Education, Community, and Atticus Finch (Journal #3)

This week's readings on building safe and multicultural community have really got me thinking. They have me thinking about what it means to build a safe community. They have me thinking about how the school that I work at is not really a safe community, at least not entirely. And they have me thinking about my favorite book, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. If you have not read this masterpiece of American literature, then some of this post may not make sense. I also recommend you read it, or at the very least see the movie, it has Gregory Peck and is a very good and faithful adaptation of the great American novel.

The Greene Article discusses the need for imagination in order to build a safe community, imagination to think as others and to be outside of ourselves. This reminds me of when Atticus tells his daughter, that you never really know a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you step into his skin and walk around it. The thing is, this is not always easy, and is often very difficult, which is why many people do not do it, the benefits do not outweigh the costs for them. But teachers cannot afford to make it a choice, it is a matter of duty for those in the profession. Trying to understand a person does not always lead to agreeing with them, but what is not needed is a universal consensus, what is needed is a universal respect, and this is what builds a safe community.

The article by Sapon-Shevin discusses building a safe community for learning by embracing both student's differences and similarities alike with clear rules and structures in place. I really liked the idea of the teacher facilitating safe community building through rules and activities created by the teacher, as well the establishment of clear rules and expectations. This really spoke to me, since that's what America is all about. Our similarities and differences are both celebrated through a strong Republican government. America is not a democracy, which rules by the omnipotent will of the majority, there are clear rules in place that prevent that from being the case, and that allow real freedom and diversity to thrive.  In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch fights for these ideals in the court, which he claims are "the nations great leveler." He charges the men on the jury to do their duty to what's right, to make the town of Maycomb a safe place for all people to not only celebrate their differences, but to celebrate being American together. American schools likewise can also function as a great leveler, if teachers will do their duty to make them a safe place for everyone. The very ethos of American civilization is expressed by Thomas Jefferson who claimed that, "all men are created equal and are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." If it is God that made all students equal in dignity, and equal in worth, who am I to put my prejudices above the almighty?

A scene from the greatest movie

A response to my letter

I recently got a response to the letter I sent to the Publisher by William Goldman, and the good news is that I got a response within two weeks of sending the letter. The bad news is that it was not the extra scene, instead it was a letter by William Goldman that detailed that since the early seventies he has been having legal troubles with the estate of S. Morgenstern, the fictional author of the Princess Bride. It was a very funny letter in keeping with the general tone of the novel, and my satisfaction was made only greater by waiting for it, a sensation that is universal in its trueness. I consider this a victory for letter writing.

On the Virtues of Letter Writing

I reckon I oughta start blogging now as I need one every two weeks, I sure hope that this works.

Recently for my Middle Level Learners class (BEDUC 480) I was informed that I was required to read a young adult novel and do an assignment related to said novel. After consulting one of the lists provided for choosing the novel, I decided upon The Princess Bride by William Goldman. There is a movie, you may be familiar. The book is really quite good, Goldman has an engaging writing style and the whole novel has an interesting framing device. Long story short, Goldman presents the book as his abridged, as he calls it the "good parts version," of a longer novel by S. Morgenstern, a fictional author from the fictional country of Florin. In one particular section, Goldman writes, as himself commenting on the "original" Morgenstern text, that at one point he wishes that Morgenstern had written more on a particular scene, namely the re-unification of Wesley and Princess Buttercup. Rather than change the original text by inserting the scene, he instead tells the reader that if they want to read the scene they can write in to his publisher who will send a copy of the text.

The address listed is:

Jelenka Harvey
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
222 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116

I wrote in to see if this would still work, the novel was originally published in 1973, and there is a website listed in the newer edition that I have but I have two education related reasons for writing in instead.

1. It is important to always be curious, and this means nothing if that curiosity is never followed through with. I was curious if this would actually work, the address is 40 years and I don't even know if it ever worked. I want to find out though, and I think that it's worth a stamp and an envelop to find out. If I think that it's important for children to remain curious, who would I be if I did not follow through on my own curiosity. It may get me nothing, but that's not the point.

2. Despite the fact that it is being used less and less these days, I think that there is still value in letter writing, and it's a skill that I like to keep fresh, and think is important to cultivate in our children. Some would say that this skill is irrelevant what with all the modern technology that there is today. But I disagree whole-heartedly, for a few reasons. While not as many letters are written in these days, the skills needed to write letters well will always be relevant. Firstly, is the ability to politely and clearly communicate ideas with someone who will not respond immediately. Even with instant messaging, texting, and the other available resources available, clear communication is key, and a letter trains this skill, and without the ability to instantly clarify, a letter requires one to communicate clearly the first time. Secondly, letters require one to learn how a bureaucratic system like the post office works and gives a view into the workings of the government. The fact that this system is not always efficient, and often requires some problem solving on the part of the citizen helps teach problem solving skills. Thirdly, it teaches patience, which is a virtue regardless of time and place, and the feeling of surprise and delight when one receives a nice letter is much greater than from any form of instant communication.

So there you have it, I'll be sure to put on my blog when I get a response, if I ever get a response. Please find attached a scanned copy of the letter I sent.

This is a test, I hope this works.