Analysis Of They Ve Got To Be Carefully Taught By Susan Brady Koonig

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Susan Brady Konig wrote "They've Got to Be Carefully Taught", because she wanted to inform us about how to properly educate young kids, as young as preschoolers about where they originated from. She taught them about their cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Teachers are educating their children on what country their ancestors came from and how that makes them all different, but yet somewhat the same by, their skin color, their hair color, the different foods they may eat, and how they celebrate special occasions.
I agree with her outlook on her daughter's pre-school Cultural Diversity Day. Susan repeatedly tells her daughter's teacher that they are 100% American. Susan was born in America, as was her husband and their daughter as well. Teaching young children about where they came from at such a young age simply confuses them. I believe that you should let them grow up and get used to the way that American culture is before parents or teachers start shoving all these ideas into their heads. My main question is why is it necessary to teach children that they are different from their friends? On page 92 Konig states, “Later in the month, Miss Laura admits that her class is not quite getting the whole skin-color thing. ``I tried to show them how we all have different skin,'' she chuckled. Apparently, little Henry is the only one who successfully grasped the concept. He now runs around the classroom announcing to anyone who'll listen, ``I'm white!'' Miss Laura asked the children what color her own skin was. (She is a light-skinned Hispanic, which would make her skin color . . . what? Caramel? Mochaccino?). The kids opted for purple or orange. ``They looked at me like I was crazy!'' Miss Laura said. I just smile.” Young children don’t ...

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...Teaching acceptance and diversity of different ethnicity is one of the key components that can be taught in our school systems today. Here in America we have many different ethnic groups and races, we are one big melting pot. During school these differences should be embraced in a positive manner and a proper learning experience. Diversity is often mistaken for the word division, and sometimes people teach that diversity is division. Diversity should be taught in a way that brings people together, not divide people into groups. Like Konig said, “I hadn’t really given much thought to the ethnic and national backgrounds of Sarah’s classmates. I can guarantee that Sarah, being two and a half gave the subject absolutely no thought.” (51) We can take a few lessons from Konigs daughter and learn to not give the subject any thought, and just accept people for who they are.

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