Week 4
Ch. 3
Laura Nardozzi
Creative Connector
Discussion Director
"Even when American Indians are included in the curriculum as existing in the present, the idyllic images of them tend to reinforce common stereotypes."- pg. 82
I really related to this portion of the text because I had a similar experience as a student. I can remember not fully understanding that Native Americans still existed and it was a group of people rather than characters in our books about Christopher Columbus. It was not until 3rd grade when we had a Native American man come to school and share with us about his life. I can remember being so confused about why he was wearing jeans and a t-shirt and didn't have a long braid!
"The example of Black English underscores the impact that culture may have on learning and academic achievement."- pg. 84
We just talked about this in our Literacy class. I found it very interesting to think about because I feel that I am certainly guilty of this at times. I feel that particularly when I have seen African American athletes on TV being interviewed I hold a certain stereotype about the way they talk and somehow equate it to their intelligence level. I see now that there is no "right" way to speak English, it is merely those in power who decide which dialect holds more value in our society. As teachers we need to be aware of this and explain to our students that there is not just one way to speak and everyone has a dialect. We can explain that we have all agreed to write differently than we speak so that we can all communicate through our writing.
"In fact, most people do not even think about culture unless it is in a subordinate position to another culture or- if they belong to a majority culture-when they leave the confines of home and are no longer part of the cultural norm."- pg. 86
I felt this portion of the book directly related to me and my experience with living in another country. While living in Germany it became much more clear to me what aspects of who I was were directly related to my nationality. Particularly around Christmas is when I felt that my culture was now a minority and not the majority anymore.
Laura, did you teachers ever teach the "truth" about Columbus' "discovery" of America? As far as I am aware, teachers continue to text from texts that proclaim that Columbus discovered America and that he and the natives established some sort of friendship or at least a relationship of mutual acceptance and respect. While in reality, America was here all along, inhabited by a people and a rich culture, and that Columbus' men actually brutalized the natives, took them as slaves, and left them victims of brutality and disease. While these exact statements are obviously inappropriate for elementary school students, I think teaching the perspective of the "other" through the use of age-appropriate language and materials is more than called for here! - Elizabeth
ReplyDeleteLearning the truth definitely made me a little angry. Christopher Columbus, Native Americans and the Boston Tea Party....definitely not what we had learned in school. I too often had judged African Americans because of their speech (somehow connecting that to their intelligence) but I do see especially through my literacy class how there are so many dialects and there is not a "wrong or right" form. It is rather the context in which the language variation or dialect is spoken.
ReplyDeleteChristina
I think it's important to reflect upon what we "used to think," but I think our focus should be on our growing knowledge and advocacy for "the other." :) - Elizabeth
ReplyDeleteYes, I do know about the truth about Columbus. This is a big issue faced by teachers because of the importance of teaching about the foundations of our country while remaining age appropriate. It may be more accurate to also stress that throughout history with every new discovery, conflict was not far behind.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was recently observing, I had the opportunity to see how teachers taught the idea of Columbus discovering America and being friendly to the Native Americans. Never once was the truth talked about or even mentioned.
ReplyDeleteI often judged others based on the dialect and their use of language. I would have continued to do so if it were not for a literacy class where I learned that there was not one "right" way to use the English langauge.
Shawne
Rich discussions...
ReplyDeleteHow might we connect the same idea of equating language with intelligence and individuals with Autism who are high functioning but are limited in verbal expression?
Rich discussions...
ReplyDeleteHow might we connect the same idea of equating language with intelligence and individuals with Autism who are high functioning but are limited in verbal expression?
Professor