BlogPost 2

“We do not really see with our eyes or hear through our ears, but through our beliefs,” Lisa Delpit, an American educationalist and author, quotes. Often times, quotes can be interpreted in different ways. When I first read this quote by Lisa Delpit, I did not quite grasp it. After reading through it a few times, I came up with my personal opinion of what it means. What we see and hear will always be affected by our beliefs, views, and principles. The way we grow up, where we grow up, and the people we grow up around all have an impact on the way we think. That in turn impacts the way we understand certain individuals, situations, and instances in life. As a teacher in the classroom, we will be faced everyday with children from a wide range of backgrounds, home life, intellect, talents, race, and much more. To truly influence a child’s life in a positive way, educators must be open minded and not quick to judge. If we want our students to prosper and flourish, they need to feel comfortable and encouraged in the classroom. The way the teacher decides to view the child comes from their beliefs. The teacher could see how the student is acting, but the way he or she actually handles the child depends on their beliefs. For example, if there is a student struggling in the classroom (whether it be academically, socially, or emotionally) a teacher can either look at the student as a problem or as potential. A teacher can either look at the student as a dead end or room to grow.