vino
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Post by vino on Mar 2, 2021 10:23:00 GMT -6
I'm with you inthekitty on the Seuss stuff, I dont think that he needs to be celebrated and there is some change within his later work which is good, not 'great lets give him a whole day', but good. I'm not going to slam anyone for burning it down though, writing letters for change etc. All that aside having a Dr Seuss day seems odd in general, I'm glad the focus is on literacy overall going forward. ETA: If it is ever mentioned here I would be sending a letter to change it, but thats my MO. LOL Kinda like how I make it known why the kids wont be partaking in any and all zoo related days with school, no sir, no ma'am.  |
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inthekitty
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Post by inthekitty on Mar 2, 2021 10:35:11 GMT -6
I'm with you inthekitty on the Seuss stuff, I dont think that he needs to be celebrated and there is some change within his later work which is good, not 'great lets give him a whole day', but good. I'm not going to slam anyone for burning it down though, writing letters for change etc. All that aside having a Dr Seuss day seems odd in general, I'm glad the focus is on literacy overall going forward. ETA: If it is ever mentioned here I would be sending a letter to change it, but thats my MO. LOL Kinda like how I make it known why the kids wont be partaking in any and all zoo related days with school, no sir, no ma'am. I've wondered if the celebrating Suess stuff is relatively new and wondered why. I don't recall ever having Dr. Suess days/weeks when I was a kid but maybe that was just my school. I appreciate that in his time he was a game changer of moving away from the more bland Dick and Jane type readers for young kids with making it fun and bringing in simple rhyming concepts which really helped some kids learn to read, but I don't feel that needs a day of celebration in school. His books, art, and movies are still all over the place so it's not like we're hurting for Suess representation. *shrugs* Although to be fair, I don't remember any theme days when I was growing up except for spirit week in HS. There was no crazy hair day, wear blue day, don't-tell-your-mom-about-the-special-day-tomorrow-until-8 pm day. |
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jewels
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Post by jewels on Mar 2, 2021 10:40:22 GMT -6
inthekitty, I don't recall any of those things when we were kids. No big celebrations for every holiday, no 100 days of school, etc. I think everything is a little *more* now. I am also torn on the Dr. Seuss deal. I didn't learn about his issues till recently. I think it would be easy enough to change from Dr. Seuss to kids books and highlight different favorite books. S school I think is doing more what I suggested. they are having a guest author on their zoom today - a local kids author reading her books. I also recently learned about Roald Dahl's issues. I loved his works growing up and the boys love the original Charlie and the Chocolate factory. I struggle with all of it. I mean... S loves Michael Jackson, a lot. Where do I draw the line?
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guster
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Post by guster on Mar 2, 2021 10:52:55 GMT -6
I'm with you inthekitty on the Seuss stuff, I dont think that he needs to be celebrated and there is some change within his later work which is good, not 'great lets give him a whole day', but good. I'm not going to slam anyone for burning it down though, writing letters for change etc. All that aside having a Dr Seuss day seems odd in general, I'm glad the focus is on literacy overall going forward. ETA: If it is ever mentioned here I would be sending a letter to change it, but thats my MO. LOL Kinda like how I make it known why the kids wont be partaking in any and all zoo related days with school, no sir, no ma'am. I've wondered if the celebrating Suess stuff is relatively new and wondered why. I don't recall ever having Dr. Suess days/weeks when I was a kid but maybe that was just my school. I appreciate that in his time he was a game changer of moving away from the more bland Dick and Jane type readers for young kids with making it fun and bringing in simple rhyming concepts which really helped some kids learn to read, but I don't feel that needs a day of celebration in school. His books, art, and movies are still all over the place so it's not like we're hurting for Suess representation. *shrugs* Although to be fair, I don't remember any theme days when I was growing up except for spirit week in HS. There was no crazy hair day, wear blue day, don't-tell-your-mom-about-the-special-day-tomorrow-until-8 pm day. All of this! This day here, at least, also comes with the read across American challenge. 500 minutes of reading by a specific date. I feel very lucky to have kids that like to read, and I know how quickly that can change, but one of the easiest way to make reading tedious is have them log how many minutes they read and even what books they read (unless they totally want to) I don’t put up a stink about it in school and try not to give it more attention that it deserves at home but it annoys me. |
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inthekitty
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My eyes are up here.
