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For this week, consider how your own educational experiences were structured by settler colonialism. Provide specific examples of where and how settler colonialism made an indelible imprint on what your schooling experiences looked and felt like. Additionally, consider what, if any, are the lingering impacts of receiving a colonized education.

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When considering colonial education, it is important to examine what students are taught in schools. In the United States, for instance, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) children are not taught about their own culture. This is concerning for BIPOC individuals who place great importance on their culture and land, as they hold significant cultural meaning for them. However, the school curriculum primarily focuses on American history, with an emphasis on white men such as George Washington and Christopher Columbus. Unfortunately, there is little to no attention given to the history and culture of BIPOC. This is similar to The Books I Never Had as a Child: Palestinian Children’s Literature, Nadine Foty (2023) points out that Palestinian children have no books to read about their own culture (p. 8). I can relate to what Foty (2023) highlighted in their article. When I attended school in New York, I realized that there were no books that represented my Indian culture, making me feel invisible. When I reflect on the impact of settler colonialism on educational experiences, it brings up several thoughts and questions. I think about the resources and supplies that there are no books for BIPOC, Palestinian children, and Indian children to read. When colonial education is imposed on people, their traditional learning frameworks are replaced with something else, like American history. I feel that children are not learning about their history, rather they are learning what the school wants them to learn.

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Luis Mendez

Professor Lyons

SOC 335/Spring

Padlet assignment 3

My own personal education experiences were structured by settler colonialism because, for example as a young student in preschool grades we were mandated to sing the pledge of allegiance, every morning with our hands on our hearts and hats off. Without knowing why or where this type of new structure policy originated from. Another example is in my history courses we were taught the basic concept on how America was colonized along with other countries, but they never mentioned the detailed reality of what colonization came with. Which involves murder, genocide, taking over a land that’s not yours. In addition the reality of how because one class is basically smarter or has more resources, gave them the right to commit these horrible acts in society! We were taught that the colonizers did a good thing and discovered the land we live on today, which is a reason we should be grateful and thankful. Although when you reach college they get more into details about what really happened. They speak about how this is a White man’s world and it’s structured to help the white race rather than the minorities/indigenous individuals. As a young student they never really spoke about the Indians or what they went through and or still go through today after the colonization occurred. Professors also excluded the culture and backgrounds of the first people who existed on this land, we live on today called America. The ones who planted, farmed, and hunted for food. They only really taught us about the White side of colonization history. Basically about Christopher Columbus and Theodore Roosevelt. Professors were either taught or decided to just ignore the history, stories, and knowledge of black indigenous and people of color in their communities. Degrading them or just not speaking highly of them as Columbus or other important white people. Mentioning black indigenous people as just slaves and or people of no power, importance in society. Settler colonialism still exists today, and impacts society through racism, inequities, and injustices. Faced by peoples whose lands were stolen. Who’s to say if we will ever see or live in a world, where we’re all viewed as equal and or taught about our past culture history? Will our future generation ever see a world such as this, where they are enlightened more about the true culture and backgrounds of indigenous people throughout history?

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To be honest I have experienced settler colonialism practically my whole life. Significantly we go through settler colonialism experiences without even noticing because it has become a cultural norm. For example in elementary school as a student I was always told to stand up and pledge to the American Flag without no explanation. As a child obeying my teachers orders I would do it without questioning it. Also moving on to middle school we were mainly taught about U.S History but not really diving in deep to other cultures history especially mine which was Honduras. In a sense I lost a feeling of even being Hispanic/Latino because I even began forgetting how to speak Spanish. Therefore, my parents used to get mad at me due to the fact at home Spanish was how they communicated with me. So as I got older into High school I began researching my heritage history and taking more Spanish courses so that I can speak it fluently.

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It is difficult for me to speak about colonialism because its about oppressing black and indigenous people with displacement/replacement and the eradication of one's culture.

Jamaica itself is an example of settler colonialism when it became a British colony from 1707, then a Crown colony in 1866.

