Fair Play

Nearly missed an anniversary - 2 Aug 1990 - Iraq invaded Kuwait. Fourteen years? Wow - time flies whether you're having fun or not.

Remember what you were doing when you first heard about the invasion? I do - I was in Japan. But that's another story.

This story is about Fran Davidson's experiences during the Gulf War:

"During the Persian Gulf War, I became acutely aware of how difficult it is to honor families' values when those values are different from mine. In the classroom, I emphasized peaceful resolutions to conflicts and talked often with the children about elements of peace. Most families felt comfortable . . . but when our conversations about peace expanded to include discussions of the Persian Gulf War, some families became uneasy. . . . (Some) families talked about the necessity of war to overthrow oppressors and to protect and free people. . . . This was a really uncomfortable time for me . . . "

As a result of those uncomfortable moments caused by George Bush I's overly macho response to Saddam's visit to a neighboring country, Fran co-authored That's Not Fair! A Teacher's Guide to Activism with Young Children.

Have you heard of it? The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) calls it "an exciting and informative" resource for "developing community-building, deep thinking, and partnership . . . to change the world for the better."

For pre-schoolers.

On page 106 of the guide, co-author Ann Pelo details an activism project she initiated at a Seattle preschool after her students spotted a Blue Angels rehearsal overhead as they played in a local park. "Those are Navy airplanes," Pelo lectured the toddlers. "They're built for war, but right now, there is no war, so the pilots learn how to do fancy tricks in their planes . . . " The kids returned to playing, but Pelo wouldn't let it rest. The next day she pushed the children to "communicate their feelings about the Blue Angels."

Read the rest.