aseanational.org

Our very own Guybe Slangen gets published in the Independent Journal. His reflections about private school privilege can inspire us to think about other types of privilege, especially those affecting Asian Pacific Islander educators.

Unpacking My Knapsack: A Closer Look at Private School Privilege

by Guybe Slangen

"You get to travel, and get PAID for it?!" This is usually the reaction that I get from people after I explain what I have been doing during my summers "off." As the saying goes, "The top three reasons for being a teacher are June, July, and August." and I have taken advantage of that precious time by taking groups of students all over the globe. I teach at a private school in Oakland, CA and for the past seven summers I have taken my students on three-week adventures through China and Thailand. Although draining at times, these trips are an incredible learning experience for all. Many people also wonder how I can keep going back to the same places year after year. To that I always reply, "Because of the students." It sounds cliché, but it is the look on their faces when they try new food, or make friends with locals without speaking the same language, or when they feel the quiet intensity of a Buddhist temple, that has kept me going all these years. These are all things that need to be experienced first hand, and are impossible to replicate in the traditional classroom setting. After organizing these trips for so long, however, it’s hard not to begin seeing them as routine at times, or to lose perspective on what an amazing opportunity this is - one many students and adults alike can only dream of taking. For many in private schools, trips like these are just one of many privileges that come with the territory, and often it is these privileges that can open many doors in the future. At the same time though, these privileges can blind us to the experiences of others much less fortunate. One night a few years ago, I was reminded of this privilege we enjoy as members of the private school world, and it stands out as a defining moment for me, both personally and professionally.