Deep Thinking

I have a dilemma. I am thinking it through with my readers participation on this blog so feel free to chime in. My district encourages every kindergartner to read a book that I personally find racially degrading. It’s on our Essential Literature List and many schools in our district chose to purchase tubs of 25 copies so every child could participate in reading this book.

I want to be supportive. I don’t want to be a censor. Yet as the mother of two biracial children I want my students to be more sophisticated and aware of other cultures in a positive, non-stereotypical manner. The message of this book is flawed in regards to Chinese names. As a mother I chose not to read this book to my own children. I’m not going to censor anyone else’s child at school so I need to find a new way to cope.

This year the music teacher is preparing to do an entire program revolving around this book. I need ways to counter the negative effects of this book and to make sure that students do not develop a false sense of superiority when it comes to non-Chinese names yet I don’t want to make a big issue within the school. I can easily develop a better bibliography of Asian titles.

I know that many people enjoy the rhythm of this book but I could easily provide counters. I read the forums on ebay and other sites where people talked about their childhood favorites. Many of the titles, poems, and songs are considered racist by today’s standards. For example, Little Black Sambo, Ten Little Indians, The Five Chinese Brothers, the original Hardy Boys, Bobbsey Twins, and on and on.

Links to other people who may or may not feel the same concern I do but some of who have developed better lists:
15 Misconceptions about Multicultural Education with my very favorite quote:

“The book does have a delightful repetitive pattern that many children enjoy. The text and illustrations, however, are inaccurate depictions of any Chinese. In the text, the first and most honored son had the grand long name of “Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo.” The message about Chinese names is less than flattering. People in the Southern United States would be appalled if parents in the People’s Republic of China were reading stories to their children about Southerners who used to name their children long names such as Bubba Bubba Jimbo Kenny Ray Billy Bob. “

Amazon review
YellowWorld Forums
Teaching Children Social Studies through Literature
Maybe a college class to take
Nikki Nikki Tembo
Child Lit archived discussion
A blog post on The EESL Children’s Literature Blogby Minjie Chen