School Bells – Grade 1 – week 1
Today, Thursday, is the first day for me to spend with the first grade class of my adopted niece Sam. As I mentioned yesterday, the school system has invited me to teach a class on current affairs once a week to a first grade class and once a week to an 8th grade class. Sam’s brother, my adopted nephew is in the 8th grade class.
I already know Sam and some of her friends are particularly precocious 7-year-olds.
As I did with Paul’s 8th grade class I began with introductions. I asked each child to tell me about problems which concern they and their families. Sam wanted to go first.
Sam: You know my name. Are you going to make us cookies Uncle Jim?
Me: I might. Is that your most important concern?
Sam: (laughing) No because I know you will anyway! I worry that someone will beat up Ahmes just because she is Muslim.
Ahmes: My name is Ahmes. My family is from Egypt and we are not yet citizens. Will the new president send up back to Egypt?
Sue: My name is Sue. I like your cookies too. Are we going to run out of money to find a cure for people like me? (Sue has to use a wheelchair. She chose not to tell the class why she is in a wheelchair but I know that she has muscular dystrophy.)
Tommy: My name is Tommy and my mother is a pilot for the air force and I am afraid she is going to die.
Sofia; My name is Sofia and my parents are afraid the government might build a wall so I will never see my grandparents in Mexico.
Steve: My name is Steve. The other day someone else got hit while riding their bicycle and now my parents will not let me ride mine unless they are with me.
Susie: My name is Susie and I think we treat the trees mean. We cut them down to build more houses. My brother says the trees help up breathe. Is that true?
As I was with Paul’s class I was very impressed with the fact that these 7-year old young people think about really important issues.
Next week when we will talk about how we learn to be prejudiced – how we learn to judge each other on the basis of religion or some other single factor. I suggested to the kids that they talk with their families about this prior to class next week.
Written August 11, 2016
Today, Thursday, is the first day for me to spend with the first grade class of my adopted niece Sam. As I mentioned yesterday, the school system has invited me to teach a class on current affairs once a week to a first grade class and once a week to an 8th grade class. Sam’s brother, my adopted nephew is in the 8th grade class.
I already know Sam and some of her friends are particularly precocious 7-year-olds.
As I did with Paul’s 8th grade class I began with introductions. I asked each child to tell me about problems which concern they and their families. Sam wanted to go first.
Sam: You know my name. Are you going to make us cookies Uncle Jim?
Me: I might. Is that your most important concern?
Sam: (laughing) No because I know you will anyway! I worry that someone will beat up Ahmes just because she is Muslim.
Ahmes: My name is Ahmes. My family is from Egypt and we are not yet citizens. Will the new president send up back to Egypt?
Sue: My name is Sue. I like your cookies too. Are we going to run out of money to find a cure for people like me? (Sue has to use a wheelchair. She chose not to tell the class why she is in a wheelchair but I know that she has muscular dystrophy.)
Tommy: My name is Tommy and my mother is a pilot for the air force and I am afraid she is going to die.
Sofia; My name is Sofia and my parents are afraid the government might build a wall so I will never see my grandparents in Mexico.
Steve: My name is Steve. The other day someone else got hit while riding their bicycle and now my parents will not let me ride mine unless they are with me.
Susie: My name is Susie and I think we treat the trees mean. We cut them down to build more houses. My brother says the trees help up breathe. Is that true?
As I was with Paul’s class I was very impressed with the fact that these 7-year old young people think about really important issues.
Next week when we will talk about how we learn to be prejudiced – how we learn to judge each other on the basis of religion or some other single factor. I suggested to the kids that they talk with their families about this prior to class next week.
Written August 11, 2016
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