Unlearning the Myths That Binds Us By:Linda Christensen

 In “Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us” by Linda Christensen there are three quotes that interest me.

The first quote is the opening sentence, “I was nourished on the milk of American culture: I cleaned the dwarves’ house and waited for Prince Charming to bring me life.”  While reading this it made me realize like the article mentions that many people are influenced by the things they are educated on through cartoons, films, media etc. Personally I have never taught of T.V in this manner.

The second quote that stood out to me, “Our society’s culture industry colonizes their minds and teaches them how to act, live, and dream. Meaning children and people in general. This quote coincides with my last quote. Although the typical person does not have the things or images these “secret education” portrays many people often times, try to live these fantasies out. For example, women waiting on a man to rescue them from a situation. Some people grew up in homes with only women but they still have an image of a man who will save them from a dangerous situation.

The third quote that stood out to me, “The impact of racism beings early. Even in our preschool years, we are exposed to misinformation about people different from ourselves. I can relate to this particular quote because, growing up in the West Indies around mainly black people. I was always taught that white people were all racist. Until I moved here to R.I where blacks were the minority. I learned the difference from my own experiences. The people who influenced me were probably influence from T.V, media, books etc. since they were also isolated from people of different cultures. It is imperative to educate young children with the correct information to lessen stereotypes in society.

Here is a link on how cartoon characters influence food choices for children 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB4QtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabcnews.go.com%2FWNT%2Fvideo%2Fcartoons-influence-kids-eating-choices-14337275&ei=i6z8VNzyHMrEggSbz4LoAQ&usg=AFQjCNFNyrBJblS3JVoMmtIL1Yk2Kp5vIQ&sig2=qGTyvjt0Tf-UjecpwE1HoA&bvm=bv.87611401,d.eXY

Speaking the unspeakable in forbidden places: addressing lesbian,gay,bisexual and transgender equality in the primary school By: Allan, Atkinson,Brace, De Palma, and Hemingway

It's all about equality

I agree with Yer regarding this statement "Children should be introduced to sexuality as soon as possible so, as they grow up, they should have a clear understanding of identity difference that would help prevent future chaos and decrease bullying". (Yer) In my opinion it is the parents responsibility to inform and teach their children about sexuality. That way when a child is in a sex education class they can already have a clear understanding on the topic that is being presented to them. Although I understand that some parents would be uncomfortable talking to their child about such topic they should to educate them.   

The society we live in today I feel that the people are more accepting of the "lesbian, gay,bisexual, transgender community".  In the era that I grew up in a heterosexual society this was a topic that no one would speak of in public. Like Yer mentioned in her blog about the gay high school student who was mistreated and bullied I never witnessed anything like that growing. 

I also found it interesting how Laura used the fairy tale as an ice breaker to the students about the different sexual lifestyles. I really like this quote"At the end of the book,when the prince married another prince Laura observed that most pupils did not react negatively to the outcome, although mention of lesbian evoked laughter and cries of yuk". It is amazing how children look and perceive this of "LGBT". In regards, to sexuality it is a personal choice that we have as humans.

Here is a link where you can find assistance with talking to children about LGBT issues

     http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/talking-with-kids-about-lgbt-issues                                                                             

Terry Meier

Terry Meier

Why can't she remember that? The importance of storybook reading in multilingual, multicultural classrooms.

Think Piece

I found it interesting that the African American children "engaged in four times as many interactions that involved extended story telling and also talked more than European American children did." Because of the culture or community they lived in. Also the three examples of the three year olds which showed diversity how language was used in their environment. According to the environment the children were raised in ,determined the knowlege they went to school with. Although each child came from different backgrounds they were all able to communicate and have a conversation with the power of language.Teachers often times have difficulty coming up with an appropriate assignments for children in such a diverse group.
  

              Like Marisa and Lem many of the students were I tutor, the students have a similar problem with language because of the language barrier the parents have. Therefore the students are eager to learn when they show up to school.          