My educational experiences started in Jamaica and was deeply structured and rooted by settler colonization. I started infant school at the age of three. The banking method was strongly embedded. Resources in the classroom were limited. Books were few, old, torn, outdated and did not represent us, our culture or our history. The books were about the colonizers, white men, and how great they were. Class materials like pencils, crayons, and coloring books had to be shared amongst students. I remembered my teacher reading about Christopher Columbus and his discovery of Jamaica, finding out later that was a lie. My teachers were very strict and not afraid to use corporal punishment every chance they got. I remembered how excited I was for my first day of school. The excitement soon turned to fear. I was a tiny little girl who was lashed by my teacher for almost every thing including asking questions, talking, raising my hands, playing, and having an accident on myself. Looking back she was cruel. It now reminds me of bell hooks in her curiosity - I was that little girl.

At the age of five I migrated to London and had a totally different educational experience. I was homeschooled along with my siblings by my aunt who was then a secondary school teacher, (considered as HS in US). The problem posing method was imbedded in my everyday learning. The books represented me, my culture, and our history. My aunt was strict but did not believe in corporal punishment. I had all the resources at my disposal for learning. Aunty encouraged us to ask questions, discuss, play, relax and we worked at our own pace. It was a fun learning environment.

I think the lingering impacts of receiving a colonized education can cause a child to be confused and anxious. For example, the new Florida laws outdating certain history books, or trying to rewrite history and what really happened, and firing teachers who teachers about it. Its like they are trying to disregard, or devalue our ancestors and what they went through. This may lead to even more discriminatory practices against black people, which can cause long lasting effects on our black/brown children who grew up hearing one thing from their parents then reading something different from a book.

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Colonialism influenced my schooling in the Dominican Republic because, as children, we had to present the flag and perform the national anthem in the schoolyard. Furthermore, the only historical event included in the curriculum was Christopher Columbus's discovery of America.

We should learn about foreign nations. Teaching about all groups' histories, cultures, and contributions in a more inclusive and representative curriculum can foster mutual understanding and a sense of shared identity and belonging. Ignorance and inequality risk being sustained when viewpoints like those of indigenous and minority individuals are ignored or obscured. Education systems should empower all students by assisting them in learning about both their own and other people's ancestry.

In the past, settler colonialism has shaped how "black, indigenous, and other individuals of color" students have experienced their education. To assimilate, indigenous pupils were frequently forced to attend boarding schools where their languages and cultural/religious customs were outlawed. This led to severe trauma.

Black children's early public school curricula were intended to instill cultural pride and loyalty to white supremacists, not self-determination or compliance. Even now, the majority of popular textbooks omit or misrepresent the horrors that Indigenous peoples endured during colonization and the history of racial injustice against Black communities.

Colonial myths of white superiority are perpetuated when children from marginalized cultures are unprovided with an authentic picture of their valuable histories and achievements.

Minority viewpoints and Indigenous Knowledge would be crucial to a decolonized academic system. Students' pride in their heritage and cultural customs would grow. To promote a just and equitable future, educators must recognize how education has historically been managed as an instrument of oppression and initiate corrective action. The term "prejudices surrounded by men" describes current discrepancies in power, wealth, and position among people in a community. The remark adopts the stance that narrowing gaps or "eliminating" inequality should not remain the goal of resolving it. It believes unevenness remains an inherent and necessary component of human civilization. It promotes "widening" inequality instead of "reducing" it. This implies that policies or societal structures that favor some groups over others are purposefully designed to widen inequality. Discourse on Colonialism by Aimé Césaire: "It is not a question of eliminating the differences among men but of widening them and causing them into a law"(p. 37). The writer refers to the diversity of people in a society in terms of rank, income, or power. The remark adopts the stance that narrowing gaps or "eliminating" inequality should not remain the goal of resolving it. I believe the difference remains an inherent and necessary component of human civilization. It promotes "widening" inequality instead of "reducing" it. This implies that policies or societal structures that favor some groups over others are purposefully designed to widen inequality.

