Blog Post #6

 Troublemakers by Carla Shalaby

Quotes:

1. In Troublemakers Preface, Shalaby states, "When I speak on a child's right to freedom, I mean that by virtue of being human, she is endowed with the unassailable right not to have any part of her personhood assaulted or stolen... A free person retains her power, her right to self-determination, her opportunity to flourish, her ability to love and to be loved, and her capacity of hope." I find these statements interesting because of Carla Shalaby's use of the pronoun "she" when referring to students, children, and freedom. Shalaby relates to students at human beings, but constantly uses "she" and "her" pronouns, which make it seem she is only talking and including female students and a female audience. Though I do not know Shalaby's background, I find these word choices ironic due to the point being made. By using these pronouns it seems that the writing excludes males and other genders in educational settings. Shalaby claims that freedom is a personal right, but does not include everyone in the United States educational system. 

2. Later in the Preface, Shalaby states, "For the most part, schools value quiet children over loud ones and operate as though adults are the only teachers in the room. The adults get to speak while the young people listen." This statement evaluates the irony of freedom in the United States and how freedom is rarely seen in American classroom environments. I find this important for educators and students both to acknowledge because it shows the true way the country is. The statement highlights the flaws this country has and the importance of acknowledging them as citizens and the future. 

3. In the introduction of Troublemakers, Shalaby shares her experience with a certain student. She states, "He loved the freedom of learning just enough to hate the constraints of schooling, and he did what I asked only if it happened to coincide with what he wanted to do." I find this important because it shows the student's perspective of the irony between freedom in the country and within the education system. It shows that students are aware of the irony, which can make it harder to teach in the circumstances the country wants to teach. 

Reflection:

All in all, Troublemakers highlights the irony of freedom in the United States and the difficulties and challenges that happen when teaching students who know the irony. Not only are the constant reminders of freedom in the country and the completely opposite experiences that happen in the classrooms ironic, but Shalaby's exclusive use of she and her pronouns when talking about freedom among students and citizenship is ironic as well.