[LIT] FW: I need dirt

[May Dartez]

Hi Melinda,

First of all, I have to say that your phrase "clandestinely plotting" 
made me laugh out loud. Very well expressed! You managed to display 
your tone towards the move perfectly:)

I actually taught at a middle school last year that used Hirsch's Core 
Knowledge curriculum in one of its schools.....Gainesville Middle 
School in Georgia....they are experimenting with several different 
"schools within schools" (Classical Studies (Core Knowledge,  
Earthquest....environmental focus, and Humanities....artsy/history 
focus.) In actual practice, so far, at least in my opinion, the schools 
are not that different from one another....although I think they might 
be trying to change this this year with a new principal.

I did not teach in the Classical Studies program, but from my 
observation, it seemed like all kinds of practices were possible while 
implementing this approach. Certain key American and British novels 
were required, learning word roots, etc....much teaching seemed to 
occur that would be good practice anyway. The difference really did 
seem to be mostly in the literature chosen/required. For example, in 
the Humanities program, I had the freedom (and was encouraged and given 
novels to teach novels by contemporary Hispanic and African American 
authors (Call me Maria, the Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963, etc., as 
well as novels about world cultures, Homeless Bird, etc. If I had been 
in the school that used the Core Knowledge curriculum, I would have 
been required to teach A Christmas Carol, Frankenstein, The Red Pony, 
etc. Not that those are bad books (except for maybe The Red Pony...not 
necessarily my personal favorite), but well, if you're required to 
teach certain novels, then time in the curriculum for other novels is 
eroded, and of course, if the entire curriculum consists of required 
novels, then a practice like reader's workshop becomes impossible. In 
short, I guess the impact on your school or state would depend upon the 
interpretation of the curriculum and how much time was left over for 
other studies. And of course, I'm sure I'm preeching to the choir here, 
but of course I believe that there are certain things that all educated 
people should know.....my problem occurs when a privileged white male 
is dictating those things and basing them all upon his culture, even if 
that culture is the "culture of power" in which all of our students are 
going to need to thrive.

I guess there needs to be a place in our curriculum both for teaching 
the "culture of power" and for honoring our students' home cultures and 
heritages, and the Core Knowledge, though not inherently "bad" just 
seems imbalanced toward the "white male" version of literacy.

I hope my rambling mixture of fact and opinion helped you at least a 
little.

May Dartez/6th/GA
>
> Doe anyone use Hirsch's Core Knowledge in your state or district?  If 
> so, are you able within this framework to implement Best Practices, 
> such as independent reading, Readers' Workshop and Writing Workshop?  
> I would like to be able to share info with colleagues and 
> administrators and local school board members from an informed view.  
> Please advise.