Thursday, October 4, 2007
Social Experiment
I have a question for my colleagues. Would you care for or adopt a child outside of your enthnicity? As we discuss the challenges in the current educational climate, I think it is important that we ourselves do a littel soul searching. I am not trying to "call out" anyone but simply prove a point. I truly believe that because of our chosen professional pursuit that we as a group are more opened minded than most, we have to be. I also feel though that we are subconsciencely influenced by social stigmas. But this brings about my question. Do we see only students and not students of a racial group ? Can you honestly say to yourself that yes I would care for/adopt a child outside of my race? Again this is ultimately an excercise in trying to realize the challenges we face as educators. There are many kind hearted people out there but where is the line drawn? Will most ultimately stick with there own? One of the big reasons I bring this up is the recent trend for "celebrities" to adopt children from a different race, but amazingly from a different Country !!! As if there are no needy, adoptable children in the USA! It makes me suspect of them. Is this simply a twited publicity stunt? I understand that many will view this as a simplistic view of this situation, but in my opinion it is simple. If you truly want to help a disadvantaged child (the large majority of them in the US are African American)you need only look in your own country! Anyway I would like feedback from you my classmates.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I do feel that because of our choice of profession, we may be more open minded than others in terms of diversity. I would have no problem adopting a child of a different race, but I too do not understand the need to go outside of the country to adopt a child. There are too many children here in the US waiting to be adopted. It seems it is the "trendy" thing to adopt children from out of the country. Example-"Brangelina" I have to admit I am a tabloid junkie, and it seems many celebrities are adopting children from other races and countries to prove they have a heart and are not shallow. I feel this also probably has an influence on the common people who look to them as role models. Overall, I definitely agree with you.
My wife and I have actually talked about this pretty extensively and have decided if we ever have children we are definately going to adopt. Neither of us think that passing along one's genes is anywhere near as important as passing along the positive education, and enculturation in general, which we received from our families. Both of us see how a child is raised as infinitely more important than the child's biological origins, if and when the time comes for us to adopt, the ethnicity or nation of origin of our child holds no real importance for either of us.
Your post made me think of something I saw a few years ago. I used to work at Overlook Hospital, and on one of the walls as you head towards the elevator, they had a collage of pictures. The children in the pictures were all children living in the general area that were up for adoption. Most of these children were not infants, and just looking at their bright faces put a smile on my own. When I was younger I lived with my grandmother, mother and two uncles. One uncle was biological, the other a fostered child (though by the point, he was an adult). Even though we don't live together anymore, he's still my uncle. As for adopting a child outside of my own race, if I were faced with making that decision I would do it. A child is a child, no matter what color their skin is.
When it comes to children there are so many in the world that need good homes. I actually had this discussion with my girlfriend and she was shocked when I said I would be fine with adopting. With so much sickness, and lost hope for children in certain parts of the world, why wouldn't you consider it? I want to have my own children but I don't think there is anything wrong with helping a child who may not have a good life somewhere else.
Post a Comment