Friday, April 8, 2016
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Editors/Publishers Producing Inferior Books!
So this past week in the library, I decided to pull the original book Shrek written by William Steig! I conjured up in my mind that the kiddos know the movie, but as true to most Hollywood flicks nowadays, it was based on a book. Little did I know that it would piss me off beyond comprehension...
In a nutshell, I believe book editors have fallen prey to the almighty dollar and therefore, are producing books with the vernacular tailored towards the inferior, standardized-test child instead of elevated for the voracious, learning child. Let me provide some context. I decided to read this book to my 5th graders. As I read it to them, they kept interjecting--"What does 'cowed' mean?" "Blithe?" "Yokel?" "Smite?" "Brayed" "Frolicked?"--now these were all vocabulary authentic to the Old English vernacular of the time and appropriate for the context of the story. And in total, there were 21 unfamiliar words. Furthermore, this was a "teachable moment" and a great way to have them use their 21st century technology (e.g. their cellphones) for the quick Google Query on defining a word. Heck, I even had a moment of pride when a young lady chided a boy for interrupting me by saying "Stop acting like a yokel and let her finish!" Can we say AHA moment?
However, what pissed me off was the fact that this book was written in 1990 and published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux. Twenty five years ago, when vocabulary challenged students...before No Child Left Behind left American children leagues behind other countries...when editors published books that made children ask their parents--"What does 'churlish' mean?" e.g. "I've a problem. I don't know what this word means. Let me find a resource. How can I use this new knowledge? I can use to insult and confuse my bully at school. Oh yeah? Well, you're a churlish yokel! Now let me run while he's confused!"
Returning to my initial concern, I believe majority of the books published are such simpletons that the kiddos have no reason to interrupt Mommy as she watches Netflix to ask an interactive question about a word choice...heaven forbid that Mommy has a teachable moment with their child at home. Forgive my digression, but the revelation in reading Steig's "middle-aged" book boggled my mind so that I pulled some award winning picture books of 2015--The Day the Crayons Quit, The Chicken Squad: The First Misadventure, Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend and The Pigeon Needs a Bath!--straight from the American Library Association's list of Notable Books to use as comparison to Steig's invigorating vocabulary just to test my hunch: Are editors/publishers producing inferior books? Even though those aforementioned titles are entertaining--I love Beekle and Dan Santat--my informal research showed that not one of them came even close to challenging the audience's vocabulary with higher-order thinking vernacular...or as a like to see it, enticing the reader to seek new meaning with words as they sit captivated by the storytelling and visual.
Simply put, "if the kids don't see, read and interact with words on some stimulating level, how else will their vocabulary expand?" Especially, if publishers/editors are pushing simpleton books that appeal to the reluctant readers, but don't provide the grit needed to grow linguistically?
I suppose the big picture to me as an educator, librarian, parent and advocate of intellectual freedom is this: We can talk "Rigor and Relevance," dig deeper, Teach Like a Champion and all that other educational jargon that corporations/institutions sell at professional development workshops, but if we don't hold PUBLISHERS and EDITORS accountable like we hold teachers and students, then it's all just lipservice...or as my Daddy says "It's the same shit, just a different toilet!"
So here's the challenge, in addition to producing diverse books that have more minorities on the cover and in leading roles because color matters to everyone whether they acknowledge or deny it, embrace the authors that use words that challenge their audiences to remove themselves from their ZOMBIE, simpleton reading and acquire a new meaningful word or two! This way words like "irascible," "appalled" and "slog" are used just as frequently as "like," "awesome" and "really." As an aside, I f-ing loathe the words "like," "awesome" and "really!" If any one of them are used more than 3 times in a conversation, I've written you off mentally. I know it's harsh...but like really?
In a nutshell, I believe book editors have fallen prey to the almighty dollar and therefore, are producing books with the vernacular tailored towards the inferior, standardized-test child instead of elevated for the voracious, learning child. Let me provide some context. I decided to read this book to my 5th graders. As I read it to them, they kept interjecting--"What does 'cowed' mean?" "Blithe?" "Yokel?" "Smite?" "Brayed" "Frolicked?"--now these were all vocabulary authentic to the Old English vernacular of the time and appropriate for the context of the story. And in total, there were 21 unfamiliar words. Furthermore, this was a "teachable moment" and a great way to have them use their 21st century technology (e.g. their cellphones) for the quick Google Query on defining a word. Heck, I even had a moment of pride when a young lady chided a boy for interrupting me by saying "Stop acting like a yokel and let her finish!" Can we say AHA moment?
