cross cultural teaching
So you have to teach a bunch of Somali kids in middle school, at the age when kids are just starting their rebellious teen years, and of course might not respect a non Somali teacher.
What do you do?
My granddaughter Ruby, who is a cross cultural teacher of English, related this story to me about one of her classmates.
When his Somali kids started acting out and dissing him, instead of sending them to the principal or trying to ignore their behavior, he did several things.
First, h met with their parents.
Second, He arranged his cellphone to become a cam to stream the classroom to any parent who wants to watch what is going on.
and third, when a kid started acting up, he phoned the parent and had them talk to their son.
American parents probably would be more busy at work and their kids might just ignore them if they told them to settle down, but Somali culture is family oriented and strict, and the kids will obey the parents or else.
And it worked.
He also intervened for two girls who wanted to join a run. Their parents of course objected, but he intervened and told them he would train them and run with them to keep them safe. Again, that cellphone was around and he was known to be honorable but also they could check what was going on too.
So the happy girls did their run with middle school girls of other schools, and their parents were there to watch. And to keep them safe, he accompanied them on their run...
and the organizers gave all the girls a charm as a reward for their participation, and (probably laughing) gave him one too. Which he now wears under his shirt.
Minnesota nice!
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