Surrounded

Surrounded: America's First School for Black Girls, 1832 by Wilfred Lupano (2021), Illustrated by Stephane Fert, 142 pgs.

In 1832, Sarah Harris entered the all white class of Prudence Crandall's boarding school. As a young Black girl in a time when slavery was only abolished in some states--like her home state of Connecticut--a formal education had not previously been available to Sarah, until she asked to join this class. After racist outrage followed Sarah's admittance, Ms. Crandall made the decision to make her boarding school for Black girls only. Girls from across the state traveled to learn together, and they faced many barriers from the white community, who stopped them from getting school supplies or other items in town, and from the local legislature, who passed laws making it illegal for Black girls to travel to the Crandall school. Nevertheless, Sarah and her classmates continued to learn and grow and challenge the stereotypes they had been taught.

This beautifully-drawn, fictionalized account of a true story is a quick, yet impactful read. The art style is very whimsical, but it also does a good job of emphasizing the gravity of dark moments. The story, at times, felt like it was teetering on the edge of being a white savior story focused on the teacher, but I do think the white author tried to avoid going that way entirely by including more moments focused entirely on the Black students. Overall, I would definitely recommend

Pedagogy of the Oppressed

 Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire (1968) 183 Pages

Originally published in Portuguese, Freire writes what is now known to be one of the foundational texts for critical pedagogy. In the work, Freire proposes a new relationship between teacher, student, and society. Pedagogy refers simply to the theory and practice of teaching and learning. Freire dedicates this text to the oppressed, especially those he has had close contact with in Brazil, teaching students to read and write. In this text, Freire applies a Marxist class analysis to the relationship between the colonizer and the colonized. This is especially true for Brazil, a country which has been colonized heavily by Europeans for over a century. Paulo explains that the current model of pedagogy treats the learner as something to be filled with knowledge and argues that a better model for the learner includes that person as a "co-creator" of knowledge. Like most Latin American countries, Brazil was involved in a regime change or coup led and backed by the US, during which time Freire was exiled from his home for 16 years. Because of his experiences during exile, Freire was able to get a better understanding of relationships between social classes and the ways in which lower classes are taught. One of the main themes he wrestles with is humankind's main problem of affirming their identity as human. He states that everyone strives to attain this affirmation but oppression prevents many from achieving this.

Essential reading for anyone interested in the mechanics of social learning, culture, class dynamics within a learning environment.

Delphine Jones Takes a Chance

 

Delphine Jones Takes a Chance by Beth Morrey (2022) 318 pages

Delphine Jones is 28, stuck in a waitressing job with an awful boss, just trying to get enough money to support herself, her 12-year-old, crazy-smart daughter, and her father, who has been in deep mourning since his wife died 15 years ago. When Delphine gets fired from her job, she's paralyzed, not knowing what to do next. A couple things happen, opening doors to new people and possibilities: Her daughter Em has an amazing teacher whom Delphine meets, and then Em finds a help wanted sign for a cafe and lures her mother to the cafe to meet the owner. These events cascade into a series of opportunities‒and new relationships‒opening up for Delphine. Will she be able to break out of her fears and improve her lot?

I'd been waiting for another book by Morrey, whose first book, The Love Story of Missy Carmichael, became one of my favorites. To me, Delphine is every bit as good at detailing the intricacies of life and relationships as Missy Carmichael was. Really love the characters!

We Want to Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom

 We Want to Do More Than Survive by Bettina L. Love, 200 pages.

I picked this book as part of a reading challenge I was doing this year, specifically for "read a non-fiction book about anti-racism." And while it definitely fulfilled that prompt, I don't know that it quite followed the premise presented in the title. This is a decent book looking at the long history of racism in America and intersectional identities, but even being generous about it only about a third is even tangentially related to education.

Born Bright: A Young Girl's Journey from Nothing to Something in America

Born Bright: A Young Girl's Journey from Nothing to Something in America by C. Nicole Mason, 242 pages.
C. Nicole Mason tells a compelling story about growing up poor and without the support that could have helped her succeed. She works hard in school and with a couple of lucky breaks, is able to go on to college and then graduate school. We were lucky enough to have the author call in for our discussion this summer.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie / Muriel Spark, read by Nadia May, 187 p.

I suppose I must have seen the film based on this brief novel starring Maggie Smith, but if so I didn't remember it as I was listening to this taut, strange and fascinating tale.  Miss Brodie, a rebellious and unconventional Edinburgh teacher, has a group of 6 young girls that comprise her set.  She opens their minds and wields an outsize influence, but this is no heartwarming tale.  Yes, Miss Brodie gives primacy to the arts and imagination, but alas, she is rather too fond of Mussolini and Franco for her own or anyone else's good.  Weird and wonderful.

Born bright

Born bright: a young girl's journey from nothing to something in America / C. Nicole Mason, 242 pgs.

 A great story of the author fighting her way out of poverty and achieving success despite being dealt a hand missing a few cards. Born to a teenage mother who never finished high school, the author endured many of the side effects of poverty...frequent moves, most often living in poor conditions, attending schools that were underfunded, being taught by teachers who did not believe their students could succeed, etc. etc.  The message that comes through loud and clear is that Mason did not realize until she was in college that she had been poor.  There were always others in the neighborhood who were worse off.  She never knew that all schools are not like the ones she attended. Mason has an interesting story and I'm glad we are reading this book this summer along with David Copperfield.  Interesting how certain problems seem to stay the same.

I am Malala

I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai, 327 pages

At the age of 15, Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman, targeted because she and her father had become outspoken proponents of education rights for girls in her home country of Pakistan. I am Malala is her story of growing up in the Swat Valley of Pakistan, of fighting for what she believes in despite the threat of violence, of becoming a world-renowned champion for her cause despite her age and gender.

While the world Malala describes is fraught with violence, fear, and judgement (by different factions of Muslims, as well as by non-Muslims), the overlying message of her memoir is one of peace, of love, of acceptance, and above all, of the importance of education. This is a wonderful, inspiring book, and should be required reading in this day and age.