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Educator Tips in Coronavirus Times
Following many months of increased xenophobia and racism towards the Asian community world-wide, the virus may now have a real presence in the Bay Area. Lowell High School has announced closure. Hand sanitizer is being sold online for crazy amounts of money. Public panic mixed with capitalism can easily increase the blood pressure of a sloth (if you know me, I really love sloths). I have cancelled my trip to the Bay Area this weekend, not out of real fears of catching the virus, but of travel restrictions and avoidance of the dangers of traveling while Asian during this time of mass panic and hysteria.
As an educator, this time should be of heightened concern to you. Student anxieties will be increased. Fear is a trigger for increased prejudice and racism. As psychologist and political advisor Dr. Reneé Carr says, “When one race of persons unconsciously feels fear in response to a different race group — fears that their own level of security, importance, or control is being threatened — they will develop these defensive thoughts and behaviors. They will create exaggerated and negative beliefs about the other race to justify their actions in [an] attempt to secure their own safety and survival.” As coronavirus fears increase, so will racist incidents as people start to fear for their own health. We need to balance messages of safety and diligence in health care with messages of…
