Expanding the Narrative:
A Continuing Conversation...
"My only purpose is to teach children to rebel against authority figures."
Author
Sherman Alexie
Dear Colleagues:
When’s the last time you’ve breezed through a funny, self-revealing story in large print with cartoons? I want to invite, encourage, and challenge you all to join in a journey as we explore the nuances of education’s most precious resource – people.
The entire School of Education community is invited to read the coming-of-age common reader, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” by contemporary Native author Sherman Alexie. We’ll then use the book to spark conversations on universal human experiences and diversity as a role in our commonality.
This first year, we’ll look “Through the Indigenous Lens” provided by our SOE Equity and Diversity Committee and office of American Indian Curriculum Services (AICS) by discussing American and Wisconsin Indian culture with experts and colleagues. Next year, we’ll use a different cultural lens.
Gather your department or program colleagues and host a roundtable discussion of Alexie’s book as it relates to your field of study and get a free copy of the text at the AICS office, 265 Educational Sciences, or go online to http://commonread.education.wisc.edu.
I urge you to get involved. To do so contact Ryan Comfort at 890-2746 or by email at rncomfort@education.wisc.edu.
Julie Underwood
Dean, School of Education