I don’t normally pay that much attention to the various press releases I recieve either directly to my inbox or via my Google Alerts, but a small line in this one caught my eye. See, it goes against everything I thought we collectively knew about homeschooling, sheltered lot that we are.
“As we developed the site, we took the time to talk to homeschoolers and to librarians who support the homeschool population,” said Lee & Low publisher Jason Low. “We found that homeschooled children and their parents are constantly seeking out new books and materials for their educational needs, including ways to look at a single issue from many perspectives. We decided to proceed by developing a resource based on our unique focus on diversity.” eNews Park Forest
Imagine that. A publishing company desiring to market to homeschoolers took the time to talk to homeschoolers and those who know what kinds of books we ask for at the library to see what we are interested in. Of course, businesses (in contrast to politicians and journalists) have little interest in making decisions based on stereotypes of their potential customers. When they do, they fail. And lose a lot of money in the process.
Of course, you cannot fully appreciate other cultures, ideas and perspectives purely by opening a book. But then, I fail to see how such appreciation is gained simply by having a minority sitting next to you in a classroom full of children. In fact, it was in such an environment I learned most of the stereotypes I am familiar with, often reinforced by certain individuals who seemed determined to live up to these expectations set upon them.
And when young M. in my first grade class announced to us that he hated all black people, it was to a stack of children’s books I turned. They were a safe beginning point for discussion and a window into the lives of people not so very different from them.
Welcome to Roscommon Acres, my little home in the country. I write here about life more abundantly, from the joy of a baby’s smile to the almost unbearable grief of losing a son. I am seeking beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, a garment of praise instead of the spirit of despair (Isaiah 61:3).
Just place "Tiggy" in the subject line.
Though to be fair, it’s possible if “M” were homeschooled, he’d get a smattering of books on the inferiority of black people throughout his education and interact very rarely in any positive way with people of colour.
SO I think to solve that, there needs to be a state law that homeschooling parents turn in medical exam forms yearly, along with a detailed plan on how they as a family will counter bias and stereotypes.
Ok, you know I’m just playing with you there. The argument was just begging to be made, though. :p
Many times it is more polite and discreet to learn about the differences in culture and physical features from books than from proximity. My kids have learned more about the Jewish faith by watching videos they have checked out from the library than by living in a whole neighborhood of Orthodox Jews. (to be fair, it was that proximity that led to the interest) My children don’t have people of color sitting next to them doing spelling, but they have friends that cross the gamut. We can discuss differences in our own home and I can lead them, which is much more productive than them listening to slurs on the playground.
When I taught ps I found that one little girl was teased mercilessly about her facial deformity. There was no learning about what cleft palate is, what surgery can do, which charities help children in other countries with this deformity. Believe me, when MY children see someone with a handicap they offer to help and dare don’t tease them.
I’m sure there are families like that out there, Mrs. C. I dealt with some of them in the public school system, and I think they had more of an effect on the other children in the way of promoting the teasing and bullying than the other way around.
Kat, I think that is very true.
My chilren have truly shown me that prejudice is taught. After taking a tour of the Rosa Parks museum, my daughter turns to me and asks “What are black people?” I started naming all the black people that she knows and she says “They’re not black. They’re brown like me in the summer time. They’re just brown all the time” I told her she was right and dropped the subject. It was obvious she saw no difference between herself and her playmates. I worry much more about the character of people they come in contact with than the color or their skin or where they worship God.
When my then 5 yr old was accused of “racism” at our former church, neither my husband or I could believe it. In our home, we do not refer to people by their skin color or heritage. It just doesn’t happen. Since we weren’t there to witness the event, we concluded that two things had happened:
#1 She said something that the adults around her misheard or misinterpreted. OR
#2 She was being candid like every other 5 yr old in the world.
In any case, we spoke to her about what was “believed” she had said. She was very sorry to know that she may have hurt someone’s feelings with her words. She cried about it for several days, though she couldn’t even remember exactly what she said.
