"He's White"

We had parent teacher conferences last week (Wednesday) and again, I had only about half of my students parents show up. Conferences are weird, in that, the parents that show up are most often the ones you don't need to talk with about their son or daughter.

I did have a couple parents show up that I was happy to see make it, and I was able to talk to them about their child. For most of my students, behavior in the classroom and effort (inside and outside of the classroom) are the two biggest hindrances to their success. A lot of my students are capable of doing well in school... it is just a challenge for me to get them to "want" to do well in school. That is the conversation that takes place between the students parent (or guardian in most cases) and myself (well... translator and myself in most cases).

A funny moment happened on Wednesday when an entire family (dad, three little girls, and one little boy) all came in to meet with me. I knew almost all of the family, as I had one of the little girls and the boy in science lab before moving to fifth grade. It was nice to see them and to say "hi." Once we all sat down and the girls father and I began talking I saw the littlest of the girls (the one that is not in school yet) lean over as if she was going to whisper something. I didn't have to try to hear her whisper, because shortly after she put her hand up I heard her tell her older sister "He's white!?" The father looked at me a little speechless and then said something to the little girl in Spanish. He spoke very fast so I had no way of translating or looking it up later. The girl put her hand down quickly and didn't say another word for the whole conference.

I was thinking a little after this incident. I might actually be the first "white person" this little girl has actually come in contact with. If she is three or four, she might not have left the neighborhood she lives in, and I am definitely the minority around the school. I don't think I am the first white guy she has met, but if not that, I am not really sure why the comment.

Maybe she had heard her brother and sisters talk about me and just assumed I was Hispanic, the predominate race of the neighborhood. Anyway... I thought it was interesting and worth sharing... I am not used to being referred to by race, but when you are a minority in an area it tends to happen. This is not the first time I have been referred to as being "white" or "the white guy." When your skin color is what makes you different, I guess it is easiest to describe you to others by that difference. I don't take offense at all because I don't think it is meant to be hurtful in anyway.