I feel that as part of a critical literacy study, words and labels are extremely important. I do not just mean what words we use to define critical literacy, but words we supply our students with to describe things. Critical literacy is all about how we view documents, but also how we view the world. As a history teacher, as I have mentioned, it is important that we teach our students how to view and analyze what we see and hear. Using critical literacy in the classroom and our everyday lives has two main prongs. The first prong involves the baggage and attitudes we bring when we view a document. The second prong involves how that document shapes our attitudes and our views of the world and us. As I listened to some of Vivian Vasquez’s clip pod casts I began to think about language and how we use language to define who we are and how we think. I had been listening to several pod casts about feminism and how we define sexuality and the terminology associated with it. I did not connect these issues to my in class experience until this weekend.
I find that my students use words carelessly. The call each other names which I do not think they really understand. They make jokes about each other: skin tone, nationality, gender, ect. They joke about be “retarded” or about be a “gay”. These terms may seem almost innocent enough, my students are still young and raw when it comes to political correctness, but when should they learn. These jokes and name calling are offensive. I realize they live in a sheltered world, but when/who will teach them that what they say and how they say it matters. Now the students on the other end of the jokes proclaim they are not offended. Is this because they are so used to these jokes that they do not care, or is it because they just don’t care. I am offended by the language these children throw around. Then it hit me: this is critical literacy in their everyday lives.
Comedians jokes about these things. Their parents probably mention these terms, throw them about carelessly. I have even heard teachers say inappropriate things to students and around students. All of these things add to students’ critical literacy baggage. They heard it on TV, the radio, in the movies, and from people all around them. I believe it is important when addressing critical literacy and the responsibility of becoming functional and analytical adults that teachers should address the language that is used in the classroom. The words these students use have a historical background: one that is derogatory and painful to those on the receiving end. I realize while I am teaching my students to look closer and examine what they read and hear that my students need to be taught to question everything. The words people use can have an adverse affect on someone. That jokes are not always funny. It is high time someone step up to the plate and tell these kids that what they are saying is not right. They need to learn to weigh their words; to understand what they are saying.
I am not sure how to do this. But I suppose it will be one day at a time.
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2 comments:
What a great observation of what is going on in not only in your classroom but many classrooms in our country. In one of my classes this year I have had the same experience as you. I overhear racist comments made to be as jokes but somehow are not received that way. I had a huge talk with my class one day, because I could not let the comments go further. On the whole I do feel that most of the class is mature. Not to ever defend stereotypical or derogatory comments made by youth, but I do feel that it's a time when they are insecure, trying to find themselves, etc. Small differences between people make a huge impact on them and the only way to deal with it is for them to "joke" about it.
You are right. We need to find a way to make sure that students are aware of what their offhand comments mean and their effects. Language is a very powerful tool, and it's one that is too often underestimated.
Everything always goes back to the way we understand things compared to other viewpoints. It's always very different and brings a fine line of insult vs laughter. My brother and I had a similar argument and his contention was that language evolves. The question is, how do we keep up? Or should we?
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