I am a Russian/American whos family emigrated or immigrated? To America during the 1980’s. My entire remaining family left Russia to find a better life for ourselves in America the land of opportunity. I was very young than, but I grew up listening to stories about how a lot of our family was put to death my Stalin’s Secret police the NKVD. They rounded up many member’s of my family and they were sent to the GULAGS.
Now I am an English teacher in Shanghai, teaching kids. And in the classroom there is a giant Picture of Stalin staring at me all the time. He looks evil and in fact is evil. He ordered the death of many of my family members because they were different or for no reason at all. And I have to teach in a classroom with his portrait in the room?
I was wondering if I should get it removed. I tried to ask the Chinese teachers to take it down, but they just smiled and laughed and said Stalin saved Russia from the Germans and the Japanese. Should I just get up there and take the picture down myself??
His NKVD ruined my family and forced us to leave our homeland. And made my family’s life a living hell. What can I do??
You advice is greatly appreciated….Khriskov.
Historical And Cultural Issues In The Class Room. Solutions?
Moderators: Dimitris, maneki neko2, Lorikeet, Enrico Palazzo, superpeach, cecil2, Mr. Kalgukshi2
Does every classroom have the same picture in it? Are you the only teacher who uses that classroom or are there others? Did you explain why it affects you personally? If it's not mandated by the school and you explain your personal situation, perhaps any other teachers who use the room would agree to have it put away for a while.
YES.
Yes, I it is my personal class room. The children come to me to have their English lessons. The problem is the Chinese teachers don't have the language to understand me really. I can't explain myself to them in Chinese or in English.
And the picture is high up on th wall where I can't really get to it. And it is BOLTED TO THE WALL... Funny, they really want Stalin to stay there.
The only way I GET EVEN with Stalin is that I try to Point My Laser Beam at his head and throw papers at him to make the Kids laugh. Try to make the kids realize that just because they school tells them that he is great and wonderful that maybe he is just a jerk and if i could throw stuff at Stalins Big Evil head that maybe they can too................
But I think a bigger issue is staring me in the face. Not only Stalins Evil head. And I think I can say Evil without any debate. A person who would force the deportation of millions of a people because they are different or a "threat" is EVIL. and murdered my family..........that is EVIL....Sent millions and millions of people to their grave.....That is EVIL......
But how is it that a School a place of so called "education" can promote lies and half truths? With a patriotic and nationalistic slant? And how do we as "teachers" be part of the machine without promoting the lies?
What can we do as "teachers" to really educate the children, not only in their knowlege of language but as human beings??
I know my classes are short.. I only got 40 minutes with the kids.. But they got the rest of the day to be filled with lies.....How do we combat the lies?????
And the picture is high up on th wall where I can't really get to it. And it is BOLTED TO THE WALL... Funny, they really want Stalin to stay there.
The only way I GET EVEN with Stalin is that I try to Point My Laser Beam at his head and throw papers at him to make the Kids laugh. Try to make the kids realize that just because they school tells them that he is great and wonderful that maybe he is just a jerk and if i could throw stuff at Stalins Big Evil head that maybe they can too................
But I think a bigger issue is staring me in the face. Not only Stalins Evil head. And I think I can say Evil without any debate. A person who would force the deportation of millions of a people because they are different or a "threat" is EVIL. and murdered my family..........that is EVIL....Sent millions and millions of people to their grave.....That is EVIL......
But how is it that a School a place of so called "education" can promote lies and half truths? With a patriotic and nationalistic slant? And how do we as "teachers" be part of the machine without promoting the lies?
What can we do as "teachers" to really educate the children, not only in their knowlege of language but as human beings??
I know my classes are short.. I only got 40 minutes with the kids.. But they got the rest of the day to be filled with lies.....How do we combat the lies?????
Short-term solution found for the meantime
Well Stalin's Evil head an menacing Moustauchee( french spelling) has been casting an evil oppressive shadow on my english lessons since I started teaching at the school.
But today, i found a solution. I got a picture from a Magazine of one of my favourite soccer players and cut it out......................Then I pasted the head of my favourite (English Spelling) soccer player over that deporting killing Gulag Master Stalin's head.......................So now the rooms feels a lot better.....................and so do I...........
Now what am i going to do with that statue Of Mao????????????
But today, i found a solution. I got a picture from a Magazine of one of my favourite soccer players and cut it out......................Then I pasted the head of my favourite (English Spelling) soccer player over that deporting killing Gulag Master Stalin's head.......................So now the rooms feels a lot better.....................and so do I...........
Now what am i going to do with that statue Of Mao????????????
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Senorita Daniels
- Posts: 202
- Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:11 pm
Mickey Mao
Cool. So I immigrated to America and emmigrated from Russia. Makes sense. But i do not think it is about what a Country Thinks is important. It is about what serves to maintain the order of a certian type of society that is important.
And what is a "country"? A country can't think. So what do you mean by "country"?
COUNTRY=Ruling Rich Class?------------------>hmmmmmmm??
Still wantint to discuss what you as teachers feel is your role?? I mean obviously it is "teaching" the kids English but is it this type of system that we want to help maintain??
And what is a "country"? A country can't think. So what do you mean by "country"?
COUNTRY=Ruling Rich Class?------------------>hmmmmmmm??
Still wantint to discuss what you as teachers feel is your role?? I mean obviously it is "teaching" the kids English but is it this type of system that we want to help maintain??
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billjordan
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Wed Nov 23, 2005 10:08 pm
It sounds like you need to walk a fine line.
It is true that the Soviets, under Stalin helped to drive the Japan from China....as did the US. It is also true that Stalin...was not nice...
I have two answers for you as to your role as a teacher.
American Answer: teach all of history..teach the good the bad and the ugly. Stalin took extreme measures for extreame times. He really is responsible for helping to defeat Nazi Germany. The Soviet people paid a huge price in defeating the Germans. They also paid a huge price in supporting Stalin in the Cold War that followed. World history can not be taught without including him.....
Chinese Answer: Your not in America. They put people in jail for expressing idea's other then the approved ones. May we always remember Tinamin Square. I would be very careful about what you say about Stalin and Mao.
I wouldn't be able to keep my mouth shut on topic's such as freedom of speech and religion. I am teaching in Korea becouse of this. I don't think I would be able to teach in China.
It is true that the Soviets, under Stalin helped to drive the Japan from China....as did the US. It is also true that Stalin...was not nice...
I have