Friday, February 22, 2008
books books and more books
Last week in TE, my lit group was assigned an award to research and bring in a few books about it. We got the Pura Beplre Award. I did my research and I looked up my books. However, being the poor college student that I am, I decided to go to the library to get the books. I had two books that the class was reading or had read but I wanted a picture book and a new book. I got to the library around noon and it was packed. I live in a town. We are talking small! So to see so many people in one place was a little scary. After waiting in line to get help to find the books, it was finally my turn. As I explained the project to the librarian, she looked at me with a smile and said, "We dont carry Hispanic books. There isnt a great need in the population for the books." I was dumbfounded. Just because there is a lower hispanic population in my area doesnt mean that people would not want to read them. The library should have more of these book just because there isnt a great population. This is how students learn. Without the books to teach them, children now have to depend on the information for other areas...other bias areas. An insider book about hispanic culture would have a better impact then a cartoon TV show.
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2 comments:
When I heard the comment you made in class regarding this post I was shocked. How completely contrary to EVERYTHING we are learning. If I were you I would definitely write a letter to that library citing some of the sources and discussions we have had in TE 448 about how multicultural literature is for EVERYONE. I like what you said about how in places like that small town the only resources children have to build a knowledge base on different cultures is the media which is permeated with stereotypes and generalizations. The first show that came to mind for me was Dora the Explorer or Diego: To the Rescue! as well as the Cosby Show. Many African Americans were offended by the Cosby Show during its most popular time as they portray an upper-middle class black family with little reference to black culture and "acting white". Basically the story line could be the same if you replaced all of the black characters with white characters. This doesn't teach viewers about a certain culture. And that is why it is so important to provide not only young children but all people with resources that share alternative perspectives and give incite into a culture other than our own. After hearing your comment in class my eyes have really been opened to how ignorant some people and places still are. Being in this haven of diversity and cultural acceptance that is MSU I think it was too easy for me to forget that prejudices and ignorance still exists outside the bubble of my life and that it is our job as future educators to spread and promote the understanding and acceptance of a wide variety of cultures and people. I hope you have started already by writing a letter and if you haven't then perhaps we should as a class. Great insight Becka!
I decided that since I have to use this Library for the rest for my college life...I dont want to make too much of a splash. But I decided to donate the books I bought for class to the libaray. Now I know they have two good hispanic book for children. Thanks for the support Daryl!
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