Thursday, March 3, 2011

A Novel Study: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

A novel study on Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. "It is an amazing novel. The website is a great resource for getting ideas for lessons while studying this novel. Perfect for grade 7, 8, 9 middle years." Thanks for sharing Kate C! I came across this (see below) on a blog called blogging censorship (National Coalition Against Censorship)...could lead to an interesting class discussion about stories, which ones get told, and why.

A disappointing ruling came out last night regarding Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian in Stockton, Missouri. The Stockton School Board voted 7-0 holding firm in its decision to remove the book from school classrooms, notwithstanding pressure from many educators to keep it. The board also ruled in favor of banning the book from the high school library.
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About STARS

University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
The Student Teachers Anti-Racism Society (STARS) promotes anti-racism education at the College of Education, University of Saskatchewan through the support of the College. We work collaboratively to understand, identify, and address individual and systemic racism and its interlocking forms of oppression based on gender, sexuality, ability, class, religion and other socially constructed categories. STARS developed a resource blog because we recognize that although the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education has mandated the inclusion of Treaty education and First Nations and Metis content across grade levels and subject areas, not all teachers have access to the resources and knowledge needed to make this mandate a reality. We also believe that including First Nations and Metis content in classrooms on its own, without anti-racism education, is extremely problematic. This practice takes attention away from the processes that cause, justify and normalize the oppression, exploitation and objectification of Indigenous peoples and knowledge. We believe that anti-racist and decolonizing education, when woven together, can create humanizing and emancipatory change for everyone.

History of STARS

In January 2009 ten students in the Indian Teacher Education Program gathered with one of their instructors to start STARS. The group initially began to create space and opportunities for students to support one another and talk about their experiences, frustrations, and ideas regarding anti-racist and Indigenous education. STARS has grown since 2009. We now have a planning committee (open to all Education students) that organizes monthly professional development opportunities and an annual conference. In 2010 STARS received a Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development Recognition Award.

2008 - 2009 Events
1) Sharing Circle meeting
2) Becky Sasakamoose Kuffner (City of Saskatoon Race Relations Coordinator)
3) Rita Bouvier
4) Sheelah Mclean
5) Tasha Hubbard: Two Worlds Colliding
6) ACTnow (Duck Lake high school)
7) March 21 Workshop (In Recognition of the United Nations' International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination)

2009 - 2010 Events
1) The History of Race (video & discussion)
2) Marilyn Wapass: Racism and Violence Against Women
3) Dr. Marie Battiste: Anti-racism and Decolonization
4) Sheelah McLean: Using Comedy to Confront Racism
5) Sharon Laflamme: Anti-Racism in the Classroom
6) March 21 Mini-Conference (In Recognition of the United Nations' International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination)

2010 - 2011 Events
1) Dr. Alex Wilson (Interconnecting Isms: Race, Gender and Homophobia in Education)
2) Meet the STARS
3) Sheelah McLean (Teaching Students About Islamophobia)
4) Dr. Verna St. Denis (Becoming an Ally of Aboriginal Education)
5) Environmental Racism (Video clips and group discussion)
6) March 26 EraceISM Conference (In Recognition of the United Nations' International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination)

2011-2012 Events
1) STARS Introduction
2) Redmen: Racism and Mascots
3) Blood in the Mobile
4) Dr. Alex Wilson: Love and Leadership
5) March 23 'United' Conference (In Recognition of the United Nations' International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination)



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