The exploitation and social exclusion of individuals based on race, gender, ethnicity, social class, sexual orientation, etc. is a phenomenon that prevailed in Jefferson’s time and is still apparent today. Discuss how this notion of exclusion is evident in our contemporary system of education. In your view, how can teachers best address this phenomenon?
Through the reading, I found the principles of the founding fathers very interesting. "All men are created equal" has a different meeting today than it did in the 18th century, but the foundations of exclusion still exist even in schools today. There have been major movements in civil rights in America within the past 50 years. These 'major' movements have desegregated schools and have fought to give minorities equal rights. Today these issues still exist but others are also apparent concerning the exclusion of individuals.
English Language learners as well as students with special needs are often excluded from classroom activities and some of the rights contained therein. These practices are fought with policies across the country yet underfunded schools and untrained professionals still allow them to happen because they are "the way things have always been done".
To address these issues, teachers and administrators need to start local by observing and identifying problems in order to devise a plan to help eliminate any exclusion that could be taking place. Training and professional development will need to be implemented as well. This phenomenon will not be going away anytime soon, but it will be up to us as professionals to address and begin its elimination in the school system.
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