Book+discussion+Notes


 * Multiple Definitions of Multicultural Literature**

At the beginning of this reading, the discussion of how educators feel about what groups should be included in their own multicultural plans for their classrooms was argued. Should racial and ethnic, regional, social class, gender, disability, religion, language, and sexual orientation groups be included in the books students read in their classrooms? (A.B.)

One aspect of discussion was about how students might find it hard to be engaged by multicultural literature because it doesn't reflect their own experiences. It is the role of educators to help students uncover parts of the book that they can relate to. I feel that this is a true statement. To broaden a child's learning experiences and knowledge of the world around them is important and teachers can help their students discover more about various facets of the world through multicultural literature and discussion of this literature. (A.B.)

I like the idea that Teachers and Parents have the responsibility to find the right Multicultural Literacy. We as educators should find books that show the struggles of oppressed ethnic groups and also the empowerment and strength of overcoming oppression brings. I also feel that it is the role of educators to help their students relate and understand the literacy books. It also is the educators duty to make sure they are not being disrespectful to any cultures and not allow the students to be either. (E.W.)

And the keyword, I believe is "multi". To include many ethnic groups instead of focusing on one helps the class to see that 1) You are not prejudiced or biased to one culture over another and 2) That you are a fair teacher. I think by now we have all encountered a teacher or two who speaks out for one culture over another (or religion, politics or gender). The list of books we have been asked to read for this class is very diverse and I like that. If our instructor would have insisted on all Native American books I would have had to voice my disappointment at the lack of fairness. I have read two of the assigned readings and have been delighted at what I have learned about these two very different cultures. P.H.

This section of reading was very interesting to me. The many points of view really had me thinking what multicultural literature really is. Should it really focus on people of color? This is a question that really opened my mind and got me thinking. The term culture is interpereted as "A way of life," multicultural literature should cover more then people of color, it should cover people of different Social Economic Status, people of disabilities, and people who live different ways of life other then your students. This is empowering your students and exposing them to multicultural literature. This along with exposing your students to literature of other races and cultures is true multiculturism, because culture is a "way of life." (MD)

What should the students in our rooms to introduced to as fars as literature? Easy, relate it to their daily lives. Today we as a society are introduced and affected by so many different cultural changes and that sets up a perfect opportunity to teach. We need some sort of base to start from however when it come to teaching and learning. If a teacher is going to introduce different cultures here and there or just because a new book showed up, all benefits of the book (assuming as a teacher, you have selected well written books) have been lost. However to introduce books after a background is formed or as a supplement to learning, that is where books get the most bang for their buck. Children in the same classroom culture come from vastly different culturer home backgrounds. Single families, same sex parents, and mixed races families. There is never one lone culture in the classrooms anymore. Because of this, the classroom, as well as its material, need to be open and accepting of that fact. MP

The implementation of multicultural literature into your classroom and readers lives is essential in creating an awareness of the world around them. Children need to know and understand the many differences and similarities they have with other people in their class, communities and the world. By including works that convey a fair and realistic image of many different kinds of people you are equipping your learners with a foundation to build upon and approach in their interactions with others. (LD)


 * Multiculturalism is not Halloween**

"Multiculturalism is a matter of bringing the broadest diversity of writers to the table." From Thelma Seto's point of view, it is important for literature read by children and others to be created by writers from various cultures, not by writers who think they know a certain culture. I feel that it is important as well for children to be able to recieve a pure and truthful image of all cultures and backgrounds through reading different pieces of literature. (A.B.)

You had to have lived or first-hand experienced the life style of an ethnic group to write about it, someone can not just make up a story about another persons life with out living it. The meaning and the feeling of the story will not be depicted as authentic or true to ones culture if an outsider writes about it. I understand what the author is saying about multiculturalism is not Halloween. You just can not pretend you are someone else and write a book on them, because you are not actually them, you haven't had the same real experiences as them. (E.W.)

I can understand how Seto felt when she said she feels "violated" when Euro-Americans "take on" my culture. Yes, there are many authors who take on writing about a culture that they know nothing about. For some, it is based on what they "think" they know.....or what they have heard. And yet, there are others who really dig deep and do their research about a people and their culture. Then I feel that they have enough "truth information" to pull off writing a book. But one can NEVER know what it is truly like to live and breathe another culture no more than we know what it's like to be on the battlefront unless we have gone to war ourselves and have lived it each day and feel deep in our souls what it does to you to face death each day. I could never write about a culture (their history) unless I had lived among those people and practiced their beliefs....and even then it would be sketchy. P.H.

