Yesterday on Oprah, she went behind the gates of the Yearning for Zion ranch. It is a polygamist community behind gates the houses over 400 children, most of them are females just waiting to be married off, even as young as 11 and 12. Besides the obvious creepiness of the situation, Oprah was very interested in going into the schools and speaking with the children. Since they do not have tv, none of the children knew who she was. She asked them to raise their hand if they had ever heard of the following characters- Mickey Mouse, Shrek, Cinderella, the little mermaid, etc. Only one of the children out of the class had heard of Cinderella. The other characters were not recognized by anyone. When Oprah asked what they do for fun/play time, the children answered that they don't play. Playing is a waste of time, and they work to have fun, because by working they are accomplishing tasks and being useful. One student even said that playing isn't fun.The following is a post from the site talking about the school-
"Tammy, the second grade teacher, says it has taken the kids awhile to readjust to their usual routine since the raid. That routine includes religious studies, along with math, earth science, English and spelling. When it comes to reading fiction, Tammy says it doesn't have a place in the curriculum. "We study animals and everything that has a purpose," she says. "We don't just study things that are figments of people's imagination, because we're focused. We have a specific reason for everything we do." All the students' studies are working toward one goal, Tammy says—"To become like God on Earth." "
http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090325-orig-polygamist-ranch/7
I am just wondering if, as teachers, what are your opinions about this topic and how these students are taught. Wanting to teach Elementary school, I find playing very important. There has to be learning time of course, but there also has to be play time. And play time doesn't mean you have to be learning anything. Sometimes you just need a good game of hide and seek or duck duck goose. Besides being completely shocked about the whole situation, it just saddens me that these children are there to work and do the dirty work for the adults. Kids and kids and should be allowed to act as such.
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I saw the end of this show on Oprah. I agree that these children need time to play. I found it interesting when Oprah went in a room and talked with the teenage girls only. She asked them if they ever watch TV? A few of them said they had before. She asked them what they watched. One of them said "Chicken Little". Some of these girls were as old as 15 and 16 years old. Oprah asked them if they had to wear their dresses all the time? They told her they take them off at night to sleep. They did tell her they have to even swim in them. These children are being raised very differently than other children in the world are. I do not believe they would be able to handle themselves in a differnt culture than what they have become use to. They seemed to really support what they are told by their parent's. We all know that most tennagers go through some type of rebellious stage. From what we have learned in all our classes, it is important for children to have a strong foundation in their early years of life. I can't help but wonder exactly what these children are really being taught.
There was also an article in People Magazine titled "This is Home" and it was a follow up on the Texas polygamist group that has been raided a year ago. In the article it was talking about the children and the changes that have occured since the raid. One parent said that her kids only read mainstream children's books and the the sect rejects fictional characters. Also that her children came back reciting lines from Dr. Seuss and she stated "we are seeing all different sides of (the children) we've never seen before". The children of the compound are segregated by sex after the third grade and study subjects like math and science from 7:30 am to 3 p.m. One parent stated that "toys tend to teach children to be selfish. We make it real and useful for them. Gloria loves to do the dishes. If you cultivate that then they are happy"
After reading the article it made me think about things. On one hand I do believe that they are depriving the children of the imagination skills and fantasies that all children deserve to have. Not only that but I believe that are not providing a subsequent education for the children. What good is it doing to segregate the children by sex other than to deprive them of social skills of the opposite sex. Also, teaching only subjects such as Math and Science leaves out the subjects of Social Studies, English, Music, History and many other things children need. But if these children are just going to live their lives in the "cult" then what would they need the other subjects for. They are being taught what they need to know to survive in the environment that they live.
On the other hand, like I stated the parents of the children are not allowing them toys or the knowledge of fictional characters because they want to teach the children what they need to know to survive within the compound. These children arent being raised like other children in the world but they are getting an education of the subjects they need. There are some children in the world who are exposed to an education at all. Yes I dont agree with the way they are raising their children but I am sure they wouldnt agree with the way I am raising my child as well. AS parents we do what we can for our children and try and give them the best we can. These parents are giving their children only what they have been taught themselves.
If the teachers and educators at their schools received a holistic education, they would know that imagination and creativity play large roles in the development of problem solving and critical thinking skills in children. There has been plenty of research on the theories of multiple intelligence and student development. I am not surprised that they do not want the students using their imaginations or thinking critically, because then they would challenge the "authority" of their community. The community obviously doesn't want people to think for themselves or "outside the box".
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