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Inspire Trust in Teachers, Education System a Key Aspect of Asian Culture: PanelBy Roderick Benns Many Asian parents trust teachers and the education system so deeply, that it is often mistaken as a lack of interest, according to members of a panel that presented insights into the challenges of Asian students. The lecture was presented by The Secretariat as part of a monthly Lunch Time Lecture Series. The series was developed to encourage dialogue amongst Ministry employees on supporting equity of outcome for all students, one of the key focuses for The Secretariat. Audience members were invited to bring their lunch and to contribute to the discussion, which this month focused on insights and challenges for Asian learners. The panel, composed of Zubeda Vahed, Merrill Mathews, Rebecca Tam and Jacqueline Goh, spoke for 90 minutes about the diverse needs of Asian learners, as well as some of the strategies teachers and parents can keep in mind to help them. Goh said the stereotype of uninvolved Asian parents is simply untrue from an attitude perspective. Such parents tend to let students function under the trusted umbrella of the schools and the system, so as not to 'interfere.' Tam agreed. "Asian parents tend to trust teachers and the system – they believe the schools know what they're doing. Very often we hear teachers complain that the parents are not involved but this is a lack of knowledge of Asian culture," Tam said. Goh pointed out that some of the stereotypes faced by Asian students include that they are unfailingly:
She says the submissive stereotype exists because of the ingrained sense of respect that Asian children have for elders. Goh notes the hard working label given uniformly to students of Asian descent may have been true of their parents, who were often first generation Canadians who had to work exceptionally hard to make it work in their new country. The motivation aspect comes in, says Goh, as the newer generation of Asian Canadians tries to live up to the hard work ethic of their parents. Tam says there is a great deal of discrimination faced by students who are Asian, even if they have been born here. She points out that someone who is Russian could learn the language and be assimilated in Canadian culture with relative ease. But for Asian students, they are "forever labeled" and often teased. "Problems of discrimination, identity crisis, bullying, self-esteem issues ... all of these things are experienced by Asian students," said Tam. Vahed spent time discussing the faith-based concerns of south Asian students, saying she does not believe in political correctness, but rather in bringing dignity to the beliefs of all students from a faith perspective. "Teacher power here is very important," said Vahed. "Canadians celebrate many holidays. There is always a balance between inclusion and respect for beliefs," but pointed out there is no reason to ignore discussions of faith. Vahed shared a well-meaning poster that showed the earth with many faiths of the world around it, in an attempt to be inclusive. But the image of the earth contained the phrase The Golden Rule (bible based) and there was no reference to agnosticism or atheism. Matthews pointed out the differences in cultures need to be observed closely by both classroom teachers and parents. Addressing the needs of "dual cultures," said Matthews, is a concern for everyone involved in educating children. He said the impact on students can be a "difficulty fitting in or creating a sense of belonging." As well, families may experience a clash of cultures when South Asian students go home and ask permission for events or trips for which parents have no context, and for which there might be financial challenges, he pointed out. Matthews said he believes that education in Ontario is moving in the right direction, as diversity has come to be understood as a genuine strength. "As a parent, my children are proud of their culture and want to learn more about their heritage," and "school has an important role to play." |
