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Oh god love a duck. Tomorrow is the wounded seal lesson, which comes with special bonus by the way, Canadian seal hunting is EVIL!!! wording built into the story introduction. Which I objected to when I taught this lesson back in 2011, and still object to now. Last time it ended up all right, so I suppose if I am healthy enough to teach at all tomorrow I will just chop that stuff out again when I introduce the story. But seriously, ugh.
You can teach empathy without demonizing hunting, you know! In fact, demonizing hunting shows a remarkable lack of empathy! For instance, I would really like to know what the Seal Hunter in the story did to keep himself and his family and village alive if he stopped hunting seals. He was hunting them for food and clothing, after all, and it's damned hypocritical and short-sighted not to point out the troubles he must have had after he threw away his livelihood.
Also, seals hunt and eat fish. Why do we not have a story where a fish comes and makes a seal feel guilty for killing the other members of its school? And then the seal becomes a vegetarian and somehow doesn't starve to death because righteousness miraculously provides? Oh right, because fish aren't fluffy and cute, that's why. Fucking selkie myths and pure white fur and big melty black eyes.
I hate this lesson plan so much.
At least this year we are skipping the Faith in Action protest letter bullshit. The national curriculum hasn't changed, but I guess I made a convincing case to our DRE in 2011. Yay for progress?
You can teach empathy without demonizing hunting, you know! In fact, demonizing hunting shows a remarkable lack of empathy! For instance, I would really like to know what the Seal Hunter in the story did to keep himself and his family and village alive if he stopped hunting seals. He was hunting them for food and clothing, after all, and it's damned hypocritical and short-sighted not to point out the troubles he must have had after he threw away his livelihood.
Also, seals hunt and eat fish. Why do we not have a story where a fish comes and makes a seal feel guilty for killing the other members of its school? And then the seal becomes a vegetarian and somehow doesn't starve to death because righteousness miraculously provides? Oh right, because fish aren't fluffy and cute, that's why. Fucking selkie myths and pure white fur and big melty black eyes.
I hate this lesson plan so much.
At least this year we are skipping the Faith in Action protest letter bullshit. The national curriculum hasn't changed, but I guess I made a convincing case to our DRE in 2011. Yay for progress?
