Kids learn of black history
Several organizations host African-American Read-In
Luke Anderson
Issue date: 2/16/09 Section: Campus News
Sixty-five children from the UW-Eau Claire Children's Center sang songs, listened to stories and were given snacks as part of the African-American Read-In last Tuesday in McIntyre Library. The children, ages three to five, gathered along with faculty and members of the Office of Multicultural Affairs in collaboration with Black History Month.
All of the kids were able to take home a book after the event and had their choice between "Shades of Black: A Celebration of our Children," and "Bright Eyes, Brown Skin." McIntyre Library, the College of Education and Human Services, the Center for Excellence and Learning (CETL) and the Memorial High School Teen Literacy Initiative sponsored the event.
"Typically curriculums don't include this," said Christine Webster, program associate for the Office of Multicultural Affairs. "The sooner we can bring it to the attention of schools and teachers the better … including black history, Native American, women's history … any group that is typically not represented in American society."
Webster said it is inconsiderate in a country as diverse as the United States to not recognize the history of such cultures as African-Americans.
Talia Smeester, a senior education major, shares Webster's enthusiasm about getting children involved in Black History Month, as well as other cultures.
"I never had anything like that," she said. "I had to teach second graders about Native-American history and I had to research some of it because I had little background. It's good for kids to have an awareness so they have an understanding and acceptance of other people and their cultures."
Smeester, a future teacher herself, said she would have liked to have had more knowledge and classes offered in other cultures while she was growing up. She considers Black History Month and other culture education opportunities to be extremely important.
"It is so important because we are in a country so diverse, and people need to be aware about this," Smeester said. "It's nice having classes focusing on African-American, Native-American and women's history now, but it should be introduced to kids even before they go to college."
All of the kids were able to take home a book after the event and had their choice between "Shades of Black: A Celebration of our Children," and "Bright Eyes, Brown Skin." McIntyre Library, the College of Education and Human Services, the Center for Excellence and Learning (CETL) and the Memorial High School Teen Literacy Initiative sponsored the event.
"Typically curriculums don't include this," said Christine Webster, program associate for the Office of Multicultural Affairs. "The sooner we can bring it to the attention of schools and teachers the better … including black history, Native American, women's history … any group that is typically not represented in American society."
Webster said it is inconsiderate in a country as diverse as the United States to not recognize the history of such cultures as African-Americans.
Talia Smeester, a senior education major, shares Webster's enthusiasm about getting children involved in Black History Month, as well as other cultures.
"I never had anything like that," she said. "I had to teach second graders about Native-American history and I had to research some of it because I had little background. It's good for kids to have an awareness so they have an understanding and acceptance of other people and their cultures."
Smeester, a future teacher herself, said she would have liked to have had more knowledge and classes offered in other cultures while she was growing up. She considers Black History Month and other culture education opportunities to be extremely important.
"It is so important because we are in a country so diverse, and people need to be aware about this," Smeester said. "It's nice having classes focusing on African-American, Native-American and women's history now, but it should be introduced to kids even before they go to college."
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