January 19, 2009... the beginning of an historic week
As the cold and snows of December finally passed, we have come back to our school community with renewed excitement, ready to keep learning and growing.
At this dark time of the year, our classroom habitat has been aglow with our explorations of light and color. It is so magical to mix two colors to make a third, to design and project a palette of hue, shape and form through light onto the blank canvas of the ceiling, to see the sun (occasionally) stream in our big front windows to power a solar cell, to see light refracted through crystals, rainbows circling around the room. We are learning how to read "color equations," a scientific preparation for math. We are truly experimenting and learning through "integrated curriculum." Exploring concepts that utilize and intertwine science, math, art, language, music, movement, seasonal and social awareness we create many paths to process learning, honoring varied learning styles and multiple intelligences.
In the midst of all this heightened interest and experimentation with color, we returned to talking about our own skin tones. Should people be judged by the color of their skin? Should there be rules and laws for people of one skin tone and other laws for those of a different hue? As I told the story of Rosa Parks, the children were rapt in their attention. Framing the story in a developmentally appropriate attitude of "fairness," the class was adamant and unanimous in voicing how unfair it was for people to have to sit in the back of a bus because of their skin tone. Every day, I added another set of details and questions. How about drinking fountains, bathrooms, restaurants, swimming pools, schools? Back to Rosa, I told how people walked and gave each other rides for over a year to avoid taking the bus, of how a community came together to try to change an unfair law. On Friday, I read the book "The Bus That Changed History" to the children. As I read the text, we came to the word "boycott." A light bulb went on in my head---WHOOPS!---Contrary to other years, I had forgotten to introduce this word to the children during the week. Before I could say anything, a hand went up. A four year old, with a thoughtful expression on her face, asked, "Judith, do they ever have girlcotts?" A perplexed five year old interjected, "Or dogcotts?" And I humbly realized that I had no idea where the word "boycott" originated nor why it's not girlcott, dogcott, catcott, zebracott, or even, as confusing as the English language is, why not a homophone of apricott?
All of this racing through my brain instantaneously as I'm struggling not to burst out laughing, to provide a sincere promise to look up the word boycott and find out its origin, mingled with that rising and overwhelming love for the work with young children that I am priviliged to do. How I delight in the surprises of moments like this! Then back to the serious questions: Can one person's choice make a difference? How can we change things that are unfair? Is it better to force others to change or cooperate together to create change? Big topics for little children...
On Tuesday, "emergent curriculum" will be featured as we witness history in the making. In the ELC, we'll have an "Inauguration Celebration" as we see how an elected candidate takes an oath to become President of the United States, how the retiring President welcomes the new President to the office and the White House. We're all wearing any combination of red, white and blue that we can find, serving snacks of the same colors, offering the individual choice to watch the swearing in ceremony and/or parade (while other classroom activities proceed for those who choose,) discussing how proud we can be that in our democratic country, presidents are elected and power is passed peacefully. It it an amazing "teachable moment!" Wouldn't Dr. King revel in seeing another part of his dream coming true?!
One other story from this week: Lining up to go outside, one child announces that she is going to be an astronaut. Other children join in the chorus, "Me, too; I want to be an astronaut; I want to go to Mars; I want to go to Neptune; I want to go to the center of the Universe..." And in a momentary pause, one little voice states with great fervor, "Well, I want to be an attorney!"
May our children follow their dreams and help make the world a better place!
