as a child on Navy bases and in schools.  So my schema was broader. But Chimanda's message was more important that tolerance.  Her message was to all of us in education to make sure we told a more dimensional story of cultures outside our own homes/classrooms/schools.

Last year we had a 4 year old boy come to one of our Pre-K classrooms from Africa.  He spoke English well and loved interacting with his peers.  One day at lunch I over heard a conversation where he was saying that girls did not play basketball.  He was insistent. The little 3 and 4 year olds were arguing with phrases like "Nuh uh, they do too." :)  I sat next to them and explained that in the US girls play basketball and that one of our biggest colleges in CT had an all women's basketball team that was one of the best in the country.  The boy's mouth just hung open in disbelief. He had a single story about genders and sports.

I am concerned about what is happening in this country with powerful people making assumptions about others and cutting funding to social programs for what they consider "laziness." I am concerned about profiling, and assumptions made when people only have the single story, and do not know the many circumstances effecting lives.  I am concerned as an educator about bullying that occurs from judging others, bias, projections, assumptions, or visual profiling. I am concerned that some educators judge children from their appearance before they know their story.  Or worse listen to other teachers (the complainers) and judge the child before he arrives.

As early childhood professionals we work very hard to build relationships with family members to make a smooth transition from home to school.  But sometimes it is strained due to visual profiling. Mom drops off her son in her Pajamas (footsie, flannel pjs), or picks up her daughter in a low cut top with thigh high boots. Dad's eyes are yellow and bloodshot, or he needs a shave and haircut, or his speech is slurred. Has dad been out late drinking or does he work 2 jobs and one is 3rd shift?  Parents judge teachers too.  I had a little African American girl tell me she liked my hair, while I was tying her shoe.  A boy near her said "I like your hair too." His mother elbowed him in the stomach.  He said, "What? I said I like it here too."  Hmmm.  This child was 3 or 4 at most.  I can walk into a classroom full of parents and have everyone smile and acknowledge me, and I can walk into another classroom across town and when I walk in not one person acknowledges me.   Single story.

Part of assumptions and biases are based on speech as well.  In Chapters 7 & 8 Gee talks about discourses as "stretches of language which 'hang together' so as to make sense to some community. We judge one another by the way we talk: either formally or colloquially we send messages to our different communities. I loved Gee's example of Dracula wanting to blend in yet maintain his status.  Whatever community we live in, we adapt our appearance and speech to "fit in."  Both Rick and Dana had motives for looking and speaking the way they did. What constitutes status for each is clearly different. Fitting-in in one community may make us stand apart in another.  What is our responsibility to students then?
First, to not judge by appearances, with only a single story in mind. Second to help them assimilate between home and school/business cultures.  I love Gee's words on page 115 "It is the job of the teachers to allow students to grow both beyond the cultural models of their home cultures and those of mainstream and school culture... Good teaching is ultimately a moral act."