Bob Morley ⟡ Bellamy Blake Rants/Debates #3 | Because everyone needs a safe space to channel their negative emotions/thoughts.
 

TFTNT! I didn’t even notice it was time for a new one.

To answer Amelia’s question on the last thread about dealing with racism and such amongst students . . . it’s hard. It really is. Because on the one hand, you can’t push your views onto them, but on the other hand, you can’t allow discriminatory remarks, either.

My students are at that age where their attitudes are still in major development. I love teaching the grades I do because they’re old enough to be capable of having serious discussions, but they’re still young enough that they tend to be very receptive to multiple viewpoints, because they genuinely want to further establish their own views. If they want to know my opinion on something, i.e. whether I’m voting for Trump or not in the next election, I’ll let them know where I stand on it, and I’ll explain to them why I feel that way. But I also try to always be very clear with them that it’s okay to disagree with me. I often phrase it as, “It’s okay if you have a different opinion than me. What matters is that you have valid, educated reasons for your opinion.” I figure that my job isn’t to teach them what opinion to have on issues, but rather to think critically about all those issues so that they can develop informed opinions.

So for example, one of the things we talk about is the Iraq War in the early 2000s, and we discuss the reasons the U.S. had for it. But I try to explain why some people were very against the war and why some people supported it. And I don’t try to tell them that there is a right answer, because I honestly don’t think there is. So I educate them about both sides and let them arrive at their own conclusions.

Last year a class spontaneously brought up LGBTQ stuff. They were walking in the door debating with each other about it, and they asked my opinion on it, so I told them. And we continued discussing, and at the end, I encouraged them to keep discussing the way they were, because they were very respectful in their disagreements, and I told them that a lot of adults out there could learn a thing or two from them. :lol:

I also find myself saying year to year, “I want to discuss these things so that you don’t simply inherit the views your parents have. It’s okay if you do view things the same way they do, AND it’s okay if you don’t. But I want your views to be your own.” And they want that, too.

Regardless of me being in a small town with more conservative views, I have never had any students or families say that they feel like I’m pushing my views on them, so that’s good. In regards to actual blatant racism or sexism or any kind of discrimination like that, our students thankfully do a pretty good job of monitoring themselves and being conscious of their words. But if they slip up—say they say, “That’s gay,” or something—I take the time to explain to them why it’s not okay to say that rather than just telling them to stop. It’s important that they get a lesson out of it rather than just a reprimand. But things like that are hard, because you can’t explain both sides there and let them arrive at their own conclusion. You have to nip it in the bud and be stern but also approach it as a learning opportunity for them. I’m sure that is much easier to do when kids are younger.

Thank you for your response, April!

It is more difficult to have these conversations with them in high school. They tend to be a bit more set in their ways, unfortunately. And it sucks, because sometimes they haven't had the opportunity to discuss and debate those issues, or they don't have the critical thinking skills developed to do so. At the same time, because they are such hotly contested issues, some of the students I think feel peer pressure to think like their friends or parents and don't want to express dissent or opposite views.

When a student says something like, "That's gay" or "that's [r word]," I try to say something like "There are more appropriate and accurate ways to express what you want to say/What are you really trying to say?" so they realize that those words aren't substitutes for things like stupid, frustrating, annoying, unfair, etc. And with the racism, I just have to say that it's not acceptable to say, especially in the classroom, but also in general. A lot of them roll their eyes, but some are honest and own up to the fact that they need to do better.

I like the “What are you really trying to say?” I might use that. :)

What’s the diversity like in schools in your area?

Where I live is mostly white, tbh, but there's some diversity at the bigger schools. Where I work though is majority Hispanic/Latinx, and that's just like... one town over from where I live.

Separate rant: I got made at a joke someone made on Twitter, and people jumped on me for getting mad because... it wasn't even funny? And then I felt pressured to apologize to the person who made the joke, and now I feel like I compromised my integrity, but I can't take back the apology. Today was just a mess, and I feel like I should have just kept my mouth shut from the beginning. I just have to recognize that people can be immature and roll my eyes at it from here on out because so many of them aren't worth my breath.

That’s frustrating. Although I do think one of the most mature things a person can do is apologize even when they don’t think they were wrong. I do that a lot, just because I don’t mean to offend or upset someone, but sometimes it comes across that way anyway.

I honestly flinch when I hear people using either terms as slurs. Being gay and/or having physical/mental disabilities is hard enough, without people using the term jokingly and as a slur. I get that a lot of kids say it because it makes them sound cool or whatever, but I do wish that they'd think harder before saying such words.

As for racism, I encounter it from time to time in my own country as well as when I venture overseas, so it's really something that hits close to me. I just wish that more people called such instances out when it happens in front of them, unfortunately it doesn't happen as often as it should.

I do become encouraged when I hear kids call each other out on it, which happens more often than you might think at the grade level I teach. They’re interested in maturing and becoming more conscientious of their words, for the most part.

I love how even our rant thread is just full of respectful and intelligent discussion right now. :lol:

Yes, I love our rant thread, it's fantastic!

The bystander effect is so real, unfortunately. People are always so afraid to speak up, especially to strangers and in defense of people they don't know.

Amelia, did you not see what the girl posted? She made a fake tweet about bob and used a racial slur in it, how is he lame for blocking her?


ETA:
I’m actually fuming, Bob blocks someone for whatever reason and his “fans” respond by mocking and belittling him?? Posting sexual Clarke gifs and saying “bob, don’t look” “Bob is dumb” HIS OWN FANS.

Bob can block whoever he wants for any reason he wants on HIS Twitter, I’m so over people defending crappy, entitled people instead of supporting and respecting bobs choices.

I feel like it doesn’t even matter what any of us think. If Bob wants to block someone, then he should go ahead. Maybe people should be more mindful about what they post.

I figured he was blocking her for that, but the specific reason he actually blocked that person is cause their friends tagged him and told him to block her as a joke. :lol:

IDK if he unblocked her, but apparently he DMed her... so I guess the way to get a Bob DM is to get him to block you first.

It's just weird to me that he's so insecure he's bothered about people finding Eliza hot. :look: Like we can't even say Eliza's hot on Twitter for fear of being blocked cause Bob stalks fans, now. Don't know why he doesn't just mute people instead of blocking, it works just as well.

I personally don’t think that he’s being insecure or it’s the “oh, she’s so hot” comments because that’s a fact and it’s not crossing a line ... but I definitely think that he takes offence to lewd or overly sexual comments about Eliza’s body. I mean, he doesn’t like it when people say that about him so I don’t know why people would be surprised that he wouldn’t want that said about his wife as well.

This! So much. It makes me mad and I don’t know how people can call themselves Bob fans and then mock him for doing what is right by him and the people he loves, he can block whoever the heck he wants and I support his right to do so.

I just don't get how he can block people over stuff like saying Eliza is hot (not even overtly sexual), yet the people sending death threats don't get blocked. Like, block people for good reasons. My mutual got blocked and still doesn't even know why.

That person got blocked for a fake tweet that used the n word and said “it’s fine, Angela gave me her black card”. Making it seem like bob is racist. Not to mention the bob as organs thread. They hide behind the “bob blocked me cause I fancy his wife” excuse.

Bob probably blocks lots of clexas and bechos too, but it’s the bellarkes that broadcast it and then get their friends to harass bob until he unblocks. If people overstep his boundaries he’s well within his right to block anyone. What’s wrong is to then make fun of him and call him names and make jokes about his reasons. Posting half naked Clarke gifs and saying “bob, don’t look”. And then wonder why he’s blocking them.