However, what pissed me off was the fact that this book was written in 1990 and published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux. Twenty five years ago, when vocabulary challenged students...before No Child Left Behind left American children leagues behind other countries...when editors published books that made children ask their parents--"What does 'churlish' mean?" e.g. "I've a problem. I don't know what this word means. Let me find a resource. How can I use this new knowledge? I can use to insult and confuse my bully at school. Oh yeah? Well, you're a churlish yokel! Now let me run while he's confused!"
Returning to my initial concern, I believe majority of the books published are such simpletons that the kiddos have no reason to interrupt Mommy as she watches Netflix to ask an interactive question about a word choice...heaven forbid that Mommy has a teachable moment with their child at home. Forgive my digression, but the revelation in reading Steig's "middle-aged" book boggled my mind so that I pulled some award winning picture books of 2015--The Day the Crayons Quit, The Chicken Squad: The First Misadventure, Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend and The Pigeon Needs a Bath!--straight from the American Library Association's list of Notable Books to use as comparison to Steig's invigorating vocabulary just to test my hunch: Are editors/publishers producing inferior books? Even though those aforementioned titles are entertaining--I love Beekle and Dan Santat--my informal research showed that not one of them came even close to challenging the audience's vocabulary with higher-order thinking vernacular...or as a like to see it, enticing the reader to seek new meaning with words as they sit captivated by the storytelling and visual.
Simply put, "if the kids don't see, read and interact with words on some stimulating level, how else will their vocabulary expand?" Especially, if publishers/editors are pushing simpleton books that appeal to the reluctant readers, but don't provide the grit needed to grow linguistically?
I suppose the big picture to me as an educator, librarian, parent and advocate of intellectual freedom is this: We can talk "Rigor and Relevance," dig deeper, Teach Like a Champion and all that other educational jargon that corporations/institutions sell at professional development workshops, but if we don't hold PUBLISHERS and EDITORS accountable like we hold teachers and students, then it's all just lipservice...or as my Daddy says "It's the same shit, just a different toilet!"
So here's the challenge, in addition to producing diverse books that have more minorities on the cover and in leading roles because color matters to everyone whether they acknowledge or deny it, embrace the authors that use words that challenge their audiences to remove themselves from their ZOMBIE, simpleton reading and acquire a new meaningful word or two! This way words like "irascible," "appalled" and "slog" are used just as frequently as "like," "awesome" and "really." As an aside, I f-ing loathe the words "like," "awesome" and "really!" If any one of them are used more than 3 times in a conversation, I've written you off mentally. I know it's harsh...but like really?
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Standardizing Testing Against My Religion
As an educator, I realize that the Spring is the testing season. Students and teachers will be locked in rooms together for 4 hours on end for multiple days, each one threatened to various degrees. Students are facing being held back for not succeeding on these state-mandated exams, as well as the disappointing failure associated if they don't succeed as expected. Teachers are facing having their license revoked as well as legal ramifications if something goes on "under their watch." I even had one testing coordinator threaten the staff that even if the "Texas Education Agency (TEA) investigates you and the accusations turn out to be false, it will FOREVER be on your license that you were under investigation by the state." Who will hire you then? And, just now, I was forced to sign an OATH declaring how I will uphold all of the rules, regulations and policies. Hmm...that sounds like oppression to me!
Therefore, after much thought and consideration, I have declared any standardized test against my faith...religion...morals...ethics...my being. I'm fed up with the threats, forced oppression and legal ramifications. This is not the education that's beneficial to the whole student. They're drained because before the state exams, there are benchmarks/district exams...or as I like to call it, tests before the tests so we can get our excuses together to explain our performance on the real test. This is, in fact, bullying AND oppression. For those of you who need definitions and undisputable truth, look at these clear definitions according to Merriam-Webster:
I don't need you to agree, disagree or persecute me. I say when it's enough for me. I decided years ago to leave the classroom and become a librarian for this primary reason...yet the demon follows!