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As a Black- American, I have experienced a great deal of settler colonialism during my entire education. This began at the beginning of each day at school, beginning in elementary school. Starting in Kindergarten you are taught to stand at the beginning of the day and stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Usually one our peers would go to the main office and say announce the start of the Pledge of Allegiance and start it off, I assume this is a way of making us feel comfortable and not question why we are even being made to recite this speech every morning. From there we sat in class all day while the teacher stood in front of us making good use of the banking method of teaching. Examples, we were given words in order to learn how to spell them correctly (from about 1st -2rd grade), we had to write them 10 times a night before doing a spelling test on them at the end of the week. During 3rd grade we did the same thing, but with definitions instead of writing the words 10 times. During the 4th and 5th grade there was no form of critical thinking, we were taught from a strict curriculum and there was no deviation from our teachers. In fact, I remember one instance my 5th grade teacher tried to teach the class about having faith and getting through tough times, one of my classmates went and told the principal and my teacher was reprimanded and suspended for a week. She came back to class and said she would not be able to teach us certain things due to the strict rules of the school. When we got to middle school, we began learning more about the world and what it meant to Pledge Allegiance to the flag, this is when many of us began to “protest”, either staying seated or standing quiet without putting our hands on our heart. Even then we were given detention and told if we refused to complete the pledge of allegiance we would be given detention every day. Some got creative and started saying we couldn’t because it was against our religion. We weren’t really allowed to ask questions unless when given instruction that it was time to ask questions.

Some of the lasting impacts of receiving a colonized education are, I feel at times I could be a little to quiet. Not really speaking up when I should or could ask questions. It took me until about my late 30s to start speaking up more and not settling for what is right or what needed to be changed. Being conditioned to sit for a long period of time without asking for a break or going to the bathroom. Walking on a straight line, you know staying in order. Everything you learn in school is about staying in order for the world ahead. Making sure you’re a “good” outstanding citizen.

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I have seeing and lived or experienced settler colonialism my entire life especially in my early middle school years. For me standing coming to this country from the Dominican Republic not knowing English or understanding the culture or language from here and having to stand in school Infront of the flag with my right hand on my heart and saying the pledge with no explanation given or questions asked was definitely settler colonialism. I remember been frustrated because I had no idea as of why I was doing this and couldn’t ask any questions because of the language barrier and no one to explain it to me in Spanish. Of course, after time pass by I began to learn the language learn the culture and adapt to the norms again with no questions asked. I completely forgot my language my culture and even the pledge in the Dominican Republic. I began to act and to speak like everyone else did in this country and especially I began to behave the way the teachers asked me and wanted me to behave.

Colonialism did make an indelible imprint on what my schooling experiences looked and felt like because i was forced to change who i was to become who they were.

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When thinking of settler colonialism and my education the first thing that comes to mind is being in elementary school. I recall being required to stand and say the pledge of allegiance every morning. I never truly understood what or why we had to say it; just simply and mindlessly following the rules of the teacher. Another clear example of colonized education is the history I've learned in school; more specifically whose history I learned. I can recall the many I facts learned about all the "wonderful" white men of American history such as Christopher Columbous and Abraham Lincoln. When topics of African Americans and our place in history came up all I ever learned is slavery and Martin Luther King. Only knowing so little about TRUE black history has led me to believe that African American history is nonexistent and it wasn't until college that I was able to change this narrative. Although it is more disguised, the overall school structure is rooted in settler colonialism. Being required to walk in a line, only speak when its your turn, raising your hand to use the bathroom etc conditioned me to respect or even fear authority. All of these experiences subconsciously (or consciously) make students feel powerless when the point of school should be to instill confidence in the youth. This along with feelings of insignificance can leave lingering impacts on a student and remain even into adulthood.

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Settler colonialism is the establishment of dominance by a group within a new territory, achieved through the violent displacement of indigenous inhabitants. In education, we witness this assertion of dominance through the curriculum's emphasis on European settlers' histories, cultures, and viewpoints, overshadowing indigenous narratives and perspectives. This can lead to a lack of recognition and representation of Indigenous knowledge, history, and culture, causing Indigenous students to feel alienated and their cultural identity erased.

My personal experience has led me to believe that the lack of diverse representation in my teachers was a direct result of settler colonialism. During my academic years, I was able to observe an underlying settler colonialist framework in the majority of my teachers, who were predominantly white. It was evident that the staff and faculty members served a student body that was not white like them.  Teachers who understand your culture and speak the language in your community are essential. As a child, my mother's non-native fluency in English made parent-teacher conferences challenging at times. While she could communicate with my teachers, I couldn't help but wonder how the conversations might have differed had Spanish-speaking educators been made available. I imagined that my mother would have been able to express herself more easily and process information about me more efficiently. I also empathize with how nerve-wracking it must have been for my mother to want to be actively involved in my education while struggling to communicate with my teacher due to the prevailing ideologies of settler colonialism that often disregard the importance of other cultures and languages beyond those of the colonizers.

