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The truth?

Posted by Judy High on February 22, 2010 at 11:52am
As part of a graduate class I am teaching on multicultural literature my students have been asked to interview a teacher or librarian about their thoughts on teaching and having books on  the following topics:

            1. The truth behind how Americans stole land from the American Indians.

2. The horrors of slave ships bringing Africans to America.

3.  The cruelty of the slave treatment.

4.  The massacres and ethnic cleansings that occurred in the 20th and 21st 

      centuries.

             5. The treatment of Asian Americans during WWII


I thought it would be great for them to get a more "global perspective" so I  am interested in hearing your thoughts and ideas
Thanks!

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Replies

  • Lisa Hunt February 24, 2010 at 1:43am
    I serve a PreK-6th population, and I choose my books to convey The Truth, but soften some of the graphic details. I just loved the book The Old African by Julius Lester (2005), and the story relates deep feelings both positive and negative. I chose not to include it in my collection because of the inviting picture format but seriously detailed violence and abuse. That is an example of the way I make my choices. I continue to read the literature, so I feel I can make informed choices. Two years ago I began doing pre-reading research with the 6th grade Rdg/LA teacher so students could understand Civil Rights before reading The Watsons Go to Birmingham as a class novel. Our goal is for students to understand Civil Rights for all humans beyond the context of 1960's US politics. I begin the session relating some "Did you know" truths about events in America. I have many historical fiction books in our collection that relate examples of the continuing efforts to gain Civil Rights for all. I do share The Truth with our students covering all those topics mentioned in your post. I really enjoy Kadohata's book Weedflower, and at this time of year I cannot keep it on the shelves.
  • bj neary February 23, 2010 at 2:48pm
    Judy, all of the topics you have listed are Social Studies topics students research for both American Studies and World Civilization in our senior high. I like that you call this the TRUTH, but there are opposing viewpoints on all of these subjects and it is so important that students explore and anlayze each of these "truths" in order to get a better viewpoint on the mistakes that have been made in the past, and learn not to make them in the future--lots of great books, database articles and websites delving into these very notable, yet humbling time in our history.
  • Gexie2 February 23, 2010 at 4:43am
    I'm at the elementary level, which limits how graphic some of my books can be. But, I have several books on #3, #4 (the holocaust only) and #5. The children seem to like them, but they don't rush to check them out.l Let me know if you'd like some titles.
    • Judy High > Gexie2 February 23, 2010 at 4:51am
      Yes, i would like the titles. Do you ever read them aloud. Do the teachers ask for them?
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