在《子女教育》论坛看到一个很好的如何在国外维护孩子不受歧视的例子和大家分享。
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周一去field trip 时感觉孩子受到不公正待遇。在前台投诉被孩子同学听见部分争吵。回家后给负责人写了封信，抄送学校老师，校长及教育局分管小学的领导。信中先描述孩子起了大早的兴奋和盼望，在展厅里的活动。再转到后面的故事，摘抄部分：
After finishing the project that the staff had required, the 18 kids sat on the long bench. They became very excited when the staff put the milk snake around her neck. Kids were eager to ask questions. My daughter was one of them. The staff answered all the kids' questions, even the one sat just beside my daughter, but never looked at my daughter. . My daughter kept raising her hand even though the arm was very tired. She insisted on raising her hand, hoping the staff would allow her to ask the question. One minute, two minutes, three, four...ten....I couldn't bear to look at the sad scene so I approached to the teacher and told her my daughter had been raising her hand for a long time, could she help to let the staff notice. After a while, the staff stood just in front of the teacher. The teacher said there was a student raising her hand...However, before the teacher could finish her words, the staff signaled another student 3 feet away from my daughter to ask a question. The staff paid no attention to the teacher, obviously. It went on and on, everybody noticed my daughter wanted to ask a question except this staff.
When the activity was over, I went to my daughter, what is your question? she said no, I don't have a question. I said "You raised your hand so long and now you tell me you don't have a question?"she said "no！I don't have a question!!!" But her eyes were full of tears.
I waited to be the last one in the room and asked the staff why she did not allow my daughter to ask a question. She pretended to be so surprised and said "oh, I am sorry, I did not see her." There was no sorry in her eyes, only willingly admitted sorry from her mouth.
She did not see, really? When the teacher saw, when other parents saw ( one parent comforted me later saying what I did was understandable and took it easy), the staff was not able to see? Is she blind or is my daughter too dark for the staff to detect?
I apologize being emotional at the front desk. But please tell me which mother, black, white or Asian, can tolerate her own child belittled under so many eyes? When her daughter felt hurt with tears, which mother can say it is Okay, the staff just does not want to answer your question? Under what judgement can the staff ignore a child's question?
I went to the reserve with the teacher's reminder to volunteer mothers deep in heart:
Thanks for agreeing to assist with this field trip. Our schedule is divided into four activities and lunch. You may have to resume the role of the teacher/responsible adult during our activities. I greatly appreciate your time today to enjoy this great resource.
1. While inside the building, your role will be to ensure the students are listening to the presentation, politely raising their hands, and staying on task with the activities. We are representing XX School, so helping make sure students are respectful and well-behaved as learners would be greatly appreciated.
During the session with the staff, I will ask you do make sure the students are being respectful of the staff for listening, following directions, and staying on task. Do NOT be afraid to step in and make sure the students are doing what they need to be doing. .
My daughter is polite, respectful and well-behaved, what did she get in return?......
信发出去后，校长立刻给我打了电话，说她会尽快调查这件事，向她的上司汇报，两天之内一定给我回信。
又过了一会，负责人，就是和我在前台争吵的人，回了封信，抄送所有人并加了另一位同校教师，估计和他们经常有联系。
I have spoken with the staff about this incident and we all feel very badly that you and your daughter did not enjoy your time at XXX. We work very hard to educate children about the natural world and to help them see themselves as participants in nature. We have for many years had the pleasure of having XX school visit.
The implication that we would not call on your daughter because of her skin color is incorrect. That attitude would have no place in our program. It would be antithetical to what we trying to accomplish. Many children raise their hands and because of time limitations we cannot call on everyone.
I would be happy to meet with you to talk further about this incident if you feel that would be helpful.