My experience, and that of many students unfortunately still today, highlights the need for diversity and inclusion in academic institutions to ensure that individuals from diverse backgrounds represent the student body.

Growing up as a Puerto Rican child, I never saw anyone who looked like me or spoke my native language of Spanish in the history books. It wasn't until college that I finally learned about the significant contributions made by Puerto Ricans to the United States. As a colonized territory, their history is deeply intertwined with the United States. Learning about these important figures and their accomplishments helped me to better connect with my culture and feel like a part of American history. It would have been wonderful to have this representation as a child, as it would have allowed me to truly understand the vital role that Puerto Ricans have played in shaping our nation.

The impacts of receiving a colonized education can be long-lasting and profound. Indigenous or students of color may struggle with feelings of cultural disconnection and a lack of belonging, which can impact their academic achievement and overall well-being. In my personal experience, I've had to navigate ways to feel acknowledged and represented as a Latina. While there have been efforts to address inequities in settler colonialism education, they remain largely insufficient. School curricula still predominantly reflect colonial European perspectives, marginalizing voices like mine. While initiatives like Black History Month offer some exposure to the achievements of Black Americans, other racial and ethnic groups remain underrepresented. Overall, settler colonialism has had a significant impact on the structure and content of education and has contributed to ongoing systemic inequities and injustices in communities of color. Recognizing and addressing these issues is essential to promote more equitable and inclusive educational experiences for all students.

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I would argue that my very own educational experiences of settler colonialism are very similar to those of my classmates. Raised in New York City all my life, I was part of a very diverse community and exposed to many different cultures. Yet, looking back to it now, up until middle school it was all about reading from a textbook and strictly believing the curriculum bestowed upon by those in power. A curriculum that does not tell you the truth and is indeed outdated. A very important example of this is the true story and history's glorification of Christopher Columbus. A white man who wrongfully gained the title of first "discovering" America and forced peaceful Natives into labor and be sold in Spain. Another excellent example of important history that is not shared in the curriculum, even if it involves the state we live in, is the

history of "urban planner" Robert Moses. A very important lingering impact that I always remember after receiving a colonized education is being told that my family's form of speaking Spanish is improper and this form of Spanish is not even spoken in Ecuador at all. It made me feel a certain way because not only did I learn my Spanish from my parents and grandparents who came from Ecuador to the United States, but I was told this by someone who learned Spanish in America. I was then told that because Ecuador was colonized by Spain the traditional way and only way of speaking Spanish is Castilian. Since then I have noticed that Castillian Spanish is what's always being taught in school and unfortunately did make me wonder if the Spanish I learned from home is improper and I shouldn't speak that way. My older sister then told me that Castillian Spanish is considered colonized Spanish and that we should not listen to those who aren't from a native country or learned their Spanish from a textbook created by the U.S.

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I can say I've experienced settler colonialism in school ever since I came to this country. From starters, I was only spoken Spanish at home so that I wouldn't forget my roots and learned English in school. I remember being place in the "Spanish class" in elementary school if I remember correct. However, what I do remember was feeling different like if we were and a lower level and the other classes were superior. But this did not put me down, listening to other speak English I was able to learn little by little. In middle school and high school you are taught only about the American History as if there aren't Black and Latin countries out there. I was born in the DR yet don't know about history about it because I was raised in the Bronx. I remember the lunch being pizza on a bagel, mozzarella sticks and then Fridays turned into vegetarian lunch, mind you I don't eat vegetables. We are taught about the American history but about some of the awful actions taken to reach colonization, everything is one sided until you learn more about it later on in college. I believe schools need to be more diverse with their teaching at a young age and not have us find when it's too late.

