Differences

Teens using technology

Our classroom discussion this week was about how society affects children. Students are bombarded with media. Students spend most of their days attached to some form of technology. They share information with each other at the press of a button and is received in a matter of seconds. Students are influenced by what they see and that in turn designs how they live. Students associate themselves based on what they see. Social groups are developed. If you walk onto a high schools campus, you can see the different groups students place themselves in. In our society people are encouraged to be themselves, but only if other people give them the okay. Difference is only accepted when it is convenient for others. So students who are different and would normally stand out in a crowd, go against what is natural to them, hiding. They have to hide who they are so they can fit in. This leads these students to feel guilty about who they are. They become depressed which could lead to major emotional and psychological problems.

 As teachers we must push past out beliefs and show students acceptance by demonstrating it. We have to be role models to our students by showing them that people are not one dimensional. More times than not they will surprise you. Demonstrating acceptance, gives students a safe place to be. Students will not have to worry about who they are. They can just focus on learning. Showing students different groups of people and not shying away from it will help to build that bridge toward acceptance. In science, it will be a little bit more difficult. One way will be to show the difference people who helped to shape science. I will not shy way from them just because they are from a different social group than the one in power at the time. People should get the credit for what they have done, regardless of who they are.

Émilie du Châtelet, French Physicist and Mathematician