Search results matching tags 'lessons' and 'diversity'

Day of Music

Anonymous — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:46:01 GMT

We finished The Grapes of Wrath and are starting A Gathering of Old Men, but I was gone for a few days. Now, I had intended to do this earlier, but I had time today and we had “music day.”

We listened to Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” and look at the final two verses in particular which are often not used when singing this tune. Most of the song is so hopeful and positive, but the last two verses change the feel and meaning of the song.

As I was walkin'  -  I saw a sign there
And that sign said - no tress passin'
But on the other side  .... it didn't say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!

In the squares of the city - In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office - I see my people
And some are grumblin' and some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me.

Next, we listened to Bruce Springsteen’s “The Ghost of Tom Joad” as we finished off The Grapes of Wrath. The kids were at first curious about the song’s folksy sound and gradually got into the tune while easily connecting its ideas and its final verse to the novel. The kids told me it was “cool” that people today still sing about Steinbeck’s work.

Then I talked to the class about how Springsteen may be becoming the voice of new generation. We started out listening to “Born in the USA” and focused on the desperation and sadness in the tune. Believe it or not, I used the film and novel First Blood starring Sylvestor Stallone (we didn’t actually watch the film) to discuss the post-Vietnam society and the veterans themselves as a connection to Springsteen’s 80s hit: the unemployment, the hopelessness, the frustration, and the decision to make a stand. Of course, this connects quite well to Ernest Gaines’ A Gathering of Old Men. We also briefly discussed the irony of how “Born in the USA” became such an American anthem while being a less than patriotic song.

Lastly, we listened to and examined the lyrics of “Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday. My students were shocked by the title metaphor and the juxtaposition of the “pastoral scene” and the “gallant South” with the image of a hanging man. Quite a few of the kids actually questioned the truthfulness of the song’s subject, but I also have some pictures of actual lynchings with people smiling and pointing proudly to their handiwork. The kids were horrified at the sight of the pride in the photos. I’m glad they can’t imagine events like these occurring in their community, but I also want them to understand the magnitude of these horrific events and their influence on Gaines’ novel.

All in all, today was a great day and the kids were sad to leave the room at the period’s end.

Posted in American Lit., diversity, History, Lessons, Literature, Music, Pop Culture

Silence vs. Truth

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 03:58:40 GMT

My school’s Diversity Club sponsired a Day of Silence for “all people whose voice is lost because of” discrimination, bullying, and bias. This was on Friday.

On Monday, we had what is titled as a Day of Truth, which is a response to a Day of Silence. The Day of Truth attempts”to counter the promotion of the homosexual agenda and express an opposing viewpoint from a Christian perspective.”

I find this interesting since our Diversity Club does not use Day of Silence as a strictly GLBT day, but as a day to illustrate how voices of all beliefs and lifestyles are silenced. However, local churches attempted to create an “honest” conversation about homosexuality. This obviously implies that the Day of Silence is dishonest about its anti-discrimination stance and its anti-bullying stance.

The tally is as follows: Day of Silence had over 100 t-shirts worn and 1,000 stickers worn. Day of Truth had 10-12 t-shirts worn and 20-30 stickers worn.

Tolerance and acceptance wins. I’m not necessarily a line in the sand guy, but this was an obvious victory for inclusion versus exclusion and acceptance versus exclusion.

Posted in diversity, Lessons

Creating Relevance in the Classroom

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:06:51 GMT

One aspect of teaching, which can be quite difficult, is how to make what we teach relevant to students today. Kids seem to think they cannot possibly connect the writings of yesteryear with the hectic, technological, global lives led today; however, creating relevance need not be too difficult. I teach English and one of my favorite [...]

Two Novels of Race Relations

Anonymous — Mon, 26 May 2008 21:34:38 GMT

Two novels I taught this year were To Kill A Mockingbird and A Gathering of Old Men. Prior to and during reading these novels, I had the kids look at some songs, poems, and historical context. Here are a few of my favorite things concerning the race relations in the novels. Prior to reading To Kill [...]

Tolerance Wins!

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:26:26 GMT

Thousands of high schools around the country participate in the Day of Silence each year, which includes my own high school. However, in my state the bulk of the media’s attention centered on Mt. Si High School because Rev. Ken Hutcherson, pastor of Antioch Bible Church in Redmond, called for 1,000 “prayer warriors” to protest [...]