Joe Jackson (shoeless@jazztbone.com)
Sun, 10 Dec 2000 10:39:40 -0500
I meant "we" in the absolutely inclusive sense.
"Awareness" is exclusive of "science".
I'm sorry to hear about your brother.
-Joe
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-discuss-sudbury-model@aramis.sudval.org
> [mailto:owner-discuss-sudbury-model@aramis.sudval.org]On Behalf Of
> Avenfeliz1@aol.com
> Sent: Sunday, December 10, 2000 10:19 AM
> To: discuss-sudbury-model@aramis.sudval.org
> Subject: Re: DSM: Education/Science
>
>
> In a message dated 12/9/00 11:43:30 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> shoeless@jazztbone.com writes:
>
> >
> > I don't really find that a guide such as science is necessary
> to tell us
> > things like this that we can't help but already know...
> >
>
> Joe,
>
> A nerve has been hit here, so bear with me. It's difficult to translate
> things from the heart. When I read the above statement, I
> interpret it as,
> "What we as white males assume you all should know."
> I'm not suggesting that Sudbury entertain the social sciences or
> any of the
> sciences. It's a good thing too, cause they aren't about to. The
> model being
> cognizant of it is another matter. That's what social sciences provide.
> Awareness.
>
> I've looked at so many Sudbury and alternative schools. As
> wonderful as
> many of them are, there has always been something missing to me.
> Not enough
> to keep me from grasping and loving the model. Just enough for
> me to wonder
> about. Not too long ago, I discovered that something. There are
> few, if any
> people like me there. I'm an Hispanic/Indian woman. 3% of us
> even make it
> out of graduate school (social statistics at work there.)
> This society is dominated by white male thinking. Nothing new
> there. I see
> the Sudbury model somewhat as an extension of that. Not all of
> us are white
> males, however. Social Sciences include, ethnicity, women's
> issues, history
> anthropology, alternative lifestyles. The list goes on. I
> address ethnicity
> and diversity here.
>
> My Hispanic/American Indian people have given much to the
> world, and if
> it weren't for the social sciences, we wouldn't even be
> mentioned. We still
> aren't in many arenas. I believe that Martin Luther King Jr.,
> Cesar Chavez,
> Wilma Mankiller and Cochise would wonder why Sudbury model
> schools aren't on
> the reservations or near the airports where the minorities live. I wonder
> that myself. I wonder how many of the staff members in Sud schools are
> minorities. How many students are minorities? The answer is few.
> Why? It's
> not because Sud schools don't welcome them or because they shut
> them out. Why
> then? I don't know the answer. But I do know that we come from a
> different
> place. We come from a different place way back. We just don't
> think like
> white males. No matter how much it's shoved down our throats. We
> think like
> "we" think. Yet, we must adapt to a white male environment.
> Women and gay
> people might be able to identify with this. I don't know.
> Not many people know of Cesar Chavez or Wilma Mankiller. I
> know of them
> because I'm from them. And Abe Lincons decendents think how they
> think. They
> and the others I've mentioned have given a great deal in the
> social arena.
> Martin and Cochise gave their lives and their land for it. What
> about that
> young man who was killed in Wyoming simply because he was gay?
> My brother
> was recently murdered because someone thought he was just some
> homless man of
> color :(. In fact, he was a social peacemaker.
>
>
> I'm in the public school system. I won't give us much. But
> I will give
> us this: Most of the children I know, know of Cochise and Cesar
> Chavez. How
> many children in Fairhaven know who Abraham Lincon is? How many
> know who
> Wilma Mankiller or Cesar Chavez is? I'm not suggesting that
> these things be
> taught. Quite the contrary. What I am asking is this: Is there
> a place for
> minorities in a Sud school? I mean a real place? I know there
> are tokens of
> minorities in these schools. My son was one of them. He was raised in a
> rich Hispanic/Indian culture. He thinks like that, not like a white male
> (Even though his dad is Irish!) He struggled in the Sud system.
> He found it
> difficult to assimilate to the "white" way of doing things (He despised
> J..C.!) At the same time, he loved parts of it. He just didn't
> experience it
> like he was expected to. I doubt anyone was even aware of his
> difficulty for
> what it was. I saw it, but that's because we come from the same
> place. Many
> saw the outcome and gave only that creedence. It wasn't a spiteful thing.
> There was just little awereness. In not addressing cultural differences,
> they get ignored. Not everyone adapts to this environment in the
> same way.
> If that's not socially important to you Joe,it's not. That in
> essence is what
> we, as minorities must deal with. I'm sure you don't know what
> it's like to
> be called a "spic",tamohawk toter, a "nigger", "just a girl", or
> a "fag".
> I've been called a few of those. Believe me when I tell you, We
> come from a
> different place. Unfortunately or fortunately, you'll never know.
> But people
> of all colors being congnizant of it sure helps matters. I don't
> think that
> the model should be apprehensive in addressing it. I thank the social
> sciences for its' part in bringing it to the light at least.
> Please accept this as my perspective. It is sincerely not
> meant to be
> combative or confrontational.
> Viva Sudbury.
> Kathleen
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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