Prejudice is something that is so deeply ingrained in our lives, and our ways of being. It is learned in childhood when we notice our parents or other people around us, such as teachers or colleagues behave in a certain way. The most unfortunate thing is that prejudice exists and we often are not even aware of it.
In some cases, the thoughts and beliefs about a certain group or individual affect your perspective on it. They lead to discrimination and some people might not even be accepted in some groups because of prejudice.
Even though we might like to think prejudice is not present in education, it is. So, how can you avoid it? What should be done so that educational institutions and environments are more inclusive?
Improving Classroom Communication
One of the things that create prejudice is ineffective communication. In some cases, communication might not even exist, so this leads to many issues within the classroom. There are already some beliefs, both on the part of teachers and students, that prevent them from communicating effectively.
For example, teachers might see students who do not ask questions as uninterested. On the other hand, students might feel frightened or shy to ask questions, or might even think that the teacher does not have any interest in helping them. As a college student, you have to learn and progress continuously, so that you expand your knowledge and boost your skills.
You might get to write all kinds of essays and papers on distinct topics, such as prejudice, discrimination, or racism. This means you might have to do a racial profiling essay development in which you expand more on the topic of racism and how it can be diagnosed within educational institutions.
This is a topic that has moved under the spotlight in the last few years, especially with the Black Lives Matter movement and all the crimes against Black people. Racial profiling is a form of prejudice and it is, unfortunately, still present in our societies. People are judged based on their skin color and race and suspected they have committed crimes or offenses only because they are distinct.
This is a topic that should be discussed within the classroom as it helps both students and teachers understand the dangers of prejudice and racial profiling. And find ways to fight it. studying and writing about these topics might feel challenging, but these are some tasks that help you expand your view of the world and learn more about prejudice and discrimination.
Entertaining Students
Nowadays, teachers might feel that engaging students in the classroom are a challenging thing to do. And indeed, it may become more and more provoking to deliver an enjoyable and engaging experience that students learn so much of. If students do not ask questions, it does not mean that they are bored or uninterested. It might mean that the way you deliver information is not adapted to their needs and expectations. Each student has a learning style and as a teacher, you need to adapt to each of them. Generations change and the expectations of students too.
However, their interest in this topic could be sparked by classroom activities that raise engagement. They can get thought-provoking assignments that force them to think outside the box and inform on other perspectives too.
The activities within the classroom should be relevant to the taught topic and they should encourage students to communicate. If you just keep giving them assignments that were relevant a few years ago, it will be challenging to spark interest. And as prejudice, racial profiling, or discrimination are hot topics today, they should be approached and discussed in innovative ways.
Final Thoughts
The problem of prejudice has moved under the spotlight in recent years. Unfortunately, it is present in educational settings too. Getting an education in a college should be an enlightening experience. However, many students are discriminated against, which means they do not have the same development opportunities as others.
Avoiding prejudice in education is mandatory as all students are equal. Teachers should spark discussions on these topics and make classroom activities more engaging and thought-provoking. Students should be encouraged to think outside the box and tasks should help them become aware of the dangers of prejudice and racial profiling.
Bio lines: Charlie D. Kenney is a content writer and blogger. He is interested in the psychology of humans, especially in topics such as discrimination and prejudice. Charlie reads self-development books.
