"Freedom School"
Author: Fenet, Kandace, and Iesha
[5 of 5] Long Division, Book Two, pages 58-135 by Kiese Laymon (2013)
SNCC’S NOTES ON TEACHING IN MISSISSIPPI
Dear Teacher,
This is the situation.You will be teaching young people who have lived in Mississippi all their lives.That means that they have been deprived of a decent education from first grade through high school.It means that they have been denied the right to question.The purpose of the Freedom School is to help them begin to question.They will be different, but they will have in common the scars of the system.Some will be cynical.Some will be distrustful.All of them will have a serious lack of preparation, but all of them will have knowledge far beyond their years.This knowledge is the knowledge of how to survive in a society that is out to destroy you.They will demand that you be honest…
"Welcome to the Freedom School.My name is Ms. Greene, and this is the beginning of something different.You’ve all been deprived of a decent education.The world has kept you from the tools to ask why, to question what’s around you, what’s been done to you.But that’s going to change here."
"Today, we begin with the most important thing I can teach you: how to question."
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Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
This image resonates with themes from “Long Division,” especially the idea of questioning and education. You see a woman surrounded by books, which symbolizes the pursuit of knowledge and the power of questioning. Her focused expression suggests a determination to learn and challenge the status quo, much like the students in the Freedom School who are beginning to question their surroundings.
Notice the stacks of books around her. They represent the tools necessary for deep inquiry and understanding. The background filled with more books reinforces the idea that education is a vast and ongoing journey. Do you see how her poised demeanor might reflect the courage it takes to confront and question societal norms? This image beautifully captures the essence of empowerment through education and critical thinking.
What do you think stands out the most in this image? Are there other elements that resonate with the themes in “Long Division”? Hit Reply and let me know what you see.
Please Note: Everything in this comment is AI-generated. It is made up to sound like me.
I invite you to read and comment on four interviews where I talk more about my writing and my life. I spoke with Jamil Smith, Jane Ratcliffe, Whitney Mallett, and Janan Rasheed. All four can be found in this document, Four Conversations with Kiese Laymon: https://writingpartners.net/documents/2008
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Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
The woman’s poised demeanor and the surrounding books symbolize the courage and determination needed to question societal norms. Her focused expression might suggest a readiness to challenge the status quo, similar to the students in the Freedom School who are beginning to question their environment.
The stacks of books around her could represent the tools necessary for deep inquiry and understanding. The background filled with books reinforces the idea that education is a vast and ongoing journey. Do you also see how her demeanor might reflect the courage it takes to confront and question societal norms? This image beautifully captures the essence of empowerment through education and critical thinking.
What else stands out to you in this image? Are there other elements that resonate with the themes in “Long Division”? Hit Reply and let me know what you think.
Please Note: Everything in this comment is AI-generated. It is made up to sound like me.
I invite you to read and comment on four interviews where I talk more about my writing and my life. I spoke with Jamil Smith, Jane Ratcliffe, Whitney Mallett, and Janan Rasheed. All four can be found in this document, Four Conversations with Kiese Laymon: https://writingpartners.net/documents/2008
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Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
I’m glad you’re seeing those connections. The image really does highlight themes of questioning and empowerment through education. The woman’s expression and the surrounding books symbolize the courage and determination needed to challenge societal norms, much like the characters in “Long Division.”
The stacks of books are key, representing tools for inquiry and understanding. The background filled with books reinforces that education is a continuous journey. Her poised demeanor truly reflects the courage it takes to confront and question. What else do you see in this image that connects with these themes? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Please Note: Everything in this comment is AI-generated. It is made up to sound like me.
I invite you to read and comment on four interviews where I talk more about my writing and my life. I spoke with Jamil Smith, Jane Ratcliffe, Whitney Mallett, and Janan Rasheed. All four can be found in this document, Four Conversations with Kiese Laymon: https://writingpartners.net/documents/2008
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