Sunday 3 February 2013

A visit from Tom Porter

Tom Porter (Sakokwenionkwas—“The One Who Wins”) is the Spokesman and Chief Spiritual Leader of the Mohawk Community of Kanatsiohareke (Ga na jó ha láy:gay) in Fonda, New York.  He came to visit the Faculty of Education at Queen's university last week and I was fortunate enough to listen to him talk.

During his talk he shared stories of how he was introduced to formal education and how the events that took place resulted in him hating white people. Since this is a blog about how I learned to teach I'm not going to highlight those events. I certainly don't want to minimise how profoundly painful that part of his life story was,  however I do want to highlight the change that occurred in his life that showed him that not all white teachers were without a heart. The following account helped me the most when thinking about my own development as a teacher. 

 There was one teacher that Mr. Porter recalled who had made an extremely offensive remark. In fact it wasn't her remark, but it was a passage out of a book that she read that caused the native student's to be so offended. At the time, and to some extent to this day, much of the literature that is written by no-natives is inaccurate and at times offensives when reference is made about Native society. In this particular passage the word "Squaw" was read allowed to describe a native women. It was used so much in the past that to this day many people believe the word to mean a Native women.  In fact is means "vagina" in the Mohawk language.

The students told their mothers, who are matriarchal in Mohawk society, what the teacher had said in reference to Mohawk women. To the mothers this kind of remark in front of children was absolutely inappropriate and could not be tolerated. After all, for the Mohawk people, the children's teachings and care were at the centre of their society. This is why after all the children were removed from the community many of the parents felt at a loss for purpose. 

Ultimately something had to be said. So all the students did their best to communicate on a piece of paper, using drawings and the word "squaw"  next it, what had actually been said. Obviously none of the students wanted to be the one who handed to her. Much to their amazement they were able to fold the piece of paper 7 times then someone was brave enough to hand the teacher the note.

Keeping in mind that every teacher that these students had known would have reacted badly to this note. To their surprise the teacher got bright red in the face and began to cry. As Tom Porter was telling us this story he was clearly impassioned as tears streamed down his face. This one teacher made such a profound change in his life to the point where he stopped hating white people. This teacher apologised from the bottom of her heart and hugged the children. One teacher can make such a different in a child life.

What this account reminded me was that teachers need to be as aware as possible, but also be genuine in the face of making mistakes. Its ok to make mistakes. If you can take a mistake and turn it into a teachable moment you make such an impact on students. Students will model that approach to learning and be less tentative in being participants in the class room. It creates an atmosphere of trust because they recognise that you care enough to make things right, rather than perpetuating the "do as I say, not as I do" approach.

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