Group Differences Forum

My group chose to read the article "Kill Santa: Religious Diversity and the Winter Holiday Problem" by Özlem Sensoy for this assignment. The article discusses oppression and privilege in our society and how we deal with those issues. The first thing that it mentions is the "Christmas problem." Sensoy gives various examples of how Chritmas or Christmas-like celebrations are prevalent in Vancouver schools. Rarely, are there representations of other cultural winter holiday celebrations which is interesting because Vancouver has a high immigrant and minority population. The article also points out that even though these structures are in place in schools, they are adamant about not using the word "Christmas."

Sensoy also brings up the issue if discrimination in this article. Discrimination is "the preferential treatment of one/some over another/others."  The author also points out that our society is set up in a way that only accommodates "normal" individuals. Because of this, certain groups are automatically given privilege that others do not have. These groups include, but are not limited to: the able-bodied, men, and people who are right-handed.  The logic behind this is that the majority should be accommodated. However, if you take a look at the actual facts, there are more women in the world and more poor and working people who society does not always cater to. According to the article, the individuAls who have the most privilege in our society are White, male, and Christian. Theses individuals also have the most power.

The article also talks about the different levels of oppression. Individual/personal oppression can be discriminatory acts or belief such as considering non-Christian faiths to be inferior. The cultural/social level of oppression includes practices that have been normalized by the dominant group such as banning same-sex marriage. The institutional/structural level of oppression is seen through governmental, educational, and other policies. 

As far as a solution to the problems mentioned in the article, the author suggests that we "make things visible" as an act of resistance against our social structures. Those who are in privileged groups should take action. We must accept that religious oppression (as well as other types of oppression) is everywhere. We need to become comfortable enough to discuss these issues and develop the skills to cope with or change them.

Some questions that I have after reading this article are:

• Why do schools place such a high focus on Christmas during the winter holidays but neglect to equally portray other cultural celebrations?
• What can be done to change the present state of social power so that all people are accommodated for by the society in which we live?
• In what specific ways can individuals combat the winter holiday problem and other similar societal issues?

Barb Rentenbach

The presentation today was really informative and gave me a new perspective of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Barb Rentenbach and her book definitely changed my view of those with autism. She is very intelligent and had a lot of really great things to share with the audience. Barb believes that there are benefits to autism and that it adds to the diversity in our world. She also writes in her book that there is a flip side to every neurological coin and that autism is just a type of neurology.  I think that this is a very positive way to look at autism. Barb does not let her disability stop her from making a difference in our society. She believes that people should "find out who they are, and be that on purpose." I think that this is a great quote for everyone to live by.

After attending this presentation, I will take Barb's suggestion and focus on my students strengths. It is crucial for teachers to meet students where they are so that they can offer them an adequate education that will meet their needs. It is also important to keep in mind that there is no standard brain and that each student is unique in their own way. I will definitely work to get to know my students and how they learn.

Something else that I learned from Barb's SS, Lois,  was that she learns from the people that she serves. In order to help them, she finds out where there are comfortable and uses that information to reach out to them. I believe that this is another strategy that teachers need to take into consideration, not only when working with students who have autism, but for all of their students.

I acquired a lot of new information during the presentation and I believe that it was very relevant to the teaching profession. I am glad that I got to learn about Barb and her experiences and plan to learn more about autism and other disorders so that I can better serve my future students.