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My experience with colonialism influencing my schooling was because I raised in a completely Puerto Rican home where I was not allowed to speak english at all. My grandfather would ignore us if we spoke English, I did not understand why until I was older and had the courage to ask. My grandfathers response was do you know La Borinquena? (which is the National Anthem of Puerto Rico) I replied and said "pue claro que si, porque tu me ensenaste y vamos a PR todos los veranos ( of course I do because you taught me and we go to PR every summer). My grandfather than says when was the last time you heard that Anthem in in schools and I could not remember and not because it was never done but because it suddenly stopped and we were taught that The Pledge of Allegiance played an important part for Americans. But why wasn't our Pledge just as important why the sudden stop. Now working in a school I see many children come in from different countries and instead of finding a teacher who speaks their language and who is able to educate them of their culture instead they are taught that they need to speak english, they need to stand up for The Pledge of Allegiance but and forced to forget who they are.

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This particular question on settler colonialism is very interesting and important. We tend to dismiss things that are of relevance to our time. Settlers Colonialism is predicated upon invading territory that has already been discovered. In the United States, there are certain expectations when you enter school. The Principal or staff would lead the school into saying the pledge with your right hand placed over your heart. The school would echo the pledge at the same time. Black and indigenous people are the target. There was more relevance in learning about white people than blacks.... and still is. Although we have a whole month dedicated to black people, it is almost an extinct factor. Where I work, it is hardly noticed, yet you can see the eagerness in the eyes of the children who want to know more about what other blacks did. The main person who is recognized is Martin Luther King Jr. Black people have done so much for society, but it is unnoticed because of color. Although the Civil Rights Movement of 1964, granted more rights to colored people, segregation is still a thing practiced in subtle ways by others. Blacks may never have what others have, but we will continue to fight for equality.

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I've experienced settling colonialism in different ways throughout my whole life. In school, I was forced to memorize the Pledge of allegiance. Coming from a Spanish household where my parents didn't speak any English and my schools were forcing me learn English in a short time. Back in the 90's, school failed to provide resources to parents so it was very confusing to us. I experienced bullying from kids who would make fun of the way I spoke or pronunciation. Others thought that my ESL classes was part of IEP. In the end, I was forced to learn and adapt to the language because as my mother would say that we needed blend and abide my this countries rules.

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My personal experience was maybe something so small to everyone but going into school in Kindergarten and never being in school I did not know how to “ask” to go to the bathroom. I come from an immigrant family where we all spoke Spanish and I was the first to learn English. I became the translator for my parents. I struggled saying “can i go to the bathroom?” Where I was so scared to need the bathroom because that first week of school I had an accident and my teacher made a big deal about it. She knew I needed the bathroom but she continued to make me nervous by not allowing me to go until I fully asked correctly. I see many of my classmates mention the Pledge of Allegiance, now you can just imagine how that went since I didn’t even know what I was being forced to recite.

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Growing up my education experience was structured by settler colonialism in so many ways daily. It started from the pledge of allegiance being said daily. Standing up and sitting down early in the morning at the same time everyday Monday-Friday in "The Land Of The FREE" without a choice. Having an American flag in every classroom. Doing shows with themes of Thanksgiving, Christmas(USA related) etc. Learning about Christopher Columbus and his fake discoveries on how the Native Americans were "INDIANS" or "PILGRIMS" Not Natives. Celebrating 4th of July only, Washington's Birthday, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and no other cultures. Coloring pictures of all these themes and people and nothing else. Learning "their" side of their stories. Growing up I always felt like an outsider because of the color of my skin. As I got older and got to know the truth about who I really was and where & what was my background. I became more aware of how things would always be for me and people like me. I wasn't native because THEY said so? This wasn't my land because THEY said so. It was theirs! To them I was an Illegal Mexican, An Immigrant, A Wetback, A Beaner, A Boarder Hopper...etc. All the time I was embarrassed to say I was from here when asked because the usual response would be..No seriously where are you from? Where your parents came from? I grew to love to never fit in. It’s okay. It’s okay to stand out. No everyone will love you! But if they do they will love you for you!! We are different for a reason.

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Settler colonialism is often portrayed as an event that happened in the past and ended there. However, we fail to recognize that its effects remain in our society today. Due to the influence of societal norms, values, and structures, we have been conditioned to overlook this reality. The impact of settler colonialism is particularly evident in education, since it permeates all of our institutions.

During my school years, I was taught that settler colonialism was a one-time occurrence and even presented as a positive event in our nation's history. However, it wasn't until this course that I began to understand the detrimental effects of settler colonialism on our world and our very identities.

