Kwanzaa and Me: A Teacher's Story

by Paley

"All these white schools I've been sent to are racist," Sonya says. "I'd have done better in a black school. I was an outsider here." These are hard words for Vivian Paley, whose own kindergarten was one of Sonya's schools, the integrated classroom so lovingly and hopefully depicted by Paley in White Teacher . Confronted with the grown-up Sonya, now on her way to a black college, and with a chorus of voices questioning the fairness and effectiveness of integrated education, Paley sets out to discover the truth about the multicultural classroom from those who participate in it. This is an odyssey undertaken on the wings of conversation and storytelling in which every voice adds new meaning to the idea of belonging, really belonging, to a school culture. Here are black teachers and minority parents, immigrant families, a Native American educator, and the children themselves, whose stories mingle with the author's to create a candid picture of the successes and failures of the integrated classroom. As Paley travels the country listening to these stories, we see what lies behind recent moves toward an ongoing frustration with racism as well as an abiding need for a nurturing community. And yet, among these diverse voices, we hear again and again the shared dream of a classroom where no family heritage is obscured and every child's story enriches the life of the schoolhouse.

"It's all about dialogue, isn't it?" asks Lorraine, a black third-grade teacher whose story becomes a central motif. And indeed, it is the dialogue that prevails in this warmly provocative and deeply engaging book, as parents and teachers learn how they must talk to each other, and to their children, if every child is to secure a sense of self in the schoolroom, no matter what the predominant ethnic background. Vivian Paley offers these discoveries to readers as a starting point for their own journeys toward community and kinship in today's schools and tomorrow's culture.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Nonfiction

140 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Karen P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Vivian Paley book for me. As she becomes aware of parental concerns about their black children in a majority white classroom, Paley questions her own ideas and methods and visits with teachers and parents with a variety of “differences” as she explores how to make an integrated classroom fair and effective. She stresses the need for dialogue with the children and with their families. This book written in 1995 continues to be relevant now. And the questions continue for me on how to use what I am reading and learning in my own classroom.

[Paul Eancheff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! It was interesting to see the perspective of a child who has a different culture. What struggles they go through! Recommend to any of my friends

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short, and concise book that focuses on young children in the early grades, racial integration, and listening to parents. It is an excellent manual for teachers on what we can learn from parents. Paley has a number of books about educating young children, and often focuses on questions of educational equity, and children learning concepts of social justice at a very early age. Paley doesn't preach, nor theorize. She keeps her prose simple, and lets the children, teachers and parents speak for themselves.

[Ellyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sequel to "White Teacher", written nearly 20 years later, continues the author's exploration of the multicultural classroom. She travels the country talking to educators, parents, and families, and their stories are interwoven with those of her own kindergarten students. The author explores the themes of racism, diversity, kinship, and community and continues the debate between the neighborhood school and the integrated school. Very thought-provoking.

[Matt Ely · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple, readable story about the multifaceted and tricky nature of talking about race, especially with children. How do you do it correctly? Well, there's no real answer to that. But there are good places to start.

[Guisela · Rating 5 out of 5]

must read!

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story about a teacher overcoming problems in the classroom. Easy to read and still has valid points but it is a bit outdated... This Author is a really great story teller

[Joan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great message ... However the style of writing doesn't flow. Wonderful read for those dealing with culture diversity within the classroom.