When one reads Margolis’s book one gets the impression that there is an understood sense of segregation that is not talked about and that maintains inequality. This inequality perpetuates students of color not to enroll in advanced coding classes. Margolis also points out teachers’ assumptions about their students and how these assumptions affect the students’ belief in themselves. This inequality repeats itself year after year, hence minorities are left in the shallow end of computing.
A few similar problems existed in the school that I teach in that are in the book Stuck in the Shallow End By Jane Margolis. Minorities did not have the opportunities that they have today. For the first time this year exploring computer science is offered in our school. The classes are packed, thank God most students are interested in the subject, but you always get a few that could care less. That makes the class very challenging for the instructor. The way I deal with those types of problems is by killing them with kindness and making them laugh. It is no wonder I come home exhausted. Educating and entertaining is not easy but it seems to work.
This was the first year in the twenty one years that I have been at our school that we have received new computers from the board. Maybe Margolis’s book made a difference which I think is a step in the direction of ending inequality and changing the system. The key now is to keep the students interested, motivated and educated in this new field, but also making them think about making it a career choice. This responsibility is great; I sometimes wonder why it was given to me? I guess Moses felt the same way. So I will do my best, my motivation is Margolis’s book. My students will no longer wade in the shallow end.