[NIFL-4EFF:2835] Re: more on ethical dilemmas in ESOL

From: Andy Nash (andy_nash@worlded.org)
Date: Fri Sep 10 2004 - 08:53:47 EDT


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From: "Andy Nash" <andy_nash@worlded.org>
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Subject: [NIFL-4EFF:2835] Re: more on ethical dilemmas in ESOL
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Jean,
I think Judy's point was that, just because we don't notice particular
issues doesn't mean that they don't exist or that they are not major
issues for some segment of our community. Native Amerian issues are not
minor to the Native Americans who live here, even though they might not
be a large issue on your radar screen. I think that the aim is to be
aware that we don't speak for our entire community and that there's a
difference between saying, "I'm not aware of Native American issues
where I live" and "Native American issues are minor in New England." 

Getting back to EFF, I think the Common Activity, "Respect Others and
Value Diversity" helps us out here when it reminds us to, among other
things, "educate yourself about other cultures" (p. 148 of the Content
Standards Book - the Blue Book). 
Thanks,
Andy Nash
NELRC, Boston




>>> PHCSJean.2156541@bloglines.com 9/10/2004 1:00:22 AM >>>
This has been a wonderful discussion. I am so glad that I posted in
search
of ideas. There have been many issues I'd never considered brought up.

I really didn't mean to stir up a hotbed with the Native American
comment
though. I must be an ostrich with my head in the sand since I'm missing
the
Native American issues here in New England. <wink!> Judy, we even live
in
the same city. I only know one person who is connected with Native
Americans--she's
actually one of my tutors! I've seen an Indian PowWow festival listed
in the
summer stuff to do, and know about the Indian-Casino debates, and that
there
is an Indian section at Plimoth Plantation, but in wracking my brains,
that's
all I can come up with even connected to Indians here. What kinds of
issues
do you see?

Jean
--- nifl-4eff@nifl.gov wrote:
Posted on behalf of Judy
Titzel.  Thanks, Judy, for the thought-provoking 
> message and for the suggested
resource.
> Meta
> 
> 
> 
> Jean,
> 
> There are also a host of ethical
issues in ESOL classrooms that incorporate 
> health literacy into their
curriculum....how do you talk about important health 
> issues that are taboo
in certain cultures? How do you address misconceptions 
> about health and
wellness that are strongly embedded in a culture without 
> dismissing cultural
knowledge as somehow inferior to Western science? These issues 
> come up
in both physical and mental health as well as child rearing 
> discussions.

> 
> An ESOL teacher shared a classroom incident with me where a male
student
from 
> a middle Eastern culture was continually rude to and dismissive of
the female 
> students. She found the incident difficult to navigate.
>

> I would also highly recommend Joel Springs book on democratization -
a
brief 
> history of legal and educational strategies used by our country
that oppressed 
> immigrants of other cultures. 
> 
> One last thought...I
would respectfully disagree with your statement that 
> "Here in New England
the Native American issues are minor"
> 
> Judy Titzel
> Providence, RI

> 



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