As I read about Daniel and Zonnie, I could clearly see how each of them had a passion for literacy both with reading and writing, as long as it was with the freedom to read and write what they enjoyed. Now the hard part comes when they are ask to use those skills to do "required" school work, which they both found to be boring. As a teacher, I have had students who loved to read and read all the time, but when having to read from textbooks and respond to it they would have the hardest time. This is when I tell them that in life we all have to do many things we may not want to, but we have to. We all have those things we do because we have to that is part of being in the real world. No matter what race of people you belong to this can be a struggle, but it must be realized all the same.
I think the teachers should have been more assertive in telling them that they had the ability to do much better in school and try to help them achieve that.
As far as the prejudice, racism, and discrimination, I find it so disheartening that we still have this struggle in our world today. I hated how they had to deal with this at school which was most likely most of the reason for their lack of enthusiasm for education.
I believe this should be a subject that is discussed and made clear in all schools that there will be no tolerance of prejudice, racism, or discrimination regardless of race, class, or gender.
I have found that students are not picky on who they choose to bully, just anyone who seems different or weaker than them. I was glad that Daniel’s family finally told him to fight back when he was being physically abused at school, I would have told my sons to fight back too. Where were the teachers?
Overall I see two Native American teens who want to do what they enjoy doing and will do the least necessary to get by in school. They are both out going in their own communities with family and friends, but do not bring this to school. They both have supportive families who encourage them to express themselves through their arts, dancing, music, and writing but this does not make it into the classrooms when it comes to performing on school work. Even if the teachers were to include content relative to their cultures, I am not sure they would be open to embracing it and being open in class to enrich the classroom discussion based on how quiet and to themselves they are in class, but I could be wrong.
This Qualitative Research provided a very descriptive view of Daniel and Zonnie at school and in their communities embracing their own cultures. It would have been beneficial for me to know more about how their parents responded to them being more willing to express themselves in their own unique writing or other art form but not performing to their best abilities on what they deemed as boring school work. Did their parents try to get them to work harder? Did they expect more or were they okay with what they were doing in school? Was their school work as important as self expression to their parents?
Tracy Icenhour
Comments (2)
Tracey,
I like how your pointed out the issue of bullying. Bullying is a big problems that teenagers face today. It is true that bullies tend to pick on others who may be different or weaker, often just to make themselves feel better. I had a child this year, a little girl, that seemed to bully other students. We did a lesson on bullying in my class, which really seemed to help. It is interesting to hear different parents' opinions as to if they allow their child to fight back, or tell an adult. Does anyone have activities, ideas, or programs to use in the classroom that help prevent bullying?
Posted by Katie Johnson | June 10, 2010 7:43 PM
Posted on June 10, 2010 19:43
Bullying is a big issue in schools as it always will be. Teachers are never going to be present at every second to stop the verbal abuse and even the physical abuse. Kids are going to say what they want to say and do what they want to in the exact moments when they know an adult is not present. We have Anti-Bullying week at our school, and it's one week out of the whole school year. Does it help? Not really. Does it put ideas in their minds for that day? Sure. I have never taught in a middle or high school, so I can't say a whole lot about how to stop the problem. I would think if there was an answer, all schools would have it! As we all know, having a good home life has a huge part of molding kids into who they are and unfortunately our society is ever so changing. I think each family was supportive in their education and encouraged their special talents, but also played a more passive role in their lives. I also think if teachers did focus instruction more around the cultures within the classroom it would empower the children to stand up for themselves more and to be proud of who they are and teach the rest of them that cultural tolerance is the way you have to be; you don't have to like it, but you have to respect it.
Posted by Abby Boughton | June 10, 2010 8:45 PM
Posted on June 10, 2010 20:45