I personally cannot stand the term “diversity” in our modern culture. It tends to make differences a point of contention. Children aren’t afraid of differences unless they are taught to be afraid of differences. (This unfortunately does happen in homes, schools, with friends, & even at church.) Children are naturally curious, candid, frank, and loudly vocalize their thoughts.
Home educated children have a distinct advantage. Parents are involved in every aspect of training whereas schooled children are often left to the state to raise and “train” little Johnny or Janie to be a good person. All the diversity training in the world will never drown the fires of real racism that is seated in hatred & anger.
We can toss all the diversity issues aside if we only do as God commands….Love Him and Love people. Jesus healed the lepers, ate with thieves, forgave the adulteress, used a foreign enemy in a parable (the Good Samaritan)etc. He showed us how to love & serve God and how to love & serve people. We can study all we want about our differences, but “without Love” (1 Corinthians 13) it will amount to nothing.
On the issue of a publishing company listening to homeschoolers and marketing to libraries for the needs of homeschoolers in their unique market, I think it’s great. It’s not all that surprising, but it is reassuring to see business sense acknowledging the homeschool market.
As if my post isn’t long enough, I will share a quick story. I was working for a cosmetics manufacturer owned by a Jewish family & listening to various Christian cds in my office. One of the VP’s was in my office one day & he begun to turn over the cds and examine them a bit. He said to me, “Ah, Christian music…” he paused, then continued “…it’s a very lucrative market.” Yes, business men are keenly aware of what sells in any market.
I think “diversity” has become too politicized. And you are right it tends to highlight differences and where we diverge rather than what we have in common.
I don’t know if this is relevant, but I’ll put it out there anyway…
When my son was about 3, 17 years ago, we were on the bus and he noticed, quite vocally, a man with very dark skin. I admit I was embarrassed and as a young parent I didn’t know quite how to deal with my son’s innocent curiosity.
At the time the best I could come up with is, “You know how Mommy’s hair is brown and Daddy’s hair is yellow…well, that man’s skin is just a different colour.”
Looking back, I think it was the best answer I could have given him.
My son, then three or four, walked up to an Arabic woman in the store and asked why her skin was darker and why she looked so different. She was very gracious in telling him where she was from and that almost everyone over there had skin and clothes like her.
She smiled, laughed, patted him and told me what sweet children I had. And I always thought that perhaps a lot of the uneasiness children feel about differences could be lessened if they were just allowed to ask and if people responded to their questions as they are intended rather than reading judgment in to them.
A disabled person told me once that he never minds the questions children ask him. It did, however, bother him when parents were pulling their children away trying to whisper to them why you shouldn’t stare and ask questions, all the while glancing at him.
It made me think a lot about the messages we are giving our children even when we are trying to teach them to respect people.
Looking for relevant homeschool blogs, I clicked here and there and am pleased to have found your site.
A quick look in a thesaurus states these synonyms for diverse:
different, contrasting, contrary, opposite, separate.
We live in a state that is not very “diverse”, but I see that people who likely live in much more populated areas, no matter their “race”, deal with the very same thing as I do as a homeschooling mom out in the sticks.
Through homeschooling our 2 kids, I’ve had opportunity to talk at great length about similarities more than diversities; I know that flies in the face of what schools teach, but what do you expect from a homeschooler?! I, too, had an embarrassing moment with a then 3 year old son who loudly remarked on someone’s skin tone. More mortifying to me was that he laughed, like it was something silly. Boy, did we have some serious discussions!
Since we live in an area in which it is more likely to see only caucasian and Native American people, it seems to catch my son’s interest when he sees people of any other race (yes, it really is that non-diverse!). I have found this a subject in which we can emphasize the importance of respect for all people. As for our family, we teach that there is only 1 race: the human race. We may have different backgrounds, different traditions, but are still one race.
Thanks for sharing your stories! This site is going on my favorites list!