REVIEWS
This well-written book highlights the lives of 10 women activists: Sojourner Truth, Ruth First, Gloria Steinem, Michelle Doug- las, Temple Grandin, Olympe de Gouges, Sarojini Naidu, Joan Baez, Leilani Muir and Shannen Koostachin. Each chapter profi les the life of a courageous woman who fought for necessary change. Crysdale begins with Olympe de Gouges,
the 18th century French feminist and aboli- tionist. She fi nishes with Shannen Koostachin, the teenage activist from Attawapiskat First Nation who was nominated for the Inter- national Childrens’ Peace Prize and was the founder of Shannen’s Dream, a youth-driven movement for educational equity in Canada. Some of the rebels Crysdale profi les are
COURAGEOUS WOMEN REBELS Joy Crysdale Second Story Press, 2013 124 pages, $10.95 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Reviewed by Norma DeNoble
household names: Gloria Steinem, Joan Baez and Temple Grandin. She also includes sto- ries of lesser-known activists. The message throughout the book is the same: All these women fought bravely for change, and some of them put their lives in jeopardy to pursue their goals. This book is most appropriate for inter-
mediate students. Teachers could highlight the profi les most relevant to their lesson
Anyone interested in American 1960s coun- ter-culture might recognize Bill Ayers. He was a radical political activist. Today, Ayers is retired from the College of Education, University of Illinois. He specialized in early childhood education. In the graphic novel, To Teach: The Journey, in Comics, Ayers distills his work as an educational theorist with the help of Ryan Alexander-Tanner’s simple black and white drawings. He describes facing a philosophical crisis on
TO TEACH: THE JOURNEY, IN COMICS William Ayers and Ryan Alexander-Tanner Teachers College Press, 2010 144 pages, $26.08 (paperback) ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Reviewed by Francesca Alfano
his fi rst day of teaching in a kindergarten class: “What is teaching? Who is a teacher?” Ayers playfully looks at some teaching myths, incor- porating scenarios involving teachers currently working in the fi eld across the grades. He ex- amines the challenge of “creating an environ- ment for learning” that can’t help but resonate with those engaged in inquiry-based learning. Ayers notes, “The learning environment is a
complex, living refl ection of a teacher’s values.” He recognizes the instincts that have driven so many of us to embrace the full-day kindergar- ten program. An absolute gem is listed as a goal: “Life is lived in the present tense – where life in school, is life itself, kindness begets kindness, accomplishment repeats itself. I try to develop a permanent readiness for the marvelous.”
Ayers sees teaching as bridge-building
where a teacher moves with students toward “broader horizons and deeper ways of know- ing.” He touches on the problems with stan- dardized testing. After an entertaining set of drawings where administrators challenge him, Ayers reminds readers that there is more ‘honest data’ to be collected. Final chapters, entitled The Mystery of Teaching and Final Commencement, continue with this thought- provoking tone. In conclusion, Ayers writes, “The intellectual
challenge of teaching involves becoming a stu- dent of your students, unlocking the wisdom in the room, and joining together on a journey of discovery and surprise. The ethical demand is to see each student as a 3-dimensional creature, much like yourself, and an unshakable faith in the irreducible and incalculable value of every human being.” While it would be easy to say that this book
is perfect for a new colleague, it also serves as a provocation to veteran teachers. After all, to re- examine our choices and seek inspiration are all part of the journey.
Francesca Alfano is a member of Hamilton-Wentworth Teacher Local.
ELEMENTARY TEACHERS’ FEDERATION OF ONTARIO 45
plans. Michelle Douglas’s 1989 dismissal from the Canadian Forces sparked her battle with the Department of National Defence and re- sulted in the Canadian military abandoning its policy banning LGBTQ people. Leilani Muir’s lawsuit held the Alberta government accountable for the compulsory sterilization infl icted upon her as a teen. Both of these could be used in the context of Canadian his- tory curriculum for grades 7 and 8. The full group has many possible curriculum con- nections to Character Education, Health and Phys Ed and Language Arts. This title is part of Second Story Press’s
Women’s Hall of Fame series that also includes other titles that could deepen the curriculum connections like Amazing Women Athletes and Exceptional Women Environmentalists. The one criticism I have of the book is that I would have preferred to have seen more Canadian activists featured. Surely there are 10 Canadian women who changed the course of history.
Norma DeNoble is a member of the Waterloo Region Occasional Teacher Local.
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