RES 5535: Race, Class, and Gender in Literacy Research (summer 2009)

Dana:
I agree with you that this article was difficult to read, yet it was compelling! True, these Sudanese boys have overcome a lot, and I cannot imagine their pain and hardship either but I do admire their courage and their ability to keep going. Maybe we can take what we’ve learned in this article and try to help some of our own students who are struggling…like your current student who just came to the U.S. and knows no English. Sure it’s going to be difficult for her, BUT not impossible! Perry just proved that in this article. It will take a village for your student to learn our language, and just think…you can be part of that village!

Dana:
I agree with you that this article was difficult to read, yet it was compelling! True, these Sudanese boys have overcome a lot, and I cannot imagine their pain and hardship either but I do admire their courage and their ability to keep going. Maybe we can take what we’ve learned in this article and try to help some of our own students who are struggling…like your current student who just came to the U.S. and knows no English. Sure it’s going to be difficult for her, BUT not impossible! Perry just proved that in this article. It will take a village for your student to learn our language, and just think…you can be part of that village!

Dana,
As I read your post I have the same feelings of storytelling. I wish my grandparents had shared stories about themselves with me. As I have grown older my dislike of history has changed... I don't like textbooks about history, but I love to read historical fiction, memoirs, etc... more like storytelling. I am lucky, my father tells me some wonderful stories about his childhood. He was one of 11 children!
Please don't give up on your new little girl. It only takes one person in her life to give her hope and show her direction. Just the smallest hope can get her through. I just finished the Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls. Her story is horrible, but one teacher gave her hope & she is now successful! You can be that hope for this little girl.

Dana,

As I read the article, I too was saddened from several aspects. Obviously, the experiences the boys went through left my heart feeling heavy, but also inspired that if they can overcome those types of obstacle, that we born in America have never endured, then our boys and girls that we teach can too overcome. Also, it made me sad and a little jealous too, that we in America lived such fast paced and busy lives, that we don't slow down to learn about our family history and culture so that we can keep it alive by passing it on. After reading this, I think I am going to have my kids do a project next year that involves them collecting stories from family members so they will have something to remember and pass on to their children.

Dana,

I thought about the lack of American storytelling culture as I read, too. However, now that I am thinking through your post, I realize that we do have some oral traditions that exist in the US; they just look different from what the Lost Boys used in their storytelling. I’m thinking particularly about the musical history of our country. Almost every genre of “American” music is heavily influenced rhythmically and topically by the vibrant cultures of Africa. Can you think of any folk songs or pop songs that you heard a lot growing up? Many of these are narrative in nature and have lasted over hundreds of years in the US.

I wonder how our students would respond if we had them do family history projects that included elements of music, art, or dance. It feels to me that we pass our culture more in those formats than we do only in storytelling.

Thanks for your post. It has my brain momentarily slipping out of summer mode and into teacher planning for next year.

Ruth

Dana I really like how you pointed out that these boys have such a unique gift in that they are able to pass down stories that have been around for generations. The only stories I know about my family only go back to my great grandparents. I also hate how these boys no longer have this in their lives. I think it would be interesting to see what stories your students could tell you about their own families.

Dana,

You made an excellent point regarding the US not having story telling traditions. We are a melting pot and many of our traditions and celebrations have come from other countries because of our ancestors. So, why not story telling?

Storytelling is an art. My husband tells great "stories," but I cannot. I love having storytellers come to my classroom and share their art.

Dana, you made a good point about “The Lost Boys” not having the storytelling to pass along in the same way right now. However, one day they will be able to tell those stories if they can remember the tradition and power in it. Their new stories will be ones of how fear, sorrow, and hopelessness were transformed into a chance to live, learn, and be accepted in the United States. Hopefully, they will have a family of their own and then they can tell of their life in the Sudan and here. They will start the process all over again! I think Heather made a great suggestion for all of us in her comment concerning a proposed project to help our students learn their own stories.