Sticks and Stones | Seven Days

Sticks and Stones | Seven Days.

Seven Days article explores how “Outright Vermont teaches kids that words do hurt.”

“89% of LGBT students heard the word “gay” (e.g., “that’s so gay”) used in a negative way frequently or often at school.

85% were verbally harassed at school because of their sexual orientation.

53% were harassed or threatened by peers via electronic media such as text messages, e-mails and Facebook.

From the 2009 National School Climate Survey of LGBT youth conducted by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.”

Reading Selections and Booklists

Yesterday, Rebecca and Megan at the Fletcher Free Library introduced me to two great new books: Reid’s Read-Alouds and Readers Advisory for Children and Tweens by Penny Peck.

Here is Reid’s book list titled “People with Disabilities”:

• Look, Lenore.  Ruby Lu
• Lord, Cynthia.  Rules
• Lowny, Lois.  Gathering Blues
• Mackei, Kathy.  Mad Cat
• Miller, Sarah.  Miss Spitfire
• Morpurgo, Michael.  Private Peaceful
• Sachar, Louis.  Small Steps
• Smith, D. James.  The Boys of San Joaquin
• Woodson, Jacqueline.  Feathers

There are many many other great lists in Reid’s book with great book descriptions as well.  Enjoy checking them out!

Engaging with Ruby Payne’s Work

A number of resources that begin to explore responses to Ruby Payne’s work.  Thank you to Marianne McCoy- Curriculum Specialist for sending this along!

Marianne writes: “Her work has generated much response based on her research, sampling, patterning, and the danger of misinterpretation by teachers”

Peddling Poverty for Profit: Elements of Oppression in Ruby Payne’s Framework
EQUITY & EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION, 41(1), 130–148, 2008

A Framework for Understanding Ruby Payne,
by Anita Perna Bohn (apbohn@ilstu.edu) assistant professor at Illinois State University

Savage Unrealities: Racism and Classism Abound in Ruby Payne’s Framework (2008)
Paul C. Gorski’s essay published in Rethinking Schools.

Miseducating Teachers about the Poor: A Critical Analysis of Ruby Payne’s Claims about Poverty
by Randy Bomer, Joel E. Dworin, Laura May & Peggy Semingson

Champions of Diversity & Equity in Pictures

“Hanukkah and a Rediscovery of Jewish Customs”

Krista Tippet on Being explores Hanukkah and other Jewish Customs with Scott-Martin Kosofsky, a book designer and editor.  Hanukkah is being celebrated right now, December 3-December 9.  Happy Haukkah!  This link has a ton of resources, slide shows, podcast, playlist and recommended readings!  Enjoy

Integrated Arts Academy Celebration Book Display

 

Winter Holiday Books at Edmunds Middle School Library

“Better Together: Racial Justice and the LGBT Community”

This report “prepared by the Applied Research Center (ARC) in partnership with the Arcus Foundation, this study examines the relationship between racial justice organizations and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities, finding the lack of resources, funding, and community support are obstacles to engagement between the two communities.”

“Smithsonian, Google Remember Rose Parks”

“Today marks the 55th anniversary of the Montgomery bus boycott and the rise of Rosa Parks into a place of national honor for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger.” Read the article here.

Question to consider: In what ways do we see the civil rights movement continuing today?