ideal... I understand why this matter troubles you... first a coupla-few questions:
have you taken a look at what it is that the child is seeing in this white teacher? is there some sort of reinforcement that this child is receiving from this white teacher that has been devoid in her development? (i.e. -- positive reinforcement)
Is there MORE you can do to be of better counsel to these children that you haven’t thought necessary until you witnessed the situation? Are you lacking in some way that would help propagate your insecurities here?
If the answers are big AZZ NOs – (as I am sure they are) then I ask further…
perhaps you feel angst because you think that you aren't providing something you
should but know that you really do attempt to provide?? This may cause some guilt on your part – and thus your question. Sometimes I feel guilty with my son because he just loves the living crap outta his teacher... it makes me remember all of the times I've silenced his play b.c I was tired, or perhaps said "NO" to something because we "didn't have time"... Ms. Sara ALWAYS has time, she rarely says "no" and she doesn't live with my son... He needs to also learn that Mommy’s needs are important too. He needs to learn that, under most circumstances, the FAMILY is more important than any one person in it.
Your situation is similar.
Like Carla said, what you have to offer these girls is different than that of the average white teacher. Well, she didn't say
that -- but I know that's part of what she meant...
YOU are a BLACK woman... honestly -- have many of these girls seen a truly positive BLACK woman in a position of authority over them?? Think about the homes that the black girls in your care quite possibly come from.
If they had the most positive/stable black mothers/aunts/grandmothers out there (like me --
) -- would they be under YOUR care? Their PERSONAL History accounted for -- should they trust and admire YOU
with or
b/c of your black skin? Their PERSONAL History accounted for -- are you the better candidate for look-upmanship?
(I know, "look-upmanship" is not a word) Prolly not...
They will have to grow into that. Keep doing what you're doing. For them you are, more than likely, the first of your kind – they don’t know WHAT to do with you. Some of them may even struggle with the love they undoubtedly have for you. You are the first of a hopeful MANY -- the rest of us are trying too...