"In" and "out" groups was one of the interesting highlights discussed in class this week.
In groups are groups that we classify ourselves in while
out groups are something we don't see ourselves to be a part of. This was uniquely tied into the discrimination video we watched in class regarding an experiment where a teacher segregated blue eyes from brown eyes in order to show children the negative and unethical effects of discrimination. It was interesting to see how children who were in the "out groups," typically the unfavorable brown eyed group, were behaving towards being neglected as they thought it was so silly to be discriminated and talked down to merely because of their eye color. This experiment was ultimately practiced to teach children not to discriminate against other races. So although most can agree that racial discrimination among African Americans in the country has subsided, Americans have become more discriminating towards the Hispanic culture. For instance as seen in this picture:
The first sign indicates children must be supervised to play on the playground whereas the second sign translates into: "you must have a permit to play on this field" and police action will be taken against violators. The message in English doesn't come close to what is being translated in Spanish--implying that those who do not speak English and are Hispanic are not welcome to integrate playing with other children . So although the Jim Crow laws are dormant, racial prejudice has not left parts of America and is being practiced on playgrounds; thus it is also teaching children discrimination. We may be taught that discriminating against African Americans in America is wrong based on American events in history, but it's more important to not only learn from these lessons but to apply them elsewhere in the future.
What a great post! Where did you find this? Thanks for being a teacher to us!
ReplyDeleteWhy should I believe that your translation of the Spanish does not synchronize with your interpretation of the English. Does the term 'required' have any bindingness, or do you ignore obligatory references in English while overemphasizing them in other languages?
ReplyDeleteI'm not really sure if this question is up for discussion or if you're criticizing my interpretation of the sign. I apologize if my post offended you personally in any way, but I don't fluently speak Spanish and if you're confused about the sign perhaps google translate can help you with that one.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do think 'required' has a certain bindingness to the sign because it's printed as an ethical rule that children need supervision. I think my post discusses how this is immoral because how can you "ignore obligatory references in English while overemphasizing them in other languages" if there would be a clear and incoherent translation.
Leah,
DeleteYou were correct in both! Great post!
Here is an article in the Daily Kos:
http://m.dailykos.com/story/2013/01/05/1176645/-Outrage-in-Delaware
They looked into it. The sign is real and the translation accurate.
The same point is made is several different ways. Stating that police action (or legal actions, or worse)will be forthcoming is simply understood or implied in the English sign. Even though the signage in
ReplyDeleteSpanish appears more explicit, the terms 'required' and 'at your risk' have implications that are
more evil than police intervention. One of the underlying assumptions is that higher classes or whites are are less harsh or competitive than other groups. At issue is the nature of the 'binding' implementation of the sign's message. Sometimes, more explicit rules are safeguards against arbitrary interpretations. Try explaining accidents or even death on playgrounds when there is no definitive or official implementation of warnings!
I would have to disagree with your point that "underlying assumptions is that higher classes or whites are less harsh or competitive than other groups." In no way does the sign imply for a superior white race--the sign is only discriminating to those who do not speak English. I am curious to how you implied the underlying assumption that whites are less competitive than other groups? Also, how are you inferring that higher class citizens are white?
DeleteAlso, I believe accidents on playgrounds do not serve any correlation to not allow a certain type of culture to access the playgrounds. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you're saying that the miss-translation is necessary simply because children need to be warned that Spanish children are playing on the playground, then this is incredibly ethnocentric to believe that only the "whites" may access the playground. Furthermore, we must keep in mind that this is a sign is posted on a playground where children play and children do not discriminate against races unless they are taught to.
However, I do agree with you that strict warnings are necessary on playgrounds, but not to discriminate against certain cultures.
Hi Leah,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the thoughtful post!
I'm interested in the distinction that you make between students being taught that discrimination is problematic, as in the "blue eyes / green eyes" experiment vs. the reality that "racial prejudice...is being practiced on playgrounds; thus it is also teaching children discrimination."
You mention that we should be "applying the lessons" from history into the real world. Do you have any suggestions as to how to reconcile the disconnect between the classroom and the playground?
-E
I think at a young age kids learn to differentiate a classroom stetting from the playground. The environment of each setting has influenced how they must act and what's socially acceptable/appropriate.
DeleteHowever, I do think that what kids learn in a classroom shadows how they respond and act in a more relaxed setting such as on playgrounds. For instance, in the discrimination video that I referenced earlier, kids began acting in a racist manner towards those who had brown eyes during recces after they learned that those with blue eyes were more superior.
I think it's inevitable for kids to be more influenced by what they're educated/see at school simply because society puts such emphasis on the school setting to be "right," "proper," "socially -acceptable," etc. If parents and society wouldn't stress the environmental factors applied at school, then there wouldn't be such a contrast as how kids react in a strict vs relaxed setting.
I think the best solution for the disconnect between the classroom and the playground is to apply similar lessons and techniques in both settings. Also, it's important not to stress one extreme setting over the other, so kids learn to behave like themselves and not develop separate personalities rather than adapt to their environment.
What suggests do you believe can reconcile the disconnect?