Ever since someone mentioned to me that deodorants contain aluminum, I've avoided using them except when I need them. (I don't know if aluminum is harmful, but it just sounds weird.) Nevertheless, with the amount of person-to-person contact involved in teaching, you simply can't afford to have smelly armpits. And so, I always have a roll with me in my backpack. Today was the first time this year that I needed to pull it out.
It was partly due to the fair weather, but also due to having to operate "under the clock" for most of the day. On Fridays, I am responsible for facilitating five separate, ten-minute assemblies, one for each grade level at the elementary school where I receive training. Managing available time and space in a school building is more complex than what you might imagine. Today I shuttled back and forth among three different assembly locations, sometimes with less than a minute to spare to get from one place to another AND set up my audio-visual equipment.
The singular objective of this assembly series is to teach children to appreciate cultural, racial, and ethnic diversity. In my presentation today, I introduced the terms "Latino" and "Latino culture" to the children through Ballet Folklorico, a gorgeous and visually appealing style of dance. I also showed an equally engaging clip of Square Dancing, which of course is a European and American style of folk dance. The students are just thirsting for this kind of learning. As I've mentioned previously, the over-sensitivity among grownups towards the topic of race is leaving children thoroughly confused and vulnerable. To adequately convey this kind of knowledge on a schedule of ten minutes per week is a challenge, especially when what is appropriate for fifth graders is not necessarily so for first graders. But I relish the opportunity, and feel I am just the right person for the job.
Go, dude! I share your confidence that you're the right person for the job.
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