About Teachers and Teaching: Ethnic Prejudice: Still Alive and Hurtful

Abstract

Valerie Pang describes the existence of ethnic prejudice in the educational community and examines the processes by which she became aware of such prejudice. Through a compelling description of various experiences in the classroom, she identifies the different assumptions and stereotypes that commonly pass unnoticed by both teachers and students. Her reflection of how prejudicial beliefs are unintentionally reinforced in our classrooms uncovers the need for self-examination in the educational community. Pang suggests that through commitment and self-appraisal, teachers can and should be leaders in overcoming ethnic prejudice.