How do educators answer questions like "Othering" in a schooling environment? This was examined after a debate held by a group of student teachers on the Wits Education Facebook page on the 28th April 2015. The main discussion was based on individual's opinions about the "SRC president's admiration for Hitler" which struck heavily the issues of "Othering" in our country today.
The most prominent German philosopher Hegel(1958) was the first to introduce the idea of the "Other" as constituent in self-consciousness, he wrote of pre-self conscious man.
William et al (1992) argued that, each conscious pursue the death of the other" meaning that is seeing a separateness between you and another, a feeling of alienation is created, which you try to resolve by synthesis.By making something different through othering- a person, a group, a community or a country establish a sense of self/'immediate given'. In this way people construct roles for themselves in relation to an "Other" as part of a process often unconsciously of discrimination, stigmatization and dehumanization other groups. It is in the heart of racism, discrimination and xenophobia
Cahoone (1996) stated that, what appears to a cultural units-human beings, words, meanings, ideas, philosophical systems, social organizations- are maintained in their unity only though an active process of exclusion, opposition, and hierachization. Other phenomena or units must be represented as foreign or 'other' through representing a hierarchical dualism in which the unit is 'privilege' or favoured, and the other is devalued in some way.
In my profession education is the best knowledge of the world. A reflection of it is different when compared to treating the "other". Learners are conscious beings, passive in nature and neutral in minds. Their common goal is success, but how do we help them to understand the history of our country, How much do we teach them about the history of our country and the indifferences between individuals in order to avoid issues of racism, discrimination at a later stage? /OR Do we invite them into our own worlds because we feel they belong to them? How far are we?
After observing the discussion that these young leaders had, I drew up a conclusion to argue that, our schools, our parents taught us history that defines us and thus still occurring today. Where does our normative sense of othering stem some from- is it true that it comes from schools, parents, or popular TV shows?
If so, then we need to start thinking critically on how do we argue/or debate about such issues in a schooling environment. Children spend approximately 7 hours in schools with their teachers; it can thus be said that teachers influence them to a greater degree as compared to their parents.
How do they structure education if the country is still trying to solve issues of racism and discrimination. Research reveals that, our country is still living under these practiced norms.
I am currently doing my teaching experience at a multiracial public school (ex-model c school) situated in the North of Johannesburg. These children look as innocent as they refuse to carry the confusion of our country still today. However, history defines each one of them; it carries their identities in some sort. I fear that I know nothing yet the profession is soon, how do we hold their hands and show that peace in differences?
I was born and bred in Kwa-Zulu Natal (PMB) the heart of xenophobia. This is where the wave of xenophobic attacks happened last month. Notably, this is yet another factor which best defines "Othering" on a broader context. I wonder how teachers were addressing learners in schools about such events, for it looks like a re-occurring factor that thus still affect our country still today.
I went to public schools and I have never encountered issues of racism and discrimination. But in general (outside school), I remember once being called a "black bitch" by a white guy in one of the banks in South Africa(2009). This followed after I asked him to stand in a queue "Sorry Sir! We were here first". His response made me to realize that even after 15 years of democracy, racism was still an issue in South Africa and one race will always 'other' the other.
I base my understanding of the position of our country today on; how we were taught history in schools, how our parents informed us about it, and also during social interactions within our societies. The fear of being labeled is not dysfunctional, but yet active. We create definitions, people receive labels, are these labels deserved/or justified?
Dear Future Leaders,
"Othering" has a great impact in our country today, and it would continue impacting unless something changes. There's no visible way to right our wrongs over one night, however, illuminating the issue is at list give people something to ponder.Human race is devious and we will forever see the difference in others, the key is to obtain harmonious diverse. We must be differences as positives rather than pointing the finger of 'Othering'. It should start with us; we should see the future for ourselves before seeing it in another mind irrespective of gender, race, sex, colour, or ethnicity.
We are allowed to teach-each one of us with our own preconceived ideas of humanity, spreading, falsities, prejudice and stereotype at will, remember, What is Today?
Dunkin (1974) discussed that.............teaching is not like inducing a chemical reaction; it is much more like painting a picture or making a piece of music, or on a lower level like planting a gardener or writing a friendly letter. For example; teaching someone that we shouldn't assume that he is poor just because his shoes are torn.
I believe that educators are great simplifiers who can cut through arguments, debates, doubts to offer solution that is vital to everybody. The future of our leaders must be nurtured, to learn in a safe, healthy and supportive environment which develops compassion and mutual respect at will.
Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that a son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president of a........
Nelson Mandela
Questions
- How do educators structure the description of their profession in terms of "Othering" in this country?
- Do current educators teach more of our history that it results to experience such issues today? How?
- As South Africans, we have deployed the issue of "Othering" in our country, how do we plan on changing the contrary? Do we aim for a better change free of "Othering" issues?
- What is their/or your position with history today?
Resources
Hegel (1958)http://www2.hu-berlin.de/transcience/Vol16_No!_2015_69-91.pdf
William et al (1992)
http://www.researchgate.net/publication/268548395_School_as_a_context_for_othering_and_promoting_cultural_assets
Cahoone., L.,(1996): "Introduction", in (ed.), From Modernism to Postmodernism: an anthology, Malden Blackwell, second edition, pp. 1-13
Dunkin et al (1974), "The study of Teaching"., United State of America; Rinehart & Winston, Inc-
http://www.searchquotes.com/quotation/Education_is_the_great_engine_of_personal_development._It_is_through_education_that_the_daughter_of_/15875/