Here's an unbiased and professional article written by Paul Thomas of Furman University, regarding the dangers and setbacks of No Child Left Behind
Therefore, after much thought and consideration, I have declared any standardized test against my faith...religion...morals...ethics...my being. I'm fed up with the threats, forced oppression and legal ramifications. This is not the education that's beneficial to the whole student. They're drained because before the state exams, there are benchmarks/district exams...or as I like to call it, tests before the tests so we can get our excuses together to explain our performance on the real test. This is, in fact, bullying AND oppression. For those of you who need definitions and undisputable truth, look at these clear definitions according to Merriam-Webster:
I don't need you to agree, disagree or persecute me. I say when it's enough for me. I decided years ago to leave the classroom and become a librarian for this primary reason...yet the demon follows!
Here's an unbiased and professional article written by Paul Thomas of Furman University, regarding the dangers and setbacks of No Child Left Behind
To Hell with 50 Shades of Grey...
I've found the perfect rebuttal to all of this machismo crazy surrounding 50 Shades of Grey...
RHIÈ- THE NEW SOVEREIGNTY from ace norton on Vimeo.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
MEN BECOME FEMINISTS, PLEASE!!
So Upworthy had this video inquiring whether they were for women's rights:
What really irked me is that men still equate the word feminism with some less than manly feeling. I don't know if it's word association because feminism sounds like feminine and they just avert the whole word or what, but I tell you one thing, my future husband, WILL BE A DAMN FEMINIST AND PROUD OF IT! That's all I have to say! :)
What really irked me is that men still equate the word feminism with some less than manly feeling. I don't know if it's word association because feminism sounds like feminine and they just avert the whole word or what, but I tell you one thing, my future husband, WILL BE A DAMN FEMINIST AND PROUD OF IT! That's all I have to say! :)
Friday, October 24, 2014
Russell Brand is RIGHT!
Often times, stars will quietly give their support to causes they believe in. However, they don't risk the political persecution and the comforts of their fame for their core morals. Russell Brand does it. And for that I applaud him. At least he has the bollocks to stand up, out and loud, calling for society to wake up. For human-kind to stop being "brain-washed" by corporations, politicians, media-moguls and whatever other "Captain Overlords" out there. I've preached to my friends, family and others to pull their heads out of their bums and grab a clue...the "zombie-apocalypse" is the silver-spoon selects creating a mockery out of us, the worker --the food source for the elite leeches-- as they continue to rob us blind, keep us "functioning poor" or less, all while entertaining us with fictionalize monsters and over-popularized "reality" shows and stars.
Watch the video, pay attention to the tactics the interviewer tries to use in efforts to deflect his own personal views and over-dramatize and skew some of Brand's points. BTW, the daft chart included data from the 1870s, and I sternly believe none of us working class, want to return the periods when luxury was something held in a dream, when modern-medicine was in its infancy and the quality of living-- did I mention inflation?--were light-years away for our reality now.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
The Exhaustion of Racism...
“Black people are normal people deserving of the same respect afforded to anyone else, but they often aren’t given that respect due to the machinations of white supremacy.” -Cord Jefferson
Today, when I thanked President Obama for signing an act to cap the amount students have to payback on student loans to 10%, I received this hateful Twitter response from screen name @joeboogersbiggz that called for "death to our nation's leader and all politicians...to have their blood run through the streets..." Thankfully it was deleted by Twitter, but "what's seen can't be unseen."
And, now I worry...for our leader and country, for my sons (who are mixed race) and I get an unsettling feeling. Who knew some of our citizens would turn a simple "thank you for your help" into an atrociously ugly moment? This Aquarius of violence and hatred is seeping out at a rate that stifles my revolutionary thoughts of improving the daily injustices done unto anybody. Though I don't like a lot of what our elected leaders are doing, never once did I think to murder them...to return to a barbaric mode of thinking that toppled kingdoms and wiped out civilizations. And though I'm a rebel, with just cause, my philosophy is somewhere in between Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, John Locke and Gandhi. I have to believe reason and enlightenment will change the thoughts of radicals and simmer the unjust passions of the ignorant, who use racial slurs, slain the innocent and call for the blood of our leaders.
This is the preface I will use for my latest find by Cord Jefferson, who poignantly penned my exact frustrations regarding racism. You see, I've always been the token "black" friend, the girl who's twice as intelligent if not more than her Caucasian sisters but still can't land a "dream job" by word-of-mouth like my paler peers, or a woman, who dates a guy based on the manner in which he treats me and not just because "he's Black." (or White, Asian, Indian, British, French, etc. because there's good and bad of every race. So put whatever label you want in the blank!)
