My name is Nishimwe Charirote and I graduated high school in the year of 2017. In high school I wanted to do psychology so when I got to college I majored in psychology and later did a minor in sociology. I want to be a mental counselor, so I am a pursuing a master's degree in mental health counseling.
Questions
1) If you remember how was it like learning about the topic of slavery in High School or middle school? Approximately how long did your teachers take to teach the topic, was it a day, a week, or just like a few minutes.
From what I remember, we did not spend that much time on it and maybe I could say that it was at least for 3 weeks. However, they mainly taught the history of slavery (where it started and how it started/the benefits that came along with the idea of slavery).
2) What do you think about the US School system, do you think it has favorites, my favorites I mean, do you think it has the students that they want to succeed.
The US school system is a system built to teach its obedient citizens; therefore, it does have those type of students that they only want to succeed, and they are usually white students. All US school systems have this “hidden curriculum” that is meant to underlie a curriculum designed to reflect and promote the interests of the dominant class. Therefore, the US system favors the dominant class which causes them to educate children on necessary such as long systemic racism or the history of African Americans, Asians, and other ethnic groups in America. In my opinion, the US school system is not the best right now in terms of the education they provide and how they are insensitive to the topic of racism and teaching the children in ways that is not bias or only by favoring the dominant class (I.e., white people).
3) I understand you are a Psychology major, with a minor in sociology. Can you shed some light on the school system based on what you have learned?
I am currently taking SOC 327, and it focuses on race/ethnic relations. Based on what I have been learning so far, I would say that the school system or education in general is highly segregated which makes the minorities receive bad education. What I mean is that every neighborhood we are in is regulated using redlining and those who are in the red zone are dangerous, therefore, those in the red zone are not funded well as those who are in the green zone (I.e., white people). This is modern segregation.
4) In what ways do you think the US School System has failed to teach about slavery?
I think the main reason as to why the US school system has failed to teach about slavery is because America is not ready to be honest or bear the cost of it all. It is also telling people that they used slavery to control the black people and even if they were free, they used the loophole in the 13th amendment to make them slaves again but with using crime to lock them up. So, America is not ready for that conversation.
5) What can be done for the schools to change the curriculum and even if they did, do you think students will begin to be more open and understanding about slavery, or would their parents get in the way of them being taught about it in school?
What needs to be done first is to be honest and teach people the true history of everything instead of talking about the dominant race only and how the dominant race has benefited off the nondominant race(s). Students will understand more about slavery, but it is parents and society that will get in the way of that knowledge.
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