Journal of a Black Teacher

  “Education must begin with the solution of the student-teacher contradiction, by reconciling the poles of the contradiction so that both are simultaneously teachers and students.”  ― Paulo Freire The class text reminds me of Herbert Kohl’s I Won’t Learn From You: and Other Thoughts on Creative Maladjustments as it pertains to exemplars of learning scenarios tied to family status and in-school academic performance; see the story about “Barry” (Kohl, 1995, p. 8).  Although not assigned this week, I liked Chapter One because it explores the importance of culturally responsive teaching practices in promoting student engagement and success; the authors highlight the need for an education system that recognizes the interconnectedness of social justice and environmental sustainability. They argue that traditional approaches to environmental education often ignore issues of power and privilege, perpetuating systems of oppression. In Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies , Chapter 2, You Ain'