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Home > Resources > Inclusive Classrooms > Instructor Introduction > What Makes You Nervous

What Makes You Nervous About Raising Issues of Racism In Your Classroom?

Weinstein, G., & Obear, K. (1992). Bias issues in the classroom: Encounters with the teaching self. In M. Adams (Ed.), Promoting diversity in college classrooms: Innovative responses for the curriculum, faculty, and institutions. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, no. 52. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Asked of a group of 25 university faculty colleagues.

1. Confronting my own social and cultural identity conflicts:

• Having to become more aware of my own attitudes regarding my group memberships and identifications.
• Feeling guilty, ashamed, or embarrassed for behaviors and attitudes of members of my own group.

2. Having to confront or being confronted with my own bias:

• Being labeled racist, sexist, and so on.
• Finding prejudice within myself.
• Romanticizing the targeted group.
• Having to question my own assumptions.
• Having to be corrected by members of the targeted group.
• Having to face my own fears of the targeted group.

3. Responding to biased comments:

• Responding to biased comments from the targeted group.
• Hearing biased comments from dominant members while targeted members are present.
• Responding to biased remarks from members of my own social group.

4. Doubts and ambivalence about my own competency:

• Having to expose my own struggles with the issue.
• Not knowing the latest "politically correct" language.
• Feeling uncertain about what I am saying.
• Feeling that I will never unravel the complexities of the issue.
• Being told by a student that I don't know what I'm talking about.
• Making a mistake.

5. Need for learner approval:

• Making students frustrated, frightened, or angry.
• Leaving my students shaken and confused and not being able to fix it.

6. Handling intense emotions; losing control:

• Not knowing how to respond to angry comments.
• Having discussion blow up.
• Having anger directed at me.
• Being overwhelmed by strong emotions engendered by the discussion.
• Feeling strong emotions being stimulated in myself.

After reading through and considering this list, what are your thoughts and feelings? How might you use this information to become a better instructor?

The staff of the Teaching Effectiveness Program are available to discuss these and other issues related to teaching and diversity.