Conclusion

This is a great book. We Can't Teach What We Don't Know talks about a lot of difficult issues, but also talks about how important White educators are in schools today. It is just like the title says, we really cannot teach what we do not know. My perspectives have changed after reading this book because it is good to know that it is ok to be a White teacher. Hating White culture does not mean you are a better teacher. I have always struggled with how talk about this in schools because I am a White girl who was raised in a very "White" culture. I think that this book has changed my view because now I understand that I can be a White educator and be effective in diverse schools. There is such a need for highly qualified and willing teachers to go into schools like this. The book talks about bringing about change. I hope that our generation can start to bring about change, not only in the test scores of students, but in the way that diverse schools are viewed.

Some of the things that I still may struggle with is how this can actually work. I think that going to Kenya in the spring will be a huge part of my journey through this. I hope that my education will grow and I will have new perspectives. I am going to be the only White person in my school as far as I know. It will be incredibly different. I want to put myself in that situation so I can understand how my students feel. If there are students with disabilities, I want to be able to connect with them. I may not be able to understand some things, some of the culture, some of the language, but I know that is how some students feel every day!

Throughout my education, I have learned a lot about diversity in schools and students. I think that books like this can only keep helping me in my journey. One thing that I believe very strongly is that teachers are never not students. Teachers need to learn every day. Reading books like this widens my perspective and therefore can make me a better teacher. My next step in regards to diversity will be going to Kenya in three months. I will be taking a step into something very unknown. I will be starting a blog about my experience. I hope that through this blog I can help others as well as help myself process my journey and growth that I will experience.