Settler Colonialism has left an indelible imprint when I think about my educational experiences, starting from my early years in elementary school. The first example I can point out is my memorization of the Pledge of Allegiance to this day. I recall my elementary school choosing different students to "lead" the pledge of allegiance and being so eager to be chosen to lead this pledge. It is interesting, though, that I remember this pledge. However, I do not recall ever discussing why we had to learn the pledge or why we even said the pledge. The way this pledge was taught, like many other things, was in the style that Freire referred to as the banking method.

I was required to wear a school uniform throughout my 14 years of schooling, from pre-k to 12th grade. My elementary, middle, and high school schools had strict dress codes that mandated button-down shirts with collars, ironed pants and skirts, shoes (not sneakers), and ties for boys. This was to prepare us for the professional world by instilling discipline and a sense of responsibility.

Settler colonialism has manifested in various forms in our society, including how we are taught history. During the formative years of our education, we are exposed to American history from a single perspective, with little emphasis on black and indigenous history. Regrettably, the curriculum fails to acknowledge that we were once rulers of flourishing kingdoms. It instead only highlights European colonization of land and people. The narrative we are taught is that colonizers arrived to bring structure and order to the barbaric societies they encountered.

Please note that the following text has been modified to enhance its readability while preserving its original meaning.

The behavior of students who act out can have serious consequences, and it's yet another example of settler colonialism's impact on schools. Personally, I was always too afraid to be defiant or step out of line, as I was afraid of the punishment both inside and outside of school. Even the school calendar that we've followed for years was established with settler colonialism in mind, and the hours we spend in school each day are all the result of this history.

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When people move from one country to another place and change it around so it can suit themselves, it is called settler colonialism. There are examples of settler colonialism that have made an imprint on what my schooling experience looks like.

One subject in school that shows the imprints settler colonialism has had on schooling is History.  In school's today our history is told through the perspective of settlers and not the native people of this country.  This can lead to a misunderstanding of historic events and can make it difficult for students to learn about other cultures and histories.

Some lingering impacts of receiving a colonized education are lack of cultural loss and lack of representation. Students from native backgrounds may not see themselves in the history they're learning and that can make them feel less than. Also, since native perspectives are not heard, it can weaken their cultural identity and feel less prideful about where they've come from.

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As a Black girl in public school in NYC, settler colonialism affected my education in a few ways. First, most of what we learned focused on European history and culture, and the a perspective highlighting Europeans despite what they did. i did not learn about certain injustices until i got to high school. there were various things i had to learn myself. another way it affected my education was by ignoring the contributions of Black people. lastly, growing up in an environment where no one around looked like me often affected the way i was disciplined. i was often harsher for students of color like me, making school feel unfair.

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I did not know of settler colonialism in the way that I do today. My educational experiences were and continue to be deeply influenced by settler colonialism. I was taught about great white men who discovered this great land, as if indigenous peoples did not exist or added any value. European exploration and conquest were words used to describe the violence and displacement inflicted upon indigenous people. I learned of the geniuses of the white world, while people like myself needed them to make us civilized.

I can now say that the manner that I was taught, the learning environment, what I was taught, saying the pledge of allegiance every morning as we faced the American flag like true little patriots, sitting in a classroom believing the lies I was fed, the absence of stories about people like myself, left me looking up to a race I believed to be superior and to live like a white person, was a sign of success and an accomplishment. Even now, with all that I have learned about colonialism, I can’t help but be my colonized self.

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Looking at educational experiences through the lens of settler colonialism shows how significantly this historical context can influence schooling. For example, like many of my classmates mentioned the pledge of allegiance, I always felt forced to get up and sing the pledge of allegiance until at some point I noticed they completely eliminated it. what always made me wonder about that is the fact they were forcing kids to sing it word for word even those that might not believe in god and if a kid did not want to stand up i remember them getting sent to the principals office or them getting in trouble, was it really THAT serious ? No. The curriculums in school focused more on Eurocentric viewpoints, often ignoring or misrepresenting the histories and cultures of Indigenous peoples. This could result in lessons that celebrate colonial figures while downplaying the negative impacts of colonization on native communities. Like celebrating Christopher Columbus. I wonder will they ever teach according to what really happened, makes me so worried for the newer generations because there is so much useful history to be taught and the school system wastes their time on the same old / material.