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From: Debbie Reese <d-reese>
Date: Fri, 15 Oct 1999 13:30:52 -0500
Hmmm.... I didn't mean to imply that they should be banned, but I don't think they can be read in the classroom as literature.
Yes, children are smarter than we think. But let's not forget that they can be hurt. I have no doubt that reading thru the book, Susan D. didn't see anything negative. But let's do a page-by-page consideration of what is happening to the Native child who is reading the first book.
Maia compiled these excerpts (thanks, Maia!):
pg 137 "The naked wild men stood by the fireplace."... "Laura ran toward Ma, but just as she reached the hearth she smelled a horribly bad smell and looked up at the Indians."
does the Native child feel, would you suppose, when hearing this read by her teacher, or her classmates, or by herself, silently?
pg 211 "She hoped to goodness they would have no trouble with Indians. Mr. Scott had heard rumors of trouble. She said 'Land knows, they'd never do anything with this country themselves. All they do is roam around over it like wild animals. Treaties or no treaties, the lands belongs to folks that'll farm it. That's only common sense and justice.' She did not know why the government made treaties with Indians. The only good Indian was a dead Indian..."
about that line "The only good Indian was a dead Indian..." how does the Native child feel?
pg 233 "Those Indians were dirty and scowling and mean..."
this one? Dirty and scowling and mean...
I could go on thru Maia's excerpts, asking the same question each time, but what if we develop this in another way----could anyone on the list describe how they, as teacher or librarian, would read this book aloud to a Native child? This isn't a rhetorical or a mean-spirited question. I am reasonably certain that there are teachers and/or librarians on the list who have read the book aloud to groups which have included a Native child. If he/she has a technique or approach they feel works without embarrassing the Native child, I think we could all benefit from hearing about it.
Debbie
_________________________________ Debbie Reese, Doctoral Student Dept. of Curriculum and Instruction College of Education, University of Illinois Champaign, IL 61820
Telephone: 217$4?86 Fax: 217$4E72 Email: d-reese at uiuc.edu
Received on Fri 15 Oct 1999 01:30:52 PM CDT
Date: Fri, 15 Oct 1999 13:30:52 -0500
Hmmm.... I didn't mean to imply that they should be banned, but I don't think they can be read in the classroom as literature.
Yes, children are smarter than we think. But let's not forget that they can be hurt. I have no doubt that reading thru the book, Susan D. didn't see anything negative. But let's do a page-by-page consideration of what is happening to the Native child who is reading the first book.
Maia compiled these excerpts (thanks, Maia!):
pg 137 "The naked wild men stood by the fireplace."... "Laura ran toward Ma, but just as she reached the hearth she smelled a horribly bad smell and looked up at the Indians."
does the Native child feel, would you suppose, when hearing this read by her teacher, or her classmates, or by herself, silently?
pg 211 "She hoped to goodness they would have no trouble with Indians. Mr. Scott had heard rumors of trouble. She said 'Land knows, they'd never do anything with this country themselves. All they do is roam around over it like wild animals. Treaties or no treaties, the lands belongs to folks that'll farm it. That's only common sense and justice.' She did not know why the government made treaties with Indians. The only good Indian was a dead Indian..."
about that line "The only good Indian was a dead Indian..." how does the Native child feel?
pg 233 "Those Indians were dirty and scowling and mean..."
this one? Dirty and scowling and mean...
I could go on thru Maia's excerpts, asking the same question each time, but what if we develop this in another way----could anyone on the list describe how they, as teacher or librarian, would read this book aloud to a Native child? This isn't a rhetorical or a mean-spirited question. I am reasonably certain that there are teachers and/or librarians on the list who have read the book aloud to groups which have included a Native child. If he/she has a technique or approach they feel works without embarrassing the Native child, I think we could all benefit from hearing about it.
Debbie
_________________________________ Debbie Reese, Doctoral Student Dept. of Curriculum and Instruction College of Education, University of Illinois Champaign, IL 61820
Telephone: 217$4?86 Fax: 217$4E72 Email: d-reese at uiuc.edu
Received on Fri 15 Oct 1999 01:30:52 PM CDT
