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How did this story make you feel?
When reading this passage, I felt disheartened by Watson and her feelings of 'invisibility' throughout her classroom experiences as a child. I was genuinely shocked at what seemed like a concerted effort by her school administration to keep black students isolated from one another. Additionally, I felt frustration for Watson at the idea of her needing to worry about whether her son's academic experience will be plagued by the same injustices she faced.

When have you felt this way in your real life?
Although I am not personally negatively impacted by systemic racism, I have personally experienced the difficulties of social exclusion. In my early teenage years I was obese and struggled frequently with being bullied in school. Now, as an intern, when I see students struggling with bullying and discrimination, I want to know and do everything I can as an educator to help those students feel those external pressures less.

How alike or different are you from the mother in this story?

Similarly to Watson, I recognize the authority that teachers can hold over students. In her letter to her son, Watson acknowledges that teachers can be gatekeepers as well, and hopes for the future that her son has teachers who serve to bolster his potential and not deflate it. As a future educator myself, I hope to recognize the social responsibility I hold in my classroom and serve to empower my students, not diminish them.

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How did this story make you feel?

This story really made me feel a lot of empathy for the mother as she shared her inner experience. I felt like I now hold her deepest hopes and wishes in my own hands. She has shared not only with her son, but with all of us who have read this, which is maybe her intention. Maybe her intention was really for teachers to see this so that they consider the stories of all of their students. It’s like she has given us a set of directions and criteria by which we should follow when interacting with our students, especially those who are racial minorities. I feel a deeper sense of compassion for students who have barriers that I never had (having to walk 4 blocks to get to the bus, being a racial minority in a school etc).

When have you felt that way in your real life?

In my real life, I’m not sure that I can say that I’ve ever felt like the mother in the story. I’m white, and my schools were in areas that are about 99% white. I never felt “invisible” or like I had to act differently because of my race. The only connection that I can think of is that my parents may have felt some of the hopes that the mother in the story felt. My mom went to tiny schools in 100% rural areas where she missed out on a lot education-wise, so she says. She was brilliant in math, but the school didn’t offer anything past Algebra. She wanted to enter engineering, but didn’t feel confident based on her experience. My dad went to schools where students received corporal punishment (beatings) for wrongdoings. They both were very bright and excelled in school. They still take education very seriously to this day. So maybe they hoped that my experience would be different from theirs in terms of access to education and treatment by teachers.

How alike or different are you from the mother in this story?

I am like the mother in that we both had musical aspirations which were shot down in some way. I, too, wanted to make music my life’s work, and I was good. But nobody recognized it or encouraged it. Otherwise, I would say that I am completely different from the mother in the story. I have never felt the experience of being a racial minority at school. I never had the barriers of walking four blocks to the bus and taking a 30 minute bus ride to school. I won’t have to worry about my kids’ experience with their race in school. I wasn’t accelerated in reading like she was.

What other articles or stories have you read with a similar message or theme?

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates comes to mind. Coates writes it almost as a series of letters to his young son. He explains his experience growing up in Baltimore and what he’s had to navigate throughout his life in terms of his education. He shares his hopes and dreams for his son, and I was left feeling a greater sense of responsibility and compassion towards how I interact with those who are racial minorities.

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How did this story make you feel?

This story was to me very sad but interesting to read at the same time. To see how students of different color were treated back then to students of white was very wrong. Currently, our schools these days as teachers we are suppose treat every student with respect no matter their backgrounds. Reading what this woman went through is very disturbing to me because as she said she felt invisible when the white students entered the building. No student should have to ever feel that way when our schools are supposed to be welcoming to everyone.

When have you felt that way in your real life?

I felt this way in my real life back in elementary school. I went to a Catholic school in New Haven where students were coming from all over. I felt like an outcast with the way the other students treated me. The students were not welcoming and kind of already had their own "groups" of friends from their neighborhoods. Most of them lived in or around New Haven where I was in Milford. I remember students taking my things and making fun of me. And I felt that the teachers were no help because they never got both sides of the story.

How alike or different are you from the mother in this story?

I would say I would be in the middle with similarities and differences. I can't start to imagine what this mother must of felt going through school as a kid but wanting better for her son I totally understand that. Going through the schooling that I did and now having my son going through definitely hits different for me. As a parent we always want better for our children. My hope for my son is that he doesn't have to deal with any problems and being outcasted in school. School is supposed to be a fun learning environment for everyone but we always have and will have those students who try to ruin it for others. As teachers we can not let that happen. Try our best to keep everyone engaged and keep the peace in our classrooms while the students are in our care.

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How did this story make you feel?
This story was a very interesting read. There is so much that teachers need to learn about what a truly inclusive classroom environment needs to look like. It's unfortunate to think that any student might be going to school and have teachers who don't seek out the best in them. Not only is it unfair to the student, but it shows that some people aren't meant to be teachers. It is always good to read something like this because it helps ground me and reminds me that what we are doing is important work.

