Heard this song while I was camping this weekend. It made me think of the reading, so I decided to share it with you..
"There is unrest in the forest,
There is trouble with the trees,
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas.
The trouble with the maples,
(And they're quite convinced they're right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light.
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made.
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade." (Rush; composer Geddy Lee/Alex Lifeson; lyrics Neil Peart)
Listen to the song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWHEcIbhDiw
Mike, the song is great but can you show how you mean this to answer the question: How does the story of An Indian Father's Plea relate to Delpit's argument about the "rules and codes of power"?
ReplyDeleteMedicine Grizzlybear asserts than Western education is imposed on his child. "He is required by law to attend your educational system, learn your languages, your values, your ways of thinking, and your methods of teaching and learning." He clearly feels that his culture and their values are superior to Western thinking.
ReplyDelete"This was all done to introduce him properly into the new and natural world, not the world of artificiality..."
"Although you in Western society may argue that such a method serves to hinder motor-skill function development and abstract reasoning, we believe it forces the child to first develop his intuitive faculties, rational intellect, symbolic thinking, and five senses."
"This kind of learning goes beyond the basics of distinguishing the difference between rough and smooth, square and round," etc.
In this way, Medicine Grizzlybear and Wind-Wolf represent the maples. They cry out against an educational system that "grabs up all their light" by ignoring their culture and labeling Wind-Wolf as a "slow learner." The teachers, parents and students represent the oaks "ignor[ing] their pleas" through their prejudice and lack of cultural appreciation. The teachers, who are "giving the gift of learning" are surely shaking their heads, wondering why "the maples can't be happy in their shade."