Hi everyone! My name is Rachel Cleary and I am a first year Chemistry Teacher at Blackstone Valley Prep High School in Cumberland. I am from Albany, New York and I moved to Providence a little under two years ago. In my spare time, I like to dance, do puzzles, and explore my new home state; Rhode Island. I spend a lot of time with my friends and family, but unfortunately my ability to do that recently is hindered.
Manifesto-
I am a teacher who stands up for all students and their right to a good free public education, who is in favor of highlighting my students cultures opposed to white-washing them, who is an ally of people of color in a white dominant world, and who is a defender of students with varying abilities in a school system set up for the able-bodied and able-minded. I am a teacher who favors the permanent struggle against oppression and all the -isms. I am a teacher who fully believes in the power of my students, in spite of their young age. I am a teacher who refuses to believe that my voice is more important than theirs. I am a teacher proud of my student's resilience in a world designed for them to fail. If I do not continue to learn and grow alongside my students, then I will no longer be worthy of my position of power as an educator.
HI Rachel,
ReplyDeleteWelcome to our class!I'm also new-ish to RI (especially by RI standards) -- moved here from NYC in 2015. There certainly are a lot of great things here to explore.
I really appreciate in your manifesto how you point to how our education system has ableist foundations that inform its design, structure, practices, etc. Indeed, as the social model of disability reminds us, the "problem" is not the person but rather the institution and its norms. We'll be digging into this more later in the semester -- I look forward to your contributions.
Thanks,
Dr. Benson
Hi Rachel!
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to meet you and hear that you are a fellow science teacher. I relate to that last sentence of your introduction a lot - hopefully this passes soon. I also appreciate that you focused on the structural issues that exist and force an unjust education system upon our students. I look forwarding to hearing your thoughts in class!! :)