When have you felt that way in your real life?
In fourth grade, there was a bully in my class who beat me up in the library. When I told the teacher with tears in my eyes and she told me to go sit down and go on with my day I had never felt smaller. I don't know if that is the reason I became a teacher but I think about the moment almost every day in school. When I see a student getting picked on or being treated unfairly, I will always look into it and do what I can to fix it or shut it down.

How alike or different are you from the mother in this story?
I would say I have similarities and differences with the mother in this reading. Although I can't begin to comprehend what they went through, I can imagine the pain and wouldn't wish that feeling on anyone. I want my future children to go to school, and also have open-minded teachers who see the best in them. Anything less than that isn't good enough.

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This letter broke my heart. To see how this woman, once an eager child, was made to feel less than and invisible, and not capable of doing anything that she wanted. I remember similarly wanting to play the string bass in middle school, but I was scored badly from a 20 second attempt in middle school. I never got to play it. Children should never be held back from their passions, but encouraged and guided.

The mother and I are alike in that we wish the same for our children – to be recognized and nurtured as who they are, and encouraged to do what they want to do and be successful as who they want to be. We are different in that my daughters will not have to struggle with the same misconceptions or biases that others will consciously or unconsciously hold towards them.

I remember once reading a story about a teacher who had a group of students that had an amazingly successful year in an above-level English class. Everyone had been so surprised that it was going so well and the teacher didn’t understand why until someone informed them that the students were supposed to be the “below level” group. The teacher asserted that the students excelled because they were treated like successful, achieving students and the students strived to meet those expectations. They weren’t taught with negative biases or preconceived notions and therefore were not “taught down” to. I always thought that was interesting and a lesson that can be applied in so many places.

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How did this story make me feel?
I could not help but feel a sense of sadness after reading this story. It can be quite upsetting to hear about struggles of other people, but especially when those struggles revolve around the color of their skin. When we are born, we do not choose the body we are given. We do not choose the family we are born into, nor the circumstances thereof. We do not choose our height, our weight, or our skin color. However, everyday people are mocked, ridiculed, and even persecuted for these things over which they have no control. This brings me an overwhelming feeling of sadness because nobody deserves such treatment. It is incredibly hurtful and has the ability to stifle growth and even ruin lives altogether because repeated insult and ill-treatment cause for negative/harmful mindsets and beliefs to form in the minds of those targeted. Furthermore, such behaviors should never be present in a learning environment. School should be a place of acceptance, fun, kindness, and learning, yet the presence of racism or any other kind of hate immediately destroys hope of these attributes coming to life.

When have you felt that way in your real life?
Truthfully, I cannot recall a time when I was a target of racism. However, this does not mean that I have never experienced hate nor ridicule. When I was younger, I used to be called short and skinny. I would be called names and I began to feel very self-conscious about my body. I would be told that I would not be successful in sports, or that I would never be able to accomplish certain goals. Constant comments started to change the way I thought about myself and caused for anger and resentment to form in my heart. However, as I got older, my body started to fill out and I hit a growth spurt. The comments that had become repeated, slowly began to fade. Ultimately, this makes me think about how tough it must be for someone who cannot change or grow out of the things that they are targeted for. The color of your skin is yours for life, so being ridiculed about such a thing really is a disgusting and heinous act.

How alike or different are you from the mother in this story?
I am different from the mother in this story based on the unique experiences that we each have had. I am sure we have had different struggles when it comes to racial issues and consequent treatment by others. However, we are alike in our resiliency and hopefulness for a better future. I love to inspire others and help push them to be their best, despite what obstacles lay in front of them, and I feel that the mother in this story is very much the same way. I believe that the mother and I would agree that your experiences are not who you are, they are what happened to you. Who you are is the way that you respond to those experiences.

What other articles or stories have you read with a similar message or theme?
A story I read years ago that still stands out in my mind is that of Ruby Bridges. She was the first African-American child to desegregate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana during the New Orleans school desegregation crisis on November 14, 1960. It was not an easy journey, but the impact of it reverberated throughout history. A little girl showed that education and hate should have no relationship and that you can overcome perceived insurmountable obstacles when you truly believe in what is right and just and fight for it.

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This story made me feel sorry and wanting better for Watson and her son Caleb. It's saddening that children of color have to go through racism at a young age and in a school. A place that inspires free thinking and promoting education instead is turned into institution where the authority figures make unjust claims about you.

Though I have never experience racial discrimination, there has been some perceived judgment. It's minor so it can't be compared to Watson's article. As a building sub for this internship there has been some problems. I am highly respected by the staff and a majority of the students, but many of them know that they can get away with a lot more when their teacher isn't present. Rude comments like, "You're not a real teacher,"  non-compliance, and even eloping makes it challenging. I wonder if I did something wrong? I have to remind myself it's the situation and it's how some kids act with the absence of the authority figure. I don't take it personally because that's the nature of the beast, but it's still hurtful.

Ways I'm alike to Watson is that I want the best for my kids/students. You want the world for them and ensure that they have enriching experiences. However when they hurt, you also hurt. When a student is genuinely hurt from something at home or at school, you feel for them and wish to take that pain away. We can't solve all of their problems but the best you can do ensure your support for them.

