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Re: Clarification
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From: Sheila Welch <sheilawelch_at_juno.com>
Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2011 19:06:58 -0500
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Hello,
Now I need to clarify my statement. I have been saving these posts because they concern a topic of interest to me, but, so far, I have skimmed only a few. In my comments, I was simply reacting to Monica's post about expectations. I was not implying that anyone on this list acts in the manner I described. But I've been guilty of at least feeling "shocked, bewildered, and even disapproving" when children are unfamiliar with events or issues that I believe should be common knowledge. Over many years as a teacher, parent, and grandparent, I've discovered that showing or expressing my inner feelings creates resentment, which doesn't help kids learn. Reminding myself of times when I've been the ignorant one has made me modify my reactions to children.
I just read Christine's comments and agree with her on so many points.
Our oldest son said, "How come when we finally get a Black Disney princess, she's a frog for most of the movie?"
I'm looking forward to reading all the posts on this topic.
Sheila
On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 11:06:34 -0500 Sheila Welch writes: Monica makes a good point. Expecting children -- or anyone -- to know something that they don't know (or remember being taught) and then acting shocked, bewildered, and even disapproving can be unproductive. How do I feel when someone says, "You never heard of _________?" Well, I feel
stupid, ignorant, embarrassed, and not exactly in the right frame of mind to learn anything. On the other hand, children do know a lot more than we adults might assume. I think many children are aware of the rules and laws that restricted Blacks in the south, but they don't know the term "Jim Crow." There are some truly wonderful books that can be used to help children of various ages understand that era in US history. Has there been a discussion on this list about fiction and nonfiction on this topic? I checked the archives and didn't see a topic such as "African Americans," "Civil Rights Era," or "Jim Crow" listed. I realize other discussions include these books, but it would be interesting to focus on them in particular.
Sheila Author/Illustrator
On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 11:01:19 -0400 Monica Edinger writes: I had someone write me privately concerned about my final statement, " "My suggestion is to just not expect them to know much or anything and take it from there." And so just let me clarify that this was meant to encourage an openness to children, to get away from blaming teachers for what their charges learned or didn't learn, know or don't know. Kids know tons, but my feeling is Tony and any author coming into a wide variety of schools cannot be certain of the specifics and be prepared to provide the background they need if necessary. If I were Tony I might begin by asking, "What can you tell me about Martin Luther King Jr?", "Rosa Parks?" (Just because these are the most likely familiar names to them as a starting point.) Their answers would help me to know where to go next. That is, maybe they'd give a sense they did know something of Jim Crow and then I might ask them about that. Or if they knew little, I'd fill in the necessary information to th en go on to talk more specifically about Lunch-Box Dream.
Monica
Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2011 19:06:58 -0500
This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand
Hello,
Now I need to clarify my statement. I have been saving these posts because they concern a topic of interest to me, but, so far, I have skimmed only a few. In my comments, I was simply reacting to Monica's post about expectations. I was not implying that anyone on this list acts in the manner I described. But I've been guilty of at least feeling "shocked, bewildered, and even disapproving" when children are unfamiliar with events or issues that I believe should be common knowledge. Over many years as a teacher, parent, and grandparent, I've discovered that showing or expressing my inner feelings creates resentment, which doesn't help kids learn. Reminding myself of times when I've been the ignorant one has made me modify my reactions to children.
I just read Christine's comments and agree with her on so many points.
Our oldest son said, "How come when we finally get a Black Disney princess, she's a frog for most of the movie?"
I'm looking forward to reading all the posts on this topic.
Sheila
On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 11:06:34 -0500 Sheila Welch writes: Monica makes a good point. Expecting children -- or anyone -- to know something that they don't know (or remember being taught) and then acting shocked, bewildered, and even disapproving can be unproductive. How do I feel when someone says, "You never heard of _________?" Well, I feel
stupid, ignorant, embarrassed, and not exactly in the right frame of mind to learn anything. On the other hand, children do know a lot more than we adults might assume. I think many children are aware of the rules and laws that restricted Blacks in the south, but they don't know the term "Jim Crow." There are some truly wonderful books that can be used to help children of various ages understand that era in US history. Has there been a discussion on this list about fiction and nonfiction on this topic? I checked the archives and didn't see a topic such as "African Americans," "Civil Rights Era," or "Jim Crow" listed. I realize other discussions include these books, but it would be interesting to focus on them in particular.
Sheila Author/Illustrator
On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 11:01:19 -0400 Monica Edinger writes: I had someone write me privately concerned about my final statement, " "My suggestion is to just not expect them to know much or anything and take it from there." And so just let me clarify that this was meant to encourage an openness to children, to get away from blaming teachers for what their charges learned or didn't learn, know or don't know. Kids know tons, but my feeling is Tony and any author coming into a wide variety of schools cannot be certain of the specifics and be prepared to provide the background they need if necessary. If I were Tony I might begin by asking, "What can you tell me about Martin Luther King Jr?", "Rosa Parks?" (Just because these are the most likely familiar names to them as a starting point.) Their answers would help me to know where to go next. That is, maybe they'd give a sense they did know something of Jim Crow and then I might ask them about that. Or if they knew little, I'd fill in the necessary information to th en go on to talk more specifically about Lunch-Box Dream.
Monica
---Received on Sun 31 Jul 2011 07:06:58 PM CDT
