Lessons Learned in This Semester

Overall this semester I learned a lot about reading from your own experience. I learned this by hearing my group mates talk about why they read into something in the text a certain way due to their own personal experience with the group being discussed. I also learned how my personal experience affects my read of books. I also learned a lot about the opinions surrounding the insider outsider debate. This helped me think about my previous view that insider books are better and form a new view of what books I like and think are quality works of literature. Some questions I still have would be how to fit these works into my curriculum. How to facilitate discussion around these works in the classroom and any opposition they bring from the community. Lastly, many new teachers want to fly under the radar of their principals making sure not to make a ruckus so how do we work with higher ups that don’t see this work as important to education? This class has expanded on so many skills I began developing in 348. I plan on using these skills, such as critical analysis of literature, in my future readings and preparation for my classroom. This class also got me thinking not only about how diversity is portrayed in the literature but how it is viewed and portrayed in the world at large. All of these amazing lessons learned in this short semester will help guide me into becoming not only a great teacher but also a better person.

Review of The Review of White Swan Express

I found my review in Publishers Weekly. The review gave the book great applause for being about adoption. It was not until the very end of the review that it talked about the families that were adopting the Chinese quadruplets. When addressing the families it did so in condescending way. Saying that they are "unique individuals" and a "matter- of- fact mix". I was a bit shocked that it did not talk more extensively about the presence of a lesbian couple in this book. I was not shocked that it gave the book such high praise because I agree that this was a great book. It would have been nice if the review would have talked about the differences in the adoption process for the lesbian couple and how this was not shown in the book. However, I also agree with the way the review talked about the emotion the parents felt. Overall it was an okay review but could have talked more about the LGBT presence in the book
"The white Swan Express;A Story About Adoption."Publishers Weekly Reviews. 14 Oct. 2002.

Reflection on LGBT book Reviews

The group I chose to write about was Same Sex Couples, with an emphasis on families and parenting. I chose this group mainly because I have a personal interest in the topic. I have two newborn nieces and I am a person who identifies with this culture. I wanted to find books I could read to my nieces when they are older to help them understand our family. I was very surprised when I went in search of these books. Though I could find them on bookstore websites, many of the stores did not have them on the shelves. I was shocked to have a store employee tell me that they did not carry them because there was “not a demand for them.” I was able to finally find books at the Capital Area Public Library. The books I chose for my set, after reading about 12 books were: Emma and Meesha my Boy, One Dad Two Dads Brown Dad Blue Dads, and The White Swan Express. I chose these books because I really like how they portrayed LGBT families in a positive light. I also wanted to find books that other students had not already written about regarding this topic. From my set I learned a lot about the different types of books representing LGBT families. My books talk about the issue of the parents being gay in different ways. In One Dad Two Dads Brown Dad Blue Dads the focus of the book is on parents being different. In White Swan Express and Emma and Messha My Boy the focus is the story and it just so happens to involve LGBT characters. I chose both views because I wanted to see how each worked in breaking down or building up stereotypes of this community. I think that by reading these books one can gain an understanding of the typical LBGT household, how they grow and evolve, and what stereotypes these households face everyday. Each book helps to provide the information for gaining these understandings.

The White Swan Express

Aoki, Elaine M. and Okimoto, Jean Davies. The White Swan Express.New York: Clarion Books,2002.

This story is about multiple families adopting Chinese quadruplets. One of the families is a lesbian couple Andrea Lee and Charlotte Appleford. This book is like Emma and Meesha My Boy in the fact that the focus of the story is not on the couple being gay, but on them starting their family. This book was a hard book for me to wrap my mind around, though I found it enjoyable. It was hard to read, because when talking about the adoption process, it talked about all the families as though they are the same. It did not talk about how tremendously hard it is for an LGBT family to adopt a child, as opposed to a heterosexual couple. This could cause misconceptions for the reader. I also liked how in a picture on page 13 in the text Charlotte Appleford one part of the same sex couple is wearing a cross. I liked this because it is often a stereotype that members of the LGBT community are not/cannot be religious because Christianity “views” homosexuality as a sin. Therefore, I think this picture does a good job of dispelling that stereotype. The characters in this story are portrayed as being feminine women. This breaks down the stereotype that LGBT couples have one partner to fit each normal gender role of a heterosexual relationship. This book does a good job talking about the emotions of adopting as well. Overall this book breaks down many stereotypes and is an enjoyable read.

One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads

Valentine, Johnny. One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads. Los Angeles: Alyson Wonderland, 1994.

