Poutama Pounamu Online Module

Module 1 Agentic Responses to the Fabric of NZ Society - Reflection

Kete 1: Conscious and unconscious prejudice  

Kete 2: Considering student voice  

Kete 3: Considering the teacher's role

What do you know about ‘unconscious prejudice’ and how it influences how you
respond and act? This is the first activity I have undertaken as part of a Ākonga
involved in ‘Poutama Pounamu’, an online learning environment.

I honestly thought that I was doing okay when it came to neutralising conscious
prejudices but when I was confronted with “The Choice” by Robyn Kahukiwa and
two cartoons that have been published in newspapers

Painting:

(From Poutama Pounamu, 2018)

I came to realise I wasn’t as ‘clean’ as I thought. I shared what I could see in
“The Choice” - the use of symbolism, colour, composition and how this suggested
the conflict the young Māori girl had between her Māori world and the pakeha world
that her family wanted her to be part of. However when I looked at the cartoons next,
it was brought to my attention that I had interpreted the subjects as Māori when on
closer inspection they were not of ‘brown’ but peach colouring.

Further conversation centred around relationships and how I thought we did better ‘job’
at primary level (pronouncing names correctly, using the correct vocab, exploring
protocols and processes in response to my Māori students). I was taken aback at my
unconscious prejudice and how I brought my preconceptions to the activity without realising
I was doing this. This led me to question if and how my unconscious prejudices influence
my teaching! However I have no real idea of what this looks like or how to find out,
hence the learning journey I am now on.

I am only just beginning to realise that being culturally responsive and inclusive goes
well beyond what we are doing presently. It is the whole process rather than a ‘thing’
that we do. I need to think about how I respond in a culturally responsive manner –
realising that what I know influences the way I build relationships and what I think is
appropriate may very well not be. I need to consider what is sitting under my response
and why I feel that way. My depth of knowledge and understanding needs to deepen.
I need to

·   Continue the conversations about equity, excellence and belonging with others.

·   Work with others to effect change in our learning environment.

·   Work to change my practice through research and experience.

It is a bloody uncomfortable place to be at present!

Reflection Questions

Question 1 -To what extent did you value the opportunity to engage in this group
activity?

I found the opportunity to engage in this group activity extremely valuable. I had not
considered that I had unconscious prejudices, bringing my preconceptions without
realising, through my choice of vocabulary. Being presented with thought-provoking
images and discussion points has led me to wonder how my unconscious prejudices
influence my teaching - what does this look like and how do I find out more? I need to
challenge myself to become more alert and aware of experiences that contribute to my
understanding of words, images, actions and language within the relationships I am
building with my Māori learners and their whānau. The group activity has definitely
sparked my curiosity to find out more.

Question 2 - To what extent will you do the following as a result of the group activity?

Question 3 - Two key ideas you are taking from this activity:

My first key idea is to read further - in particular, "Healing Our History, The Challenge of
the Treaty of Waitangi" by Robert Consedine and Joanna Consedine. Accessing more
research material available on the Poutama Pounamu site will also help me make sense
of how unconscious prejudice influences and impacts on schools. I need a deeper
understanding of what has come before and the impact it has on today and how Māori
see themselves.

My second key idea is become more open to how my unconscious prejudice influences
my teaching  - what this looks like in my everyday actions and how I might make small
changes. I'm not sure what this will look like and how I will do it but I feel that reading
"Healing Our History, The Challenge of the Treaty of Waitangi" by Robert Consedine and
Joanna Consedine will provide some insight for me to make sense of this.

Question 4 - Actions I and others intend to undertake as a result:

I would like to use the material shared with us to initiate staff discussion around our
unconscious prejudices and how we bring our preconceptions without realising. In
particular the use of visual resources such as "The Choice" by Robyn Kahukiwa. I felt
this was powerful way of beginning discussions around what we see, think and wonder -
each of us has a different way of seeing what is in front of us and being able to listen to
others thinking can often add to ours. We may not agree but we are still listening to others
(hopefully!).