At first I understood why topics like religion should be restricted, those are beliefs that can be taught to the individual by their church or family. It would be easy to disrespect ones religion or teach it the wrong way. However, my thinking changed when I read more of the module regarding banning the other issues like racism. I don't think any topic should be banned because they are important to history and even play a role today. For example, the quote in the article " Texas school district strikes more books from reading list", "After all, how can we expect young people to learn about diversity, if we do not expose them to diverse perspectives in literature?”. I think this quote perfectly explains the benefits of exposing students to these diverse topics. Not only do they learn about other people and how we got to where we are today, but also about themselves. I understand leaving out some details, the goal should be to teach the main concept, and as history changes, keep adding to it. If we are able to teach about the good, we should show the bad as well. we have to teach students life skills and that there will be challenges as well as rewards.
Admin. (2021, April 5). Top 10 most challenged books lists. Advocacy, Legislation & Issues. Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10.
Hi Alexis, I also had to rethink about the different topics we are allowed/not allowed to teach as future educators, and it blew my mind that people are attempting to take away these crucial learning points for students. This type of "null curriculum" diminishes any chance of change in our society, so I completely agree with you that by teaching about these topics it teaches students about themselves and creates a need for change. It was interesting to see how you viewed "Of Mice and Men" versus people trying to ban this book from classrooms, and how as a student you were never influenced by the writing. I think your realization about the importance of discussion over these topics is welcoming, and will allow your future students to feel comfortable to talk to you about issues they may not feel comfortable talking about at home. Thanks for contributing to this weeks discussion!
ReplyDeleteIt amazed me to think of how different we were taught compared to how we will have to teach. How are we suppose to set our students up for the future, if they don't even know the past. I think the people who are banning the books are coming from a single minded view and not understanding the learning aspect. I can see how the language can be foul and stereotypical, but lets be honest, students now days have access to everything, and somethings may be worse. The school is not exposing them to bad influences, they are educating on issues that were bad, but were learned from. Thank you! and hopefully the students have that warm environment where they can ask any question and not feel in the wrong.
DeleteHey Alexis! You have some really good thoughts and reading your post gives me a greater understanding of why we are required to do this blog posts. We are opening up conversations, letting out our thoughts and sharing ideas! I love it! I too could come from a place of understanding about religion and banning certain things around that, but learning more about other topics, I felt it was only fair to level the playing field, I guess you could say. I love that you incorporated diversity in that paragraph because students will not get a chance to form their own thoughts and opinions if they are exposed to a diverse group of things. Students need the opportunity to have a classroom environment no biases and the curriculum should work to instill knowledge in them that will last them a lifetime. I believe that is worth knowing. When they can take knowledge and move it from their desks and into the real world, that is when we as teachers will have done our part.
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Hello Kenzie! Thank you
ReplyDeleteI agree and find myself just letting my ideas flow in the posts. I love reading my classmates post and replies because I find myself thinking of things I didn't, and learning so much more. I think it's difficult to decide what should be taught because the students are so diverse and every place on earth is different. We have to respect everyone and teach what is necessary as society changes everyday. You did great in explaining the goal of teaching, I think there's just too many opinions as to what is considered bias. You show not only what should be taught, but how! Instead on focusing on the bad, we should focus on incorporating these quick changes in life into our lessons and relating it back to history. We don't have to go into detail with the terrible past like with slavery. However, it is important for students to understand what came of it and how it got us to where we are today.
Hi Alexis! Your post was wonderful and I feel as though it captured a lot of our thoughts perfectly as well. If you leave out the bad while teaching the good, you aren't telling the full story, thus, it is no longer truthful history. If we ignore the bad behaviors that once took place, they are more liable to happen again, since we won't have those answers to the "what if" question that is in the back of the learners minds. We teach now so we don't experience the same bad things again. I remember when I was in high school, I saw books leaving the typical high school reading list and it really proved to me that education based on history wasn't as important as they made it out to be if they were willing to take away key books that highlighted those old situations perfectly. When reading a book, you become encompassed by the story and the characters and sometimes it even feels like your sitting with the main character and seeing through their thoughts (no matter if they are good or bad). If you take away these books, you will then be taking away important part of learning that comes with connecting the characters relatability to the history that you are coming to know in your classes.
ReplyDeleteHello! thank you. Books are a great way to tell a story and truly do make you feel like you are a part. Students should feel that connection to truly understand what's going on. We have learned from the past, there's a reason we document everything that happens. It is a saying, " we don't want history to repeat". Im sacred to see how the list of banned books will change. So many great books kids will be missing out on, not only the history, but the writing style s well. I feel like taking out parts of history will only confuse students because there will be missing parts. So much leads one thing to another so I feel like its hard to exclude things.
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ReplyDeleteHey there Alexis! I really liked you thoughts throughout you blog and many ideas it it! We are opening different doors to topics that most try to ignore because it is “hard” or uncomfortable. I loved your post but I would like to try and respectfully disagree with one topic. I come from a place of religion and I think we should incorporate it into some lessons or topics. Now I don’t think we should only do one religion and dive deeply into all of them but I think we should still incorporate it. We should go over every religion and learn from each. We should let the students f’s find their own beliefs! You say that parents can Tara her their own kids this part but that can be said about all of these topics. I just personally feel that we should keep this section in! I understand most disagree with me on this but that is fine! By the way I loved that you incorporated diversity in that paragraph because students will not get a chance to form their own thoughts and opinions if they are exposed to a diverse group of things too!
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ReplyDeleteHey, thank you. I think as humans, we all have the instinct to shy away from the bad and try to keep our kids from it. Instead of seeing the bad as a learning outcome, a lot of people think it will influence students. We have to teach them to not repeat history and how to fight for what is right. I can see your point and appreciate the new view, I just let myself be influenced by what i heard others speak of when it came to religion. I see how easy it is to be influenced and avoid certain topics in order to not offend others. I think people just don't like to be questioned and religion is such a big part of culture, thus its a sensitive topic.
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