WE, AS INTELLECTS, ARE EXHAUSTED DISCUSSING THE INJUSTICES OF RACISM...OR SEXISM...OR ANY "-ISM" THAT FITS THE UNJUST TREATMENT OF ANY PERSON, ESPECIALLY REPEATED DISCUSSIONS WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT CHANGE!
To use Jefferson's words from his latest article on "The Racism Beat":
I’m ready for people in positions of power at magazines and newspapers and movie studios to recalibrate their understanding of what it means to talk about race in the first place. If America would like to express that it truly values and appreciates the voices of its minorities, it will listen to all their stories, not just the ones reacting to its shortcomings and brutality.
If this doesn’t eventually happen, I wonder how many more writers of color will come to the conclusion, as my colleague did, that this life we’ve made for ourselves is unsustainable. How many essays can go up before fatigue becomes anger becomes insanity? How many op-ed columns before you can feel the gruesomeness of trying to defend another dead black kid slowly hollowing you out? How many different ways can you find to say that you’re a human being?
If you’re black and your beat is to offer your thoughts and opinions on the degradation of black Americans, you’ll never want for steady work. A steady mind is not guaranteed.
Cord Jefferson, I thank you for your thoughts and inspiring this blog post. I hope to get the word of "exhausted racism" out there with you! Be well everyone!
Today, when I thanked President Obama for signing an act to cap the amount students have to payback on student loans to 10%, I received this hateful Twitter response from screen name @joeboogersbiggz that called for "death to our nation's leader and all politicians...to have their blood run through the streets..." Thankfully it was deleted by Twitter, but "what's seen can't be unseen."
 | Joe Booger Biggs (@JoeBoogerBiggz) |
@awakenlibrarian Continue to kill Obama supporters and Obama voters! Kill all the politicians now! Spill their blood in the streets now! | |
And, now I worry...for our leader and country, for my sons (who are mixed race) and I get an unsettling feeling. Who knew some of our citizens would turn a simple "thank you for your help" into an atrociously ugly moment? This Aquarius of violence and hatred is seeping out at a rate that stifles my revolutionary thoughts of improving the daily injustices done unto anybody. Though I don't like a lot of what our elected leaders are doing, never once did I think to murder them...to return to a barbaric mode of thinking that toppled kingdoms and wiped out civilizations. And though I'm a rebel, with just cause, my philosophy is somewhere in between Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, John Locke and Gandhi. I have to believe reason and enlightenment will change the thoughts of radicals and simmer the unjust passions of the ignorant, who use racial slurs, slain the innocent and call for the blood of our leaders.
This is the preface I will use for my latest find by Cord Jefferson, who poignantly penned my exact frustrations regarding racism. You see, I've always been the token "black" friend, the girl who's twice as intelligent if not more than her Caucasian sisters but still can't land a "dream job" by word-of-mouth like my paler peers, or a woman, who dates a guy based on the manner in which he treats me and not just because "he's Black." (or White, Asian, Indian, British, French, etc. because there's good and bad of every race. So put whatever label you want in the blank!)
WE, AS INTELLECTS, ARE EXHAUSTED DISCUSSING THE INJUSTICES OF RACISM...OR SEXISM...OR ANY "-ISM" THAT FITS THE UNJUST TREATMENT OF ANY PERSON, ESPECIALLY REPEATED DISCUSSIONS WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT CHANGE!
To use Jefferson's words from his latest article on "The Racism Beat":
I’m ready for people in positions of power at magazines and newspapers and movie studios to recalibrate their understanding of what it means to talk about race in the first place. If America would like to express that it truly values and appreciates the voices of its minorities, it will listen to all their stories, not just the ones reacting to its shortcomings and brutality.
If this doesn’t eventually happen, I wonder how many more writers of color will come to the conclusion, as my colleague did, that this life we’ve made for ourselves is unsustainable. How many essays can go up before fatigue becomes anger becomes insanity? How many op-ed columns before you can feel the gruesomeness of trying to defend another dead black kid slowly hollowing you out? How many different ways can you find to say that you’re a human being?
If you’re black and your beat is to offer your thoughts and opinions on the degradation of black Americans, you’ll never want for steady work. A steady mind is not guaranteed.
Cord Jefferson, I thank you for your thoughts and inspiring this blog post. I hope to get the word of "exhausted racism" out there with you! Be well everyone!
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