As some of you know I recently showed the film Maria Full of Grace, which brilliantly convinces the viewer to empathize with the main character of the film, Maria, who happens to be a "drug mule" trafficking cocaine in her stomach. The film does not allow the viewer to classify and dismiss "Maria" as the "other" - her struggles are too much like our own for us to do that.
Our histories often divide between "us" and "them" by categorizing people according to those who are like "us" and those who are different - "them." Using empathy as a tool in teaching history is one way to avoid reinforcing the "us" and "them" dynamic that seems perpetuated by the dominant society. Chapters 19 and 20 in Voices of a People's History present the voices of people who are often marginalized, such as gays and lesbians (check out the trailer to Milk), non-conformists, prisoners, and American Indians, among others. How might you utilize these documents to teach empathy? And more specifically, how might you use these documents to help students understand points of view different from their own? Do you have any reservations about using these documents because of their content? If so, what are your reservations?
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8 comments:
I just finished reading Zinn...this should be an interesting discussion today! I'm headed to bed so that I can stay awake for it!
Wow, some tough topics. Some of them I feel comfortable with, and others I have the impulse to stay away from. Should be an interesting class!
I think it would really vary with the age group and with the background of the students. Interesting stuff though.
I think the documents would be excellent discussion starters in the classroom. I agree that it would depend on the age and background of the students, but you could vary the content's intensity level from midde school on.
I really liked the movie Maria Full of Grace and how it shows you what people resort to when they need the money, drugs are everywhere, they have no bounderies and they do not discriminate against anyone. People every where of every race, gender, and wealth can be persuaded by its promise of an (even if momentary) escape. The fact that in the movie that she was a pregnant 17 year-old makes you think and helps focus in on the situation. This movie also is shown in an economic stand point. it shows the poverty striken areas compaired to the somewhat wealthier middle class.
I think that one of our main goals in teaching history is to build a relationship between "us" and "them" and break down the barriers between the two. That is why I think using documents from Zinn will be very beneficial in the classroom, because he has chosen articles that are somewhat controversial, but they help us to identify with the marginalized.
I think in my classroom I would like to utilize these documents by having students read them, and then for a possible project or writing assignment, they could put themselves in the shoes of the marginalized. My hope is that they would gain a sense of how those people were feeling, and how they could have reacted to the way they were being treated. Even though students may not agree with the choices of the people they are learning about (for example if they have certain opinions about homosexuality) I would like to atleast instill in them a sense of respect for those that struggle, and that this is a very real pain for those who experience it.
Interesting chapter and one that i will explore with my students as i see it very important that we understand the diverse world that we live in! If we are to have our students become aware of the world and understand the various people in it we must try to lose the "us" and "them" point of view and talk more about "us" as the entire world. should be a good class discussion today.
I think that we covered this well in class today. I want my students to be aware of this "us" and "them" attitude because if they are ignorant of it, then they will only contribute more to it. While awareness of it will not render this divide mute, it will at least make students more aware of people in the world, be them homosexuals, non-conformists, prisoners, Indians, feminists, etc...
I don't really think i would be opposed to using any of the documents because of their content. Sometimes it takes shocking statements to awaken the mind. Sometimes it takes outspoken people to open the minds of others.
also, my word verification was "paziest." what do you think this word means? Nazi papacy? Papal zeitgeist? Papal Nazi Zeitgeist of Germany in the 1930s and 40s?
Maybe it's a derivative of crazy - "that was the paziest party ever!"
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