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Self Examination
“Seek first to understand . . .. Then to be understood.”
– ROOTS
on Diversity
“One thing I love about going to Cameron every week is getting to
interact with such honest and genuine kids. It’s amazing how refreshing
their candidness is. The children are filled with so much energy and life,
despite how tough many of their life situations are, it allows me to evaluate
my own life and attitude with a refreshed and grateful perspective.” – Elana,
tutor
Below are some questions to consider before beginning working with RCSD
students:
- Why do you mentor these children? What are your motives?
- How do you view them?
- How do you view yourself?
- Do you value their culture?
- Do you have any pity?
- What assumptions are you making about the children or their parents?
- What outcome do you expect for the student and yourself?
- What are
your rules, norms and values that you live by today? What is the source
of your learned rules, norms, and values?
It is important to understand your own culture, assumptions, and views. Only then can you attempt to understand the child's culture, assumptions and views. When a mutual understanding is realized then a meaningful mentoring and empowering relationship can begin.
“We tend to assume that on some level, everyone
shares the basic ideas about how the world operates, whether inside or
outside the classroom. But completely rational, well-meaning individuals
may not share these beliefs at all.” – Jean
Boreen
Sources: ROOTS on Diversity; Mentoring Across Boundaries, Jean Boreen.
Next page – Tutoring/Mentoring
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