The Exploitation and Social Exclusion of Individuals

My instructor posed the following question:

The exploitation and social exclusion of individuals based on race, gender, ethnicity, social class, sexual orientation, etc. is a phenomenon that prevailed in Jefferson’s time and is still apparent today.  Discuss how this notion of exclusion is evident in our contemporary system of education.  In your view, how can educators best address this phenomenon?

I will post my thoughts on it... Tell me what you think?

Let's imagine that Jefferson was a deeply devout student of Aristotle and not someone that simply read his works. Let's also imagine that no one knew any other way of life than what was established in Aristotle's time which was then continued or reflected in Jefferson's time. Why then are the thought process incorrect? Why would anyone believe that individuals were actually being excluded? If the thought ever came to mind, WHO was being excluded? It was natural for women, children, slaves, and non-citizens not to have a voice. Was the notion accepted? Who brought up the point that things should be different?

The background is highly important. The thought processes cannot change if no one thought that anything was wrong in the first place.

Case in point, I was raised by my great-grandfather. He was 55 years old when he took me in early in the 70's. By that time, he himself endured massive social exclusion based primarily on ethnicity and social class. He still taught me that it was never ok to hate or want to get revenge based on what was done to another. Instead, he expected me to UNDERSTAND the training that each person actually received from their parents, teachers, and society itself. If they knew no better, they could never do any better. They conformed to what was the status quo- or what was expected, or taught socially. I am so totally amazed, because the man who taught me this only had a 3rd grade education. He never was taught Aristotle, yet understood that society itself shaped the education, schooling, and training of all human beings.

How is this evident today? Let's look as something simple. In the state of Texas, what is the make-up of its demographics? How does the ethnicity of the state mirror those that govern it? Is it equal?

What about those who are making legislative decisions regarding education? How many educators are actually involved? Of those that are, what are the disparities regarding race, ethnicity, social class, sexual orientation, etc? Is there really an equal distribution?

Bringing that thought pattern down to an individual classroom- how can teachers address this? First of all, they must understand it. If you ask the modern teacher if they believed there were still levels of social exclusion, they would most likely say no. Why? I would venture to believe that they are answering based on their own individual believe system and not the overarching ideal of the community, district, state, or country. They see things in their own individual viewpoints and rarely take on the more global aspects of teaching. In order for them to address this issue, they have to broaden their thinking. Then they will be able to challenge the thinking of their students.