WOW! I loved it when Hicks talked about caretakers shaping the learners’ values, feelings, and attachments. (page 36) This reminded me of the time that my son was two years old and in daycare. The day care that my son was attending was beginning to get my attention. I was seeing multiple things taking place that I was not pleased about. For instance one day I SAW the owner pull a small child down the hall by his arm and put one child in the kitchen closet for time out. I quickly realized that this was not the place for my son. I called a Christian lady who kept children in her home. My son absolutely loved/loves her and even refers to her as mom-maw. Not only has he learner respect but he has also learned excellent manners. I can definitely see lots of her values instilled in him. As parents we must be careful of whom we trust with our children. If a child is in the wrong situation then a lot of damage can occur.
I disagreed with Hicks on page 40 when she made the statement about black being a woman’s color and you have to earn the right to wear the color black. Clothes are items that we wear, no more or no less. As long as we have something clean to put on then it does not and should not matter what color it is. As I read about children reading to escape that triggered my memory. I have never read to escape, I have always read for pleasure. It made me wonder about our student’s home lives. How many of our students read to escape the family life. This makes me sad to even think about. About a decade ago many people would get married because of a pregnancy. The majority of the time this leads up to an unhappy family and later on a divorce and the child is stuck in the middle of a bad situation. The emotional distress of the child/children plays a large role in their child’s ability to learn. I am glad that our society has evolved and this doesn’t occur as often these days. With this being said and I moved into chapter four this seemed to be somewhat similar to what was happening with Laurie. She was being raised by her mom and grandmother both of who were working. She was forced to take care of two younger siblings. After being placed on medication for ADD Laurie’s attitude and learning changed for the worse. This makes me ask myself in some situations are the children’s parents doing this do their child/children with out even realizing what they are doing. It was sad to hear to Laurie coming to school complaining of the side effects. This was hard for me to read, I can only image what the teacher/observer was feeling. As a teacher I am very careful when I talk to parents about the children’s problem with focusing. I have been teaching for five years and I have only recommended one parent to consider seeing a doctor. Most of the time I find with a little extra attention and praise the student will do better and become more engaged.
Misty Mistretta
Comments (7)
Toni,
It seems the trend now is to not even get married which is even more alarming to me. It makes the likelihood of someone leaving that relationship (baby) much more likely. If they can't commit to each other before the baby what makes them have to know?
Escape. Don't we all need an escape every now and then? Pedicures. Bubble Baths. Wine. Crafting. Why not a book? Often times what we use to escape can become something we do for enjoyment. Yes, I too wish we lived in a world where no child would need to "escape," but aren't we lucky simply picking up a book can have so much power and make someone's life better.
I agree medication needs to be taken seriously. Even if a child truly needs it, not every medication is right for that child!
Posted by Tamera Wilson | June 24, 2009 6:41 PM
Posted on June 24, 2009 18:41
I am glad you rescued your son from exposure to things that could have haunted him for a long time. We as caregivers/teachers have a heavy responsibility our students, let them grow, guide them set examples for expectations but don't look for clones. Yes we all need escape from time to time! A good book, movie, hike what ever your choice. As far as our society evolving...choices that are made concerning pregancies are not always for the good of the child, many are selfish choices. The innocent child didn't ask to be concieved, make a life for them and cherish them. You mentioned ADD and medicine, I agree I am not an advocate for meds, but there are some cases that it makes a world of difference enabling a child to function.
Posted by Grandma Cunningham | June 24, 2009 7:25 PM
Posted on June 24, 2009 19:25
Misty:
Thanks for sharing the piece about your son. You definitely did the right thing getting him out of there. Children know when they’re being loved and nurtured and obviously he adores the lady who takes care of him now. Regarding Hicks statement about, “Black being a woman’s color”; You’re right, clothes are just clothes, and colors are just colors…but that statement is more of a culturally based statement (for people of color). I go into more detail about it in my blog response. Regarding children reading to escape; I don’t know, I sorta think it is a good thing. If a child’s home situation is that bad, then what’s wrong with them finding solace, adventure, fun, excitement, riches within a good book. My daughter, who was raised in a literacy enriched environment since birth, she absolutely enjoys a good book any day of the week. I’m talking over her girl-friends (and she is 17 years old); Mother-daughter bonding time…even shopping! So if children read to escape (regardless of their home life)…I don’t have a problem with that. Misty I appreciate your empathy toward others with disabilities, but speaking as a mom who has a son who is ADHD (and I chose to have my son on medication, to level the playing field for him) and a teacher; I think it is more than right to tell parents, in an objective way, to have their child check out by a medical doctors to see if they have some sort of disability. The way I look at, if my child was diabetic, I would want to know!
Posted by Toni Wheeler | June 24, 2009 7:33 PM
Posted on June 24, 2009 19:33
I'm glad you brought up the caretaker issue too! That's the part of the reading that really struck me. I can't believe your son had such a terrible experience in a day care facility. I'm so glad you have found a better place for him!
Posted by Kelly Beckley | June 25, 2009 8:47 PM
Posted on June 25, 2009 20:47
Misty,
I'm glad you brought up the medication for ADD. I couldn't even go there. i get so irritated with some teachers that blab about this child that is "off the wall" and needs medication. Most of these teachers that say this are not parents and just don't understand the way some children are and what can be done in the classroom to help those particular children.
Posted by Loren Van De Griek | June 25, 2009 10:47 PM
Posted on June 25, 2009 22:47
Misty,
Sometimes escape in reading is not because things are all that bad at home but just a way to get to “travel” somewhere else. An armchair experience if you will. I always became immersed in what I was reading to the extent that I was actually in the story. And I presume all of us who enjoy a good book do. That is why it is so important for those of us in K-2 to read and read and read to our students. We need to make the book come alive for them if they are to become readers. I believe this is especially important for those kids in homes where no one is reading to them.
Posted by Janet Gross | June 26, 2009 8:42 AM
Posted on June 26, 2009 08:42
As I read your post you brought up a good point about wondering if parents realize what they are doing to their children. Honestly, I don't think these parents do know what how they are living affects their children. I believe working class parents are so caught up in surviving and providing necessities, that their emotional and academic needs are overlooked. In other cases, I don't think the parents know any better, depending on how they were raised. These are sad situations and as educators it is so...hard to try and make a difference in that area. Hopefully we are planting seeds that will eventually sprout.
Posted by Heather Houston | June 26, 2009 10:17 AM
Posted on June 26, 2009 10:17