Talking about biases is scary, but maybe we're at a place where we can comfortably voice these biases without fear of judgement. I won't sit here and say I've never thought about my personal biases, because I have...not in great detail, of course, but I've at least come to the realization that I have them.
I believe that I have a bias of educated people being more intelligent, social, and able to succeed in life. Education is a value of mine, therefore, I sometimes view uneducated people in a different light. Of course, there are reasons why some people are undecuated such as poverty, social class, and personal values. Still, I hold this bias due to my own upbringing and social surroundings throughout my life.
I grew up in a small town where every friend of mine had parents who had either Bachelor degrees or higher. For example: my best friend's dad was a professor, a woman I worked for was a doctor, many parents were teachers with Master degrees...etc etc. My father went to an Ivy League school, as did his entire family. My Aunt is a professor and researcher at Columbia. Needless to say, I have been conditioned to believe that an education reaps many benefits. I link it to good jobs, intelligence, social skills...I can't really help that I do this. Many people don't have the means to a good education, I just happen to come from a family who does.
Working in schools exposes you to a variety of children from many settings. Many of them have young parents, parents who didn't attend college, and these children have no desire to further their education. I guess when I hear this, I am blown away and slightly saddened. Perhaps I can be someone to reinforce to these kids how important an education is, and not just because it will "land you a job." Education is much more than that.
I'm not sure that I'll ever rid myself of this bias, and that's okay. I can't change how I was raised, and people become who they are partly (mostly?) because of their life experiences. I don't doubt that I'll carry this for life, and it's just something I'll have to work with if it gets in the way.
Age-Biased Article from Psychology.com
This is a very difficult assignment. I agree that education can be used as a tool to better oneself. I believe education can open the doors to many opportunities for the person who pursues an education. Once I start thinking that I am better than others because of my education, then I will start to have problems. Once I see other people as inferior to me for whatever reason, then it's easy for me to stop caring. I do not know if you deal with these issues, but I am just sharing my own issues with this particular bias. I do not know if people can overcome a bias, but awareness can give us more understanding of who we are and what we are trying to do.
ReplyDeletehaving a good education is not a bad thing, unless you're paying off your student loans! lol
ReplyDeletebut, all kidding aside, i can see why you feel the way you do based on your experiences and upbringing. the value of an education is important to many people, so this is a great example. education can help people succeed in their careers and to become more critical thinkers in general.
and yet, i can say that i've also have learned alot by traveling and meeting cool and interesting people, and i've experienced lots of amazing things. i think this for me has been a really valuable educational experience outside of the classroom.
i totally support getting an education, even if it's by taking classes that are simply fun for you like art and music if you're into it, not necessarily by getting a particular degree. it really does depend on each person's personal journey through life.
i think it's a decent bias to believe in education, ignorance is a very scary thing if it's in the wrong hands. (like i posted on mine) as a teacher, i'm sure you'll push your students to do their best, and encourage them to be the best they can be.
I come from a family that does believe in education, although it is not the first priority. My parents both have college degrees; my mom is currently in school finishing her MA and my dad has a bachelors and is now retired from the medical field. My mom completed her associates, bachelors, and soon masters at the same time she has worked and raised a family. This may not seem the ideal way to reach your education goals but she makes her family a priority. She has great work experience and that has gotten her several positions in the work force. She is one of seven directors of the UNM hospital and that is with out completing her MA. So yes education is important but work experience is also very important. Education holds different values based on your family beliefs and economic status. I do know several people who own family businesses that never spent a day in a college classroom. I do think you have the right idea about encouraging your students to achieve higher education,many students will need guidance from a person that has a strong belief in higher education. I think you can use this bias in a positive way through teaching!
ReplyDeleteComing from a background of middle class values it's easy to have a bias against the uneducated. We are taught that education is important and is a key for middle class success. However, I'm sure there are those middle class families, which do not promote the value of education as much as others, just like there are those poor families, which stress to their children that education is crucial to succeed in American society. How much we value education seems to be a lesson handed down directly from parent to child.
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