I remember being in a history lesson and saying to my teacher, 'How come you never talk about black scientists and inventors and pioneers?' And she looked at me and said, 'Because there aren't any.'
Interpretation
This quote highlights the lack of representation in historical education, particularly regarding black scientists and inventors.
Malorie Blackman's quote reveals a critical gap in educational curricula that often overlook the contributions of black individuals in science and innovation. It reflects the frustration of students who seek a more inclusive and accurate portrayal of history, challenging educators to acknowledge and educate about the diverse figures who have shaped our world.
In practice
In a discussion about educational reform, this quote can be used to advocate for a more inclusive curriculum.
What I wanted to do was use literature and different kinds of stories and poems as a springboard, tapping into the creativity of our teens - I wanted teenagers to come up with their own creative responses to literature - using books themselves as a starting point.
I remember going into a bookshop, and the only book I saw with a black child on the cover was 'A Thief in the Village' by James Berry, and I thought, 'Is this still the state of publishing?' Then I thought, 'Either I can whine about it or try to do something about it.'
I hope to instill, in every child I meet, my love and enthusiasm for reading and stories.
Children will go with any story as long as it's good, but white adults sometimes think that if a black child's on the cover, it is perhaps not for them.
History should belong to all of us, and it needs to include people from different cultural backgrounds. Otherwise, it risks becoming irrelevant to children, who could then become disenchanted with education.
I read a lot of highly unsuitable books for an 11-year-old. I was desperate to read as widely as possible. I thought, 'There are so many places I am never going to get the chance to visit, but I can if I read them.' And I did. I could go anywhere in the world - and off it - by reading.
A disciple is a learner, a student, an apprentice – a practitioner… Disciples of Jesus are people who do not just profess certain views as their own but apply their growing understanding of life in the Kingdom of the Heavens to every aspect of their life on earth.
Some who support [more] coercive strategies assume that children will run wild if they are not controlled. However, the children for whom this is true typically turn out to be those accustomed to being controlled— those who are not trusted, given explanations, encouraged to think for themselves, helped to develop and internalize good values, and so on. Control breeds the need for more control, which is used to justify the use of control.
A fondness for reading, which, properly directed, must be an education in itself.
A book is a mirror that offers us only what we already carry inside us.
Perhaps we have been misguided into taking too much responsibility from our children, leaving them too little room for discovery
Some people seem to think that good dancers are born, but all the good dancers I have known are taught or trained.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.