As the article mentioned, the children were often disengaged during the reading activity. The students were only interested in the reading if they were proactively writing and drawing images from the book that was being read them. From Terry's observation she figure out that the  children could not relate to the books that were being read to them. This is something that I can personally relate to. Growing up when books were read to me either at home or in school the story's was always one about a white family or white people in general. I had a hard time understanding and relating to the stories because, I did not look like them nor did the people in family act the way those people in the books did, I guess it was a culture difference growing up on an island. The retelling of the African American "Goldilocks and the three bears" made perfect sense to the little homeless Haitian girl because she was able to relate to the story. Teachers usually find different stragies and techniques to meet their students needs.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Here is a link I found fitting with this article. A video of a teacher who teaches a classroom with multilingual and multicultural children.We see this more often in urban communities.
https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/multi-language-classroom                                                                                                  

The Silence Dialogue: By Lisa Delpit

     Initially when I began reading this article by Lisa Delpit I taught of racism. Especially when she went to speak about how white people do not listen to black basically that is my understanding of the reading. In regards to education and how black children should be taught differently because, of the five premise she listed, particularly number three "The rules of the culture of power are a reflection of the rules of the culture of those who have power." I found this quote in this article fitting and true. Lisa stated, "I have frequently heard schools call poor parents uncaring when parents respond to the schools urging, saying, but that's the schools job." When people know better they do better, a parent cannot teach their children something that is foreign to them. Parents are only able to teach their children about they are educated on if they choose to teach their children at all. Like the quote stated, many uneducated poor parents believe it is the school system responsibility for providing education to their children. Whereas poor families teach their children how to survive their unfortunate communities. For example, the students at an elementary school where I recently visited the majority of the students were Hispanic. If the student does not understand the homework assignment that is given to them, the student returns to school with the assignment incomplete, due to the parents lack of education and perhaps language barriers.                                The Distar technique used was somewhat helpful to the black students because, of the slow pace of the program. Using a method like this can put other students who are advanced particularly white students behind. This was the main controversy between the black teachers vs the white teachers. As future educators it is imperative that we understand the diversity we will eventually encounter in our communities. 

Below you will find the link to "Skills and other Dilemmas another article Lisa Delpit wrote and mentioned in "The Silence Dialogue.

http://www.thenation.com/blog/166888/interview-lisa-delpit-educating-other-peoples-children#

Was the Distar method of learning really effective?

Peggy McIntosh White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack article

 This author Peggy McIntosh argues in White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack article, that white privilege and male privilege are similar. By overcoming racial oppression and lessening white and male privilege will lessen oppression for African Americans. Peggy's main point is to identify many of the advantages that white people have in today's society."By identifying some of the daily effects of white privilege"in her life. By stating this Peggy can show the readers the disadvantages that African Americans have on a daily basis.
I found Johnson Privilege, Power and Difference article shared similar views as Peggy McIntosh white privilege article. Both authors assumes the notation that being white rather than being a minority secures their identity and the privilege that goes hand in hand with one another. Peggy stated "we usually think of privilege as being a favored state, whether earned or conferred by birth or luck". Basically restating that being white is a privilege. This correlates to Johnson's article in regards to the African American co-worker he mentioned. She was at a disadvantage because of her skin color. For example, the black woman worries about being followed and being harassed in stores whereas, Peggy "can go shopping alone most of the time alone, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed". (Peggy) This is just one of many example of white privilege that we face today. The image above displays unity among blacks and whites. By clicking the link below  you will find Peggy McIntosh interview on the hot topic of white privilege. Although she published this article over 25 years ago it is still an interesting and debatable topic.

Can anyone in here today relate to being followed or harassed in a store because, of your skin color?

  http://colorlines.com/archives/2014/05/peggy_mcintosh_sets_record_straight_on_white_privilege.html

FNED 2015

Hi my name is Marika. So far this semester is going fine, it would be better if I can get to class and get away from all this snow. Other than being a student I work on campus. With my spare time I enjoy spending the days with my family. Anyway looking forward to blogging away throughout the semester. I am also looking forward to the internship at the Providence Public School.