I totally agree with Seto's radical point of view on Euro-Americans writing Non Euro-American literature especially if they havent lived among the people and fully understand the culture. It not only offends the people of that culture but misinterprets the culture to the rest of the world. Childrens literature and depictions of all cultures should be accurate especially to children. It baffels me when I pick up a book that is written about minorities and I look at the author and its written by a someone of a different race or culture without the proper research and avenues of approach. (M.D)

==While reading the book one line stood out to me more so then any other in the assigned section; a line that for me perfectly embodies the entire issue of miswritten stories or books. Euro-American writers cannot write from the point of view of an Asian American child because they have not lived that child's reality- they cannot have; they do not have that child's identity, or family history. This holds true for all cultures of course not just Asian American. Without proper research and emersion into the subject, no one can obtain the insight needed to correctly express the story. Writers of biographies do this type of process all the time. Live the person’s life, find their likes and dislikes, and visit where they live and what they did. They investigate and research, most importantly they dig. The old saying rings true, if you are doing to do something do it right. I believe that point was made very clearly in this reading. Without proper background knowledge of a subject, a writer will not only miss the fine points of a story, but miss a chance fully develop a personality to the story rather than just a character. MP -- ==

==__I__n this section it was mentioned that writing above all else is a moral issue, when one assumes the responsibility of providing information about a group of people and their identity they must know and understand what they are writing about. What ultimately comes into play is the issue of cultural theft and misrepresentation as is stated in the text. Multiculturalism should be grounded on bringing the broadest diversity of writers and facts to the reader. Writers play a profound role in the information, opinions and ideology that the reader will hold onto, thus the information provided must be the most beneficial and accurate to them. __(LD)__ ==


 * //Multiple Definitions of Multicultural Literature// (269)**

There was a lot of arguing about what multi culture is about. Different people hold different ideas, purposes, and no one person is right or wrong. Educators should find books about groups that are oppressed to show the real story and struggles. Multiculturalism is a way of life, it can't be just focused on race or color. There are different cultures such as low-income, and people who have had hardships, etc. Culture could also be considered as the persons way of life, such as "techies", people who read, etc. The book talked about that the message from rolling thunder hear my cry, could be considered to be offensive to some white people. Cultural awareness through literature is great, however the books that are chosen need to be carefully researched to make sure as to not offend a student of that culture in your classroom.

Different educators assume differing views on the definition of multicultural literature and this drives their decisions on their direction for choosing the works they will use in their teaching. One constant debate educators encounter in the choosing process is the question of whether there is enough representation of all cultures (culture having broad and various interpretations) in the literary works. In some schools multicultural literature and (more so in library cataloging) is confused with multi-ethnic literature. (LD)


 * //Accuracy is Not Enough://**
 * //Role Of Cultural Values in the Authenticity of Picture Book// (198)**

It is not sufficient enough that information is simply provided. That information needs to be accurate, culturally correct and acceptable and sensitive to what the culture as a whole would appreciate being represented with. Progress is slowly being made in the providing of information by authors about different groups of people. Some groups may be less represented and it could certainly be done but must be done in the most appropriate manner. This may be considered after the author made any appropriate consultations with community or group dignitaries, adequate research is conducted and ample representation is provided. (LD)


 * //Artistic Triumph or Multicultural Failure// (213)**

Misinformation through literature that has not been fully researched. Exploitation of a culture with the book __Arrow to the Sun.__ The critiques of the books and what was going on with the issues of them were helpful.

Various criteria is considered when evaluating literary works for cultural accuracy and sensitivity. Many works are published and dispersed without consideration of a culture or groups sacred activities, symbols and ideology. Some of these works even receive awards and are hailed and provided to schools across the nation and world and become the basis for the way people will perceive a people and the practices they participate in. The example of the book __Arrow to the Sun__ exemplifies the irreversible damage that misrepresentation and inappropriate intrusion into cultures can do. (LD)