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Post by inthekitty on Mar 2, 2021 11:02:38 GMT -6
jewels, I'm definitely of the opinion that the special days are extra and DNW. I always thought it was perfect to leave that stuff for HS or at least kids old enough to do whatever it is themselves so it's not one more things for parents (more specifically moms) to worry about. As far as enjoying the art of people with a checkered history--a lot of famous people are awful (as we all know from the Blinds  ). As I mentioned earlier, when they are already dead I don't give it any space in my mind because what good does it do. I'm not celebrating them, I'm enjoying their media. They are not benefitting from it in any way. For current people I feel more cringy about it. I think when the kids get to be around middle school aged we'll talk more about public images vs. reality and the importance of not idolizing famous people and wanting to hold them accountable for wrongdoings. They'll probably still fawn over whoever will be the hot dude of the day and view him as amazing and romantic...but what can you do?
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vino
Opal
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Post by vino on Mar 2, 2021 11:12:24 GMT -6
inthekitty , I don't recall any of those things when we were kids. No big celebrations for every holiday, no 100 days of school, etc. I think everything is a little *more* now. I am also torn on the Dr. Seuss deal. I didn't learn about his issues till recently. I think it would be easy enough to change from Dr. Seuss to kids books and highlight different favorite books. S school I think is doing more what I suggested. they are having a guest author on their zoom today - a local kids author reading her books. I also recently learned about Roald Dahl's issues. I loved his works growing up and the boys love the original Charlie and the Chocolate factory. I struggle with all of it. I mean... S loves Michael Jackson, a lot. Where do I draw the line? It's hard for sure, I dont think there is a clear 'answer'. Separating the art from the person is one way to look at it but in any case, whatever one decides for their family it is good to question and evolve as we all learn and listen more. |
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nam2013
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Post by nam2013 on Mar 2, 2021 12:20:26 GMT -6
Re Books and their writers... I find it so hard sometimes. Take Roald Dahl for example, one of my all time favourite writers, he was a lauded WWII fighter plane pilot & helped inventing the shunt after his son was injured. A couple of months ago his heirs issued an apology regarding antisemitic comments he made. Off course these are very very wrong comments, but does that make his books less wonderful? Same with JK Rowling, I love the world she created... vino I read an article about the idea of separating the art from the artist some time ago. I sort of liked that idea... Eta my h and I talk a lot about issues like these, but somehow eloquent words are failing me today. I blame the lack of sleep. |
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nam2013
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Post by nam2013 on Mar 2, 2021 12:22:17 GMT -6
jewels I see we’re both hitting the roald dahl topic, i somehow missed yours earlier on...
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jewels
Opal
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Post by jewels on Mar 2, 2021 12:54:24 GMT -6
I've wondered if the celebrating Suess stuff is relatively new and wondered why. I don't recall ever having Dr. Suess days/weeks when I was a kid but maybe that was just my school. I appreciate that in his time he was a game changer of moving away from the more bland Dick and Jane type readers for young kids with making it fun and bringing in simple rhyming concepts which really helped some kids learn to read, but I don't feel that needs a day of celebration in school. His books, art, and movies are still all over the place so it's not like we're hurting for Suess representation. *shrugs* Although to be fair, I don't remember any theme days when I was growing up except for spirit week in HS. There was no crazy hair day, wear blue day, don't-tell-your-mom-about-the-special-day-tomorrow-until-8 pm day. All of this! This day here, at least, also comes with the read across American challenge. 500 minutes of reading by a specific date. I feel very lucky to have kids that like to read, and I know how quickly that can change, but one of the easiest way to make reading tedious is have them log how many minutes they read and even what books they read (unless they totally want to) I don’t put up a stink about it in school and try not to give it more attention that it deserves at home but it annoys me. It is interesting. S is an excellent reader. But lately only wants to use electronics. I have started telling him he earns a certain amount of electronics for every X amount that he reads. The motivation works for him and he's read more in the past week since I started this than in the weeks prior. But I can see how that could backfire for many kids. S is also one of those kids who is insanely motivated by sticker charts and the like. |
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wedding
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Post by wedding on Mar 2, 2021 18:50:37 GMT -6
I think they just celebrate Seuss today on his birthday here. I’m not sure. Definitely no dressing up. C wouldn’t partake anyway. I have a hard time with Seuss and don’t think there should be any celebration. That said his books are very easy and interesting for kids.
C just read all of Green Eggs and Ham to us. This is huge since he wasn’t reading much at all six months ago. I knew he was reading at a normal level but he hadn’t done it for us so for him to feel confident in it is amazing. This speaks more to his teacher than Seuss of course.
I don’t allow Michael Jackson or R Kelley so I guess my line is sex offenders.
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). As I mentioned earlier, when they are already dead I don't give it any space in my mind because what good does it do. I'm not celebrating them, I'm enjoying their media. They are not benefitting from it in any way. For current people I feel more cringy about it. I think when the kids get to be around middle school aged we'll talk more about public images vs. reality and the importance of not idolizing famous people and wanting to hold them accountable for wrongdoings. They'll probably still fawn over whoever will be the hot dude of the day and view him as amazing and romantic...but what can you do?
