Children Are Our Future

A woman at work was accepting an award for "great teaching" and she quoted Whitney Houston. Now the "Greatest Love of All" was a very popular song in its day but Houston has been through a whole lot since then. Does quoting her to young, impressionable minds, in some way condone her drug use? Are we now teaching children that "crack is whack"? Are we letting them know that spousal abuse is OK?

Anyhow, this song was quoted once more at a charity auction raising money for CRY. and it really annoyed me again. What is the song's real point? That is an issue for another day. However, I will say something about the future of America.

I love my students; they are interesting, fun, and curious. At times though, I am stunned by things that come out of their mouths:

"Racism does not exist in the world anymore."

"What is so significant about Maya Angelou's life? Why do we read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings? Does she really think she is all that?"

-This after we read Night, another autobiography. None of my students questioned the need for that book to be written.

More statements?

"Women are not discriminated against anymore."

In the same class, same day, a young boy of 15 says, "The rest of the world will laugh at us if we have a woman President."

Begin sarcasm-Yes, dear! Of course 'backward' nations in Asia and Africa will be shocked by a woman President. Nations that have elected women leaders will not be pleased with America. It would most certainly be a sad state of affairs. End sarcasm.

With the recent outrage at Imus's statement -which was both racist and sexist, I have come to the conclusion children really do need to be "taught well" to "lead the way."

At home, at school, through media, children really need to be aware of the things that go on in the world around them. It's easy to think, "I'm not racist, I have friends of a different race," and "I'm not sexist, my mother works;" yet what makes someone unprejudiced? Can we be unprejudiced? Don't we all have our biases? Do some suppress their ideas, are others more educated? What really goes on? I believe it is about exposure and education.

I had a teacher in HK that stated, "I don't see colour in humans." After I did some research I realised he wasn't colour-blind. Then I was vexed. It's kind of like a man stating, "I don't see gender."
I would like someone to see my colour: to acknowledge it, accept it, and deal with it. Does it define me? In some respects, yes it does; in other respects, it shouldn't.

We know that race and gender are still significant polarizers not only in the political arena but in every day life. Why else would there be a raging debate in the United States about the democratic presidential candidates -Clinton and Obama?

Racism and sexism. The mistrust of women and black men. All too evident in Shakespeare's Othello. As we read the play in class, it's interesting to see students realise how much the world hasn't changed. Hopefully, if we keep teaching them, not just in the classroom, but in all areas of their lives, there will be a real change in the world.

To end on a lighter note, I love the Reduced Shakespeare Company, check out the Othello rap.