top of page

Moving Beyond Doing School: Quick Tips for a Successful School Year

BGDBlogEditor

By: Reshma Ramkellawan-Arteaga


It’s back-to-school season for young people around the world. Parents and children alike are both anxious and eager about the experiences awaiting them within those hallowed halls. Teachers, too, are experiencing first-day jitters as they consider the students in their care. They might find themselves wondering about their students’ academic readiness, behavioral needs, and parental expectations. Both parties share similar concerns but express them differently based on their roles. A new school year brings new opportunities and fresh beginnings.


In 99.9% of Indo-Caribbean homes, you will undoubtedly hear the phrase, “They can take everything from you, but they can’t take your education.” This phrase has even found its way into some high school yearbooks. The sentiment reflects a deep truth for many: it’s a narrative that immigrants were told as they moved from a colonized homeland to a colonizer’s country. The message was clear—if you work hard, pull yourself up by your bootstraps, and focus on education, you might experience upward mobility. In my experience working with at least 15 Caribbean educators as an instructional coach, this message is deeply rooted in our practice. However, what’s missing from this narrative of meritocracy is an understanding of the debunked model minority myth that is often imposed on Indo-Caribbean students. Well-meaning educators often assume that we are studious, quiet, follow rules, and respect authority. Yet, what’s overlooked is the subtle but essential structures that lead to success and happiness. Many of our parents’ generation were unaware of this, as they existed in a perpetual state of survival. As we raise our own children and send them into a similar system that has changed little despite years of innovation, there are a few things we might consider doing differently.


  • Encourage Balance: Memes on the internet often depict Caribbean parents scolding their children for appearing idle or not doing something productive. Unfortunately, these images contain some truth. The psychological impact of this mindset is that many children grow up to become hyper-performing, perfectionist adults who struggle to rest meaningfully. Schools often reinforce this expectation. Speaking from experience as both a learner and an instructional leader, it’s essential to recognize that sometimes it’s okay to do nothing and simply rest—both mentally and physically.


  • Cultivate Joy: Education scholar and activist Gholdy Muhammad notes that joy is often absent from most schools and curricula. Content is typically taught to maintain specific systems and codes of knowledge. While we may have limited control over the content students encounter in schools, we can find supplemental resources that allow students to make contemporary connections. For example, podcasts like Wow in the World or Who, When, Wow are engaging, entertaining, and often align with elementary school content.

  • Friends Dem: There’s always concern about the friendship circles our children might gravitate toward—a concern shared by our parents’ generation. This concern is valid, as young people are psychologically susceptible to external influences. However, building a strong network of relationships is one of the most influential factors for success. These networks, formed over the years, teach essential socialization practices and provide valuable support.


  • Seek Support Despite Stigma: Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) allow students to receive the support they need based on their readiness. To obtain an IEP, students must undergo assessments based on perceptions of their academic or socio-emotional needs. Many parents struggle with this process due to fear and shame, often rooted in intergenerational trauma, that they haven’t done enough. However, if a child has had access to a loving, literacy-rich environment, there’s no shame in seeking a little extra support. While it’s essential to be cautious about over-evaluating Black and Brown children for IEPs due to cognitive biases, it’s equally important to recognize the benefits of receiving necessary support. Both truths can coexist.


  • Advocate! Teachers and educators are held in high cultural esteem, despite some lingering concerns about the profession. As a parent or caregiver, it’s crucial to remember that there’s no such thing as over-advocating for your child. Parents know their children best, so mutual collaboration with educators will ensure that our children are supported in the most impactful ways.


Wishing you a happy and healthy school year!

10 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comentarios


  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
Brown Gyal Diary is an international organization creating a space that contributes to the mental wellbeing of Indo-Caribbean young women. Through collective action, we are exploring cultural identity to better understand ourselves. Through creative content, community engagement, and advocacy projects, we are defining what it means to be Indo-Caribbean through our own stories. Indo-Caribbeans reside all over the world; some of which have the ability to belong, and some of us are positioned in parts of the world where we have no access to cultural understanding or unity within our community. Brown Gyal Diary provides both worldwide awareness through our digital footprint and affirmative action through our desire to provide a safe space for Indo-Caribbean women. 

Subscribe to our newsletter

Thanks for subscribing!

© 2023 by Brown Gyal Diary

bottom of page