A story I heard was from an audio book recently called Upstate by Kalisha Buckhanon. Chadwick Boseman's character deals with racism and people judging him because hekilled his abusive father when actuality it was in self defense. He wants a normal life for himself and his loved one and so does his family.

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Response to Dyan Watson Reading- Carolyn Corey

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Response to Dyan Watson Reading- Carolyn Corey

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How did this story make you feel?

This story made me feel incredibly sad. I learned from history that people of color did not have it as good as white people but reading this story gave me a different point of view on how they felt about going to school and not having the same opportunities as white people. As a preservice teacher, no one should have to hide their identity to make a white teacher feel comfortable. Everyone should feel comfortable in the classroom, especially the students.

When have you felt that way in your real life?

One time in my life I felt that way was when I was in elementary school. I went to a catholic school, and the black students were treated very differently than me. This one girl had no friends in our class because she was different, and the other students made fun of her skin color or hair because it wasn't like their hair. I felt bad, so I tried being her friend.

How alike or different are you from the mother in this story?

I am like the mother, not because I know what she went through but because I know I want all my students to feel safe and welcomed into the classroom that we share. I want my students to feel comfortable coming to school and be themselves and feel loved and secure in this classroom. I couldn't imagine being a teacher to look at one of my students and look down on them because they look different, act other than me, or have more skin than me. I would feel horrible if any of my students had to change how they were to be in my classroom.

What other articles or stories have you read with a similar message or theme?

I have read many articles or stories with a similar message or theme for different classes throughout undergrad. The articles or stories all focused on racism, but they might focus more on history, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and how he fought for his freedom.

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How did this story make you feel?
This story made me realize how students of color can be seen as invisible by their peers. It's upsetting to see that some students of color have to "erase" their identity in order to fit in with the mold of the racial majority.

When have you felt that way in your real life?
While it hasn't happened to me personally, I have witnessed a lot of racial tension and hatred at my high school. There would be girls that would get caught smoking weed. The white girls would get let off the hook while the black girls would get suspended or expelled. There would be teachers that would treat students of color differently than white students, while teaching us about accepting others. Looking back on my high school years, it's kind of infuriating to think about how my teachers had a hypocritical viewpoint on how others should be treated when they don't follow their own beliefs.

How alike or different are you from the mother in this story?
While I can't relate to how the mother perceives education through a racial perspective as I am not a person of color, I can relate to wanting every student, regardless of race, gender, or ethnicity to have an equal opportunity to the best education they can receive. I was also looked down upon by my teachers in elementary school not because of the color of my skin. But rather because of my behavior that wasn't understood to them, and would consistently tell my parents to hold me back a grade due to my behavior, even though I was academically ahead of the other students.

What other articles or stories have you read with a similar message or theme?
While it doesn't fully relate to education, there was an article I read from my Queer Drama class during my undergrad career. The article talked about inclusion of stories that had queer characters, and how queer characters in todays plays, TV shows and movies are no longer invisible or played off as a joke. The theme of the article was similar to Watson's story, in that both carry the idea of equal opportunity to achieve greatness, no matter how they identify as.

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Response to Dyan Watson Reading -- Jess Romaniello

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Response to Dyan Watson Reading -- Jess Romaniello

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How did this story make you feel?
This story made me feel incredibly sad to know that students of color have to face so many obstacles in the education system from such an early age, sometimes at the expense of losing their identity or ignoring it in favor of an identity that makes white teachers feel comfortable. It's heartbreaking as a pre-service teacher to read about Dyan's experience in school of feeling invisible to her peers and her teachers, having to hide who she really is.

When have you felt that way in your real life?
I have felt that way during my student teaching experience in undergrad. My students were amazing and smart kids, but they would come into class and tell me about how other teachers had brushed them off or expected very little of them because of who they thought they were. As someone who was just beginning their first foray into education, I was appalled that there were teachers who seemed to make an effort not to help students, but to reinforce their own negative viewpoints and push negative stereotypes onto my students. While I have not personally experienced these kinds of interactions with my teachers, it infuriates me that there are adults that hold prejudices like this who are in positions to influence and shape children's futures.

How alike or different are you from the mother in this story?
I am like the mother in this story in the sense that I want the very best educational experience for all my future students. I don't want them to enter school or my classroom with any preconceived notions that it will be a bad experience, that I will not be there to help them, or that I do not want the absolute best for them. I differ from the mother because as I mentioned before, as a white woman, I have not faced the racial prejudices and hardships that she has had in her educational experience -- I was never looked down upon by teachers for the color of my skin or have been told that I am "not like the others" with the connotation that this is something to be proud of while also belittling a whole group of people.

What other articles or stories have you read with a similar message or theme?

I had read a handful of articles similar to this one in my undergrad for a Multicultural Education class. All of the articles focused on the same message for educators to think about and adopt into their practice: do not ever count someone out because of the color of their skin, who you think they are, or where they are from.