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How would you broach this subject?

noyoucomeherenoyoucomehere
in Georgia Babies

I was disappointed last week when Ethan came home singing a song about Indians. Not the real Indians; but what Americans call our Native Peoples. But, this week Audrey came home telling me about a book they read about how Indians plant corn. Two different schools! I'm so irked but I hate conflict and I don't know how to address it.

I don't want to come across as condescending but I want to get the information to the teachers (or maybe it should be the administration?) that the term is being used inappropriately. How would you handle this situation? 

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Re: How would you broach this subject?

  • almostanOalmostanO member

    I wish I had an answer for you.  This kind of stuff is always hard.  I think many people just don't think about this stuff. ( As a side note, this makes me think of when people question me saying DH is black and why I don't call him African American.  I always explain that he is a black African and isn't an American citizen at all.  People just don't think about it.)

    I definitely think you should say something to the administration.  If it is two teachers in two different schools you know it is happening everywhere.

     

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  • K&P414K&P414 member

    This kind of stuff is interesting to me.  What specifically do you not approve of and why? 

     I grew up in a relatively ignorant small Georgia school system and have been horrified on more than one occasion looking back on some of my old school assignments.  I don't consider myself racist at all but as I've gotten older I wish my education would have had a better, for lack of another word, approach to teaching about different races/nationalities/cultures.

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  • almostanOalmostanO member
    imageK&P414:

    This kind of stuff is interesting to me.  What specifically do you not approve of and why? 

     I grew up in a relatively ignorant small Georgia school system and have been horrified on more than one occasion looking back on some of my old school assignments.  I don't consider myself racist at all but as I've gotten older I wish my education would have had a better, for lack of another word, approach to teaching about different races/nationalities/cultures.

    youcomehere, please correct me if I am wrong.  I think it is a terminology thing.  Children should be taught that those people that were here when the pilgrims arrived are Native Americans not Indians.  Indians are from the country of India.  The two terms have been synonymous for so long however that it is a hard cycle to break.

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  • noyoucomeherenoyoucomehere

    K&P, it's a right vs. wrong thing. It's hard to teach our kids that Indians are from India when the school system is teaching them otherwise.

    My kids, personally, are confused. We work with a lot of Indians that we invite over for dinners and such. We always break out the globe and give the kids a quick culture/history lesson when someone from another country is coming over. It's hard to teach them that Indians come from India when the school is telling them that Indians are those half-naked people with feathers that plant corn.

    My beef with it is that it's just completely incorrect. Indians are from the country of India.

    We went to the Plimouth Plantation in MA this summer and there were signs that explicitly stated (before entering a Native area) that Native Peoples find it offensive to be called Indians and don't really like being called Native Americans either. The terms acceptable to them are Natives or Native Peoples. If you go to this website, it offers some great educational material for kids and parents.

    https://www.plimoth.org/ 

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  • lindzedlindzed
    I would call and let them know.  I would be nice about it, but really the only way these types of things will ever be corrected is if we speak up.  I know if I was teaching a class and using the wrong terminology I would hope someone would correct me.  I also grew up in a small Georgia town and I admit I sometimes have to google things to make sure I am more politically correct.  I am really bad when it comes to my Jewish friends during the Holidays.  I didnt' grow up with any Jewish friends and I really didn't know what was OK as far as Holiday Cards, gifts, parties, etc (things like do they find it an issue when I send them a Merry Christmas card).  Thank goodness my friends are understanding.  I know that was off topic, but my point is that I'm sure they would appreciate you correcting them. 
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  • K&P414K&P414 member
    imagenoyoucomehere:

    K&P, it's a right vs. wrong thing. It's hard to teach our kids that Indians are from India when the school system is teaching them otherwise.

    My kids, personally, are confused. We work with a lot of Indians that we invite over for dinners and such. We always break out the globe and give the kids a quick culture/history lesson when someone from another country is coming over. It's hard to teach them that Indians come from India when the school is telling them that Indians are those half-naked people with feathers that plant corn.

    My beef with it is that it's just completely incorrect. Indians are from the country of India.

    We went to the Plimouth Plantation in MA this summer and there were signs that explicitly stated (before entering a Native area) that Native Peoples find it offensive to be called Indians and don't really like being called Native Americans either. The terms acceptable to them are Natives or Native Peoples. If you go to this website, it offers some great educational material for kids and parents.

    https://www.plimoth.org/ 

    TFS.  I think you should say basically what you just said in this reply to me.

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  • kita09kita09
    imagealmostanO:

    I wish I had an answer for you.  This kind of stuff is always hard.  I think many people just don't think about this stuff. ( As a side note, this makes me think of when people question me saying DH is black and why I don't call him African American.  I always explain that he is a black African and isn't an American citizen at all.  People just don't think about it.)

    for some reason, this just made me laugh! oh, lord.... it's true, people just don't truly understand what they're talking about. however, it could be a moment for US as PARENTS to go into more detail. i don't know if the schools will really do more than what they're already doing.

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  • noyoucomeherenoyoucomehere

    I talked with Ethan's teacher today. She was great, agreeing but wondering how to change her songs. The topic is going to be discussed in their next teacher meeting.

    Now I have to talk to Audrey's school.  

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  • emowensemowens
    imagenoyoucomehere:

    I talked with Ethan's teacher today. She was great, agreeing but wondering how to change her songs. The topic is going to be discussed in their next teacher meeting.

    Now I have to talk to Audrey's school.  

    That's great progress Kim!  Way to go for bringing it up.  We had this discussion tonight at our dinner table when Danielle said that Indians liked to make corn and eat turkey.  thanks for bringing it up here to give us all something to think about and a positive and intelligent way to discuss it!

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