Beyond Ms. Mason

          After watching the Netflix documentary 13th directed by Ava Duvernay as well as watching  the Ted Talk “ How we’re priming some kids for college and others for prison ” by Alice Goffman and then reading the recommendations section from the policy report “ Law and Order in School and Society: How Discipline and Policing Policies Harm Students of Color, and What We Can Do About It ” written by Janelle T. Scott and others a clear theme emerges for me: people of color in America are seen as criminals. Moreover, the concept that people of color are seen as criminals (regardless of committing a crime or not) is one that has been manufactured and maintained throughout history by people with influence, namely our politicians.  Specifically, 13th begins by explaining how the thirteenth amendment has been utilized as a “tool” and “loophole” that politicians use to maintain the economy as much as possible to match the productivity and free labor...

          After completing the coursework for this week’s class, I am left wanting to know more about the links between early childhood experiences (as well as prenatal experiences) and the trajectory of one’s life. This line of thinking started first with my viewing of the episode “ In Sickness and in Wealth ” from the TV series, Unnatural Causes . Essentially, this episode demonstrates that in America there is an insidious connection between one’s socioeconomic status, race, and life expectancy. Early on in the episode the narrator shares that with diseases like “diabetes--low income Americans have twice the rate of disease as the affluent and for those in the middle classes it’s still almost twice the rate. A similar pattern holds true for stroke [and] heart disease” (11:35-11:46). Essentially then, people with low socioeconomic statuses are at a higher risk for chronic diseases. According to the episode, the reason for the disproportionate rates of ill...

I am a teacher who stan ds up for equity against  injustice , who is in favor of inclusion against systems of discrimin ation , who is a supporter of diver sity against practices of segregation , and who is a defender of access for all students against exclusionary practices . I am a teacher who favors the permanent struggle against unfair practices that keep "those kids" out and against the stereotypes that follow the label a student has been given, be it from a teacher, doctor, caregiver, or specialist . I am a teacher who rejects copy room talk, because this seemingly innocuous act is responsible for creating biases that cloud the minds of well-intentioned teachers and keep them from seeing a student for who he/she/they really are . I am a teacher full of idealism , in spite of a world that is filled with cynics and nay-sayers . I am a teacher who refuses to give up, even when others tell me to stop trying . I am a teacher proud of the differences . If I do not strugg...

Hi, my name is Alyssa Mason. I am a twenty-something, native Rhode Islander who is a full-time cat mom and school teacher.  Like any self-respecting Rhode Islander, I have completed all major life moments thus far in this state. From grades K-12 I attended public schools in Pawtucket, RI and then attended the University of Rhode Island from 2010-2015 in Kingston, RI. After college, I started my first "adult" job with the non-profit  City Year Providence  at Pleasant View Elementary School  and after two years of service joined  Teach for America Rhode Island  (TFA-RI). With TFA-RI, I  began my current role as a high school special education teacher at  Mount Pleasant High School  in Providence, RI.  In the midst of teaching and all that comes with educating our youth, I was lucky enough to find myself falling in love with someone I can now call my fiancé. Like me, he is also a good Rhode Islander, albeit a transplant from the Bronx,...