From: Nell Fleming <nell.fleming_at_wsd.k12.wi.us>
Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2011 09:36:07 -0600

I've decided to share my response to an individual regarding books without assassinations or complete endings....

Well, I have to wonder sometimes if this does actually happen, not with a specific book per say but with the topic in schools. My own daughter came home from 2nd grade and said to me "Martin Luther King had a dream!" (My husband is African American/Black and I am European American/White). I said really that's amazing what was his dream? And my daughter replied "I don't know but it came true!"

I had to wonder, she didn't know what his dream was about and she didn't know he died (maybe?). Was this her own developmental ability to hear the full lesson or was this the teacher self censoring? Probably both, but I have to guess. My daughter rarely gets implied messages or indirect messages without some time to process. So we sat down and read about MLK and about Ruby Bridges. She was sad. But it wasn't until we watched Ruby Bridges
 that she sobbed and was angry and terrified. She realized all of a sudden that Ruby could have been "Ronnell" herself. I hated that moment but I realized that if I didn't do it, this revelation might come at an older age in front of others and she might be embarrassed by what other kids had already put together.

I don't know really which is worse, not telling them or telling them. No matter what it is a tightrope walk.

Nell Fleming Librarian Wisconsin School for the Deaf Library 309 Walworth Ave Delavan, WI 53115 (262) 728-7133 v/tty
Received on Wed 23 Nov 2011 09:36:07 AM CST