T he following checklist for engaged pedagogy
is designed to encourage teachers to create more liberating classroom
environments and to think about what it means to educate a diverse student
body.
Discourage:
- Qualifiers which reinforce racial stereotypes
- Assuming that all members of racial groups are the same, or even similar
- Ethnic clichés
- Racist/ethno-centrist jokes
- Patronizing behaviour or tokenism by race
- Expecting that students of non-European ancestry will respond for their
entire ethno-racial group
- The avoidance of eye contact with students of non-European ancestry
- Relating a students' academic difficulties with her/his ethno-racial
background
- Using a "colour-code" to describe or interpret the actions of students
Encourage:
- An acknowledgement of the presence of racial diversity in your classroom
- Taking responsibility for managing/monitoring ethnic and racial
interactions
- Establishing ground rules for mutual respect in the classroom
- Choosing language and usage that do not reinforce bias
- Giving equal respect to all races and presenting a balanced
representation in visual aids and other media
- Choosing texts and print media that avoid racial discrimination and
stereotyping
- Expanding your horizon by including contributions from non-traditional
scholars
- Acknowledging and respecting all of your students' accents
- Being patient with students whose first language is not English or
French
- Encouraging students to relate their learning to their personal
experience
Reprinted with the author's permission from: Voices from the Classroom:
Reflections on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (Toronto:
Garamond Press, 2001).