Personal side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

During my senior year of college in 2011, after my kindergarten’s student teaching at a local public school, I couldn’t continue my other student teaching course at that specific school. It wasn’t that the school rejected me but there were certain incidents where my supervisor and I both felt discriminated. Apparently, the teachers at that public school thought due to English as my second language, students won’t understand my teaching with my accent. So, we decided to student teach in a private school.

At that very moment, I felt oppressed and wished English as my first language, in this way at least I don’t have to devalue my knowledge based on my language. Question raised in my head, “Why a bilingual teacher can't be equally good as only English Speaking teacher?” I have the same determination, passion, and knowledge to pass on to the students like other teachers do.

 There wasn’t much diversity in that specific place, where the incident occured. 90% population were Caucasians and 10%  Hispanic and Black. There weren’t much diversity awareness programs, events, workshops, and other important resources for the teachers, school and the community. If people are given more awareness programs, workshops, trainings, related to diversities, then there are chances for greater equity.