This story is about a boy who has two Dads who are “blue”. Though it is again not outwardly stated that this is a gay couple. I feel is well implied in the context. I like this book for exactly the opposite reason I like Emma and Meesha My Boy. This book is much more explicit in talking about issues surrounding same-sex couples. The book makes references to the parenting abilities of same-sex couples, and how they “became gay”. It does all of this in the guise of them being “blue” meaning different or gay. I think the book does a good job explaining that same-sex parents can do all the things a heterosexual couple can do with their children. This is potentially problematic because it is saying that same-sex couples are just like heterosexual couples, which is true on some fronts, but same-sex couples are not granted many of the privileges as heterosexual couples. It also talks about how you don’t become gay from eating or touching something, or by being around someone who is gay. It is interesting to have this in a book because it can dispel the “how you become gay” stereotypes. Though I liked the book a lot, I find myself wishing that it were stated in the book that the dads are gay. I think that would have tied these explanations directly to the group it is implied that they are discussing. Therefore making it more meaningful for the reader.

Emma and Meesha My Boy a Two Mom Story

Considine, Kaitlyn. Emma and Meesha My Boy a Two Mom Story.Xlibris,2003.

This story is about a young girl learning how to take care of her pet cat. She just happens to have two moms. I really like this book because at first glance you may or may not know if her mom’s are a couple or if she has a step mom. However there is a page that states that she has a mommy and a mama this gives the impression of a same sex parented household. I think this book is a positive portrayal of a diverse family unit because it shows the family doing everyday relatable tasks. I also like how the focus of the book is not on the mom’s orientation. Through I think books that focus on the culture are important I also think it is important for the focus not to be on that culture. However, I think it is also pertinent to ensure that the culture’s voice is not being silenced trying to make the character appear normal. In this case where the family was not encountering issues or discriminations that affect this culture. I think is nice to just see a same-sex parented family going through day to day life.

On a Trip to Target and and Interesting book

The other night I was at target shopping for my new baby niece and while looking at books I found one I really thought was cute it is called "I love you so Much" by Marianne Richmond. I then saw another book with the same name thinking it was a sequel to the one I was looking at because it had a different picture on the cover I picked it up and began reading. Turns out it is the exact same book. The only difference between the two books was the pictures, colors and price. The first book I picked up was red with illustrations of an African American mom and daughter on the cover. The second was a bit larger it was a blue color and had a Caucasian mom and daughter on the cover. This book also cost a little bit more I am hoping that is because it was a bit bigger. But my main reason for telling you all this is that I was taken a back that a book would be printed twice with two different covers especially when the pictures through out the book are not just pictures of one ethnicity. So I want to know what you think...

Questioning the text: Cofessions of a closet Cathoilc

I had the questioning text paper and I decided that I wanted the group to think about the question "How does the plot of this novel position readers views and feelings on people who question either their own faith or faith in general?"
To direct you to the text when thinking about this question the passages I choose are page: one (confession of examining faith), six, seven and eight (learning about new religions), Page 104 (how Bubbe feels), and Pages 143 and 164-165(religious leaders feelings.
I choose this question because I know I have struggled with faith and my stance on it my entire life and at time faced ridicule for it.

Insider/Outsider Debate

After spending time reading and contemplating this weeks articles on Multicultural literature, I am still struggling with my stand on the insider outsider debate. Though the articles made a few points on who should be writing multicultural lit I felt the main focus of the papers were on what defines multicultural literature and how it should be viewed and used. It would be easy to debate my point of view on many of these issues based on the reading but that was not the assignment. So based on the short statements on the insider/outsider debate in our reading and my personal experience I would say that yes it is possible for an outsider to write about a particular group.

I say this with great apprehension. I feel that an outsider of a group can never fully put themselves in the shoes of the group or person they are writing about. Yes, they can write a very good book about a person from another culture and if they are socially conscious the book should be free of generalizations or stereotypes. On the other hand, I feel that it is near impossible for the outsider to fully understand what it is like to be a part of that culture and face the experiences that group may face. Thus I am very hesitant when taking the yes stand on this.

Can the outsider write the book without knowing those emotions and still have the audience feel them? Are the emotions and feelings around the experiences of a culture important to the story? These are the questions I am left with unanswered in my head when attempting to understand my stance on this debate.

As well, I find it a misnomer that people feel or believe that just because someone is an insider that they are the expert on that group or qualified to write about it or write at all for that matter. This is a result of personal reading experiences that left me questioning why a (insider) writer felt qualified or was allowed to write such a story. Realizing that you can find issue with and insider and an outsider leaves me with my stand that yes a qualified and socially conscious outsider can write a book about a culture or social group that they are not a part of.

About Me

I am a senior elementary Ed intergraded science major. I currently work as a daycare teacher at Kindercare. I really love working there and getting to watch the children learn and grow. I am taking this class because I really enjoyed TE 348. I also have a great interest in the celebration of diversity. In the past, I have worked for different diversity organizations. In high school I helped found our multicultural club, which introduced me to the diversity organization I work with now. That organization is called The National Conference of Community and Justice or NCCJ. I generally work for their youth division. This division works exclusively with high school student’s teaching/ training them different techniques to bring to their schools to promote the celebration of diversity. I have also worked with middle school students through this program. It has been great having the opportunity to learn how students view diversity. I am really looking forward to hearing and learning about your experiences with diversity and your take on the readings from this class. I also welcome any questions or conversations.
Sincerely,
Natasha