The lesson “Looking at Labor” explores some critical questions, like “Are all jobs created equal? Why or why not?” and “What would happen if everyone was paid the same regardless of what job he or she held?” These questions certainly started me reflecting. I invite you, along with your students, to explore some of these essential questions in “Looking at Labor.”
Take a moment to examine your own beliefs and the relationships you form with your students based on what you know (or don’t know) about them.
From a teacher’s perspective, I cannot help but wonder: What role does a teacher’s knowledge of the students’ parents’ occupations have on interactions with students? For example, is the quality of instruction different with students from families who are farmers compared to a father who is a bank teller or a mother who is a police officer or a family with unemployed adult guardians? I do believe it’s important to reflect on our own perspectives in order to know how these values surface (or not) in the classroom environment. I would appreciate learning more about what you think and your personal experiences.
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