Reflections on Assignment 1 ETL402

This subject frustrates me so much because I can’t get lost in it the way I want. I would love to spend my days flitting from book to book, article to article, genre to genre but deadlines loomed and decisions on focus had to be made,  Everything I read changed or added to my perspectives and my where to next.

Once I had settled on my topic, Using indigenous picture books to give students a sense of belonging, the rabbit hole just got more complicated. So many books to choose from, so many different ideas about what really is “indigenous literature”. Being white I was looking for guidance and it was hard to find. there is no right answer so in the end I went with choosing books that respect aboriginal culture. Hopefully that will keep my chooses in the future moving in the right direction.

I grew up in the same street as Bronwyn Bancroft, years apart mind you, and have always held her up as an example to all students of what a kid from a country town can do when they follow their passion. I remember her talking to our yr 12 class and telling us a company had taken her artwork without permission and created fabric or something from it and she had to fight them. They didn’t think it mattered because it was aboriginal art. That story has always stuck with me.

Before I knew about books are windows, mirrors and sliding doors I had always made sure my personal book collection that I had in the classroom represented the appearance of every child in my class. Sometimes the nationalities didn’t match but an Asian or Arabic child could open at least one book and see a character that looked like them. I didnt know the science behind it but it just seemed fair.

Now all these years later we can all agree children need to feel they belong and that they are heard if they are to achieve.  In my current library we had Tongan students start and someone asked me to get in Tongan books to help them settle in. a bell went off in my head what about our Aboriginal students? what about LGQBT students am I helping them out?  That one question changed my whole mission in the library for the past 18 months. I am not finished but I am certainly on my way and proud of my efforts.

 

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