Name: Tom Burtless Class time: 11 – 11:50
KEEP THIS TO 1-3 – PAGES LONG (excluding reference page)
Author: Levi Rickert
Date of Publication: February 3rd, 2012
Article: Menominee Seventh Grader Suspended for Saying “I Love You” in her Native Language
1. (Knowledge)Tell three interesting elements of this article:
a. A 7th grade Menominee girl was suspended from her basketball game because she was teaching a fellow student how to say ‘hello’ and ‘I love you’ in the Menominee language.
b. When the girl asked the assistant coach of her team what she had done wrong, the assistant coach said two teachers had stated she had a bad attitude.
c. A ‘real generic letter of apology, that did not go into specifics as to why there was this apology’ was sent out to parents and guardians.
2. (Comprehension) Summarize what is being discussed within this article?
In this article, a 7th grade girl named Miranda was trying to teach one of her classmates ‘hello and ‘I love you’ in the Menominee language. Her teacher became upset because she didn’t know what Miranda was saying. Another teacher became upset based on the first teacher being upset. Both teachers told the basketball assistant coach to bench and suspend Miranda because she had a bad attitude. Miranda’s mother went to the school to figure out what had happened, only to find out that the reason for her daughter’s suspension was a result of speaking those two phrases in the Menominee language. The situation caused the school to send out a public apology to Miranda. It was deemed by her mother to be a very generic apology that didn’t specify why there was such an apology in the first place.
3. (Application)Name a specific example or NEW solution for this type of problem/similar situation in society or that you have experienced – be specific and explain?
A solution for this problem or any other type of problem where someone doesn’t understand a language or culture could be to learn the language or culture. The school that this occurred in has over 60% Native American students. The school is located 6 miles from the Menominee Indian Tribe Reservation. The teacher, knowing all of these facts, still discriminated against the girl for speaking her native language. To solve the language barrier issue the teacher could’ve asked Miranda what the words she stated translate to, or to look up the words herself. The teacher could’ve been respectful to Miranda’s heritage and culture.
4. (Analysis)Address ANY that apply. How can you compare one of the situations in this chapter to something that does not relate to computers, technology, or the Internet? Be sure to reference the chapter and your solution. What ideas NEW can you add to the issue that is being presented within the reading? Try to connect what you have by reading this article and how it applies to the stages in Bloom's taxonomy in 2 full sentences.
Another idea that can be added to this issue would be one occurring in Anne Arundel county where a councilman is trying to enact a law to make English the official language of that county (McCorkell). Under the guise of stopping illegal immigration, the law does more than that. It suppresses the notion that America is a melting pot of different cultures, languages, and ideas. By establishing that only one language is to be used in a part of America throws out the melting pot concept all together.
This article applies to Bloom’s taxonomy through understanding and comprehending the article and the point it is trying to get across. From there, through application and analysis, other events that are occurring in America can be related to the same concept occurring within this article.
5. (Synthesis) Address all that apply. Do you agree with what is being said within the article (Why/Why not? Back up with FACTS)? What new conclusions can you draw about this (or other topics) after reading this material?
I agree with what is being said in this article because the teacher didn’t allow Miranda to speak her native language in class. The last line of an article I found recounting the same event states, “Our young people have no issues with happily coexisting in our melting pot of multi-languages and multi-cultures. It’s the so-called adults who need to come to grips with reality.” (Cepeda) The fact that the teacher not only disallowed Malinda’s native language to be spoken in class, but also the fact she got her suspended from her basketball game have lead me to agree with this article. She committed these actions under the guise of Malind engaging in ‘bad behavior.’
After reading this material, the conclusion I’ve made is that discrimination is still alive in America. People are uncomfortable with seeing and hearing other cultures that they do not understand. Instead of trying to understand that culture, people, like this teacher, try to banish it.
6. (Evaluation) Address all that apply. Judge whether or not this topic is relevant in today’s society? Evaluate why you are viewing the topic in this manner based on your experiences. What ethical evaluations (see Chap1-1.4 for exp of Ethics) or decisions were made/can be assumed from this chapter? What new ideas will you make after reading this chapter?
This topic is very relevant in society. Doing a Google search of ‘language discrimination’ I came upon an article discussing how a councilman named Jerry Walker is trying to pass a law to make English the official language of Anne Arundel, a county located between Baltimore and Washington D.C (McCorkell). The idea behind the law is to stop illegal immigration, but it shows a lack of regard for a language and culture other than English/American. Forcing people to learn English and forgo their own culture/language goes against what this country was founded upon.
I am viewing this topic this way due to my own experiences in high school. I went to a school in a community in which 97% of the population was white. In my class, I had a friend named Michael who was Muslim. He practiced his religion in school and received abuse and discrimination from our peers. While no physical harm was made to him, he had very little help from the faculty and staff in stopping the bullying that was occurring.
While the example I had experienced in my own life does not compare to the one discussed in the Menominee article, it still shows a lack of regard for cultures other than our own. After reading this article, the new ideas I have made are that cultural discrimination still exists and it needs to be fought through knowledge, tolerance, and understanding.
References
1.Cepeda, Esther. "Words Will Never Hurt Us - except in Wisconsin." GazetteXtra. 6 Feb. 2012. Web. 07 Feb. 2012.<http://gazettextra.com/news/2012/feb/06/words-will-never-hurt-usexcept-wisconsin/>.
2.McCorkell, Meghan. "Lawmaker Wants English To Be Official Language Of Anne Arundel County « CBS Baltimore." CBSlocal.com. 6 Feb. 2012. Web. 07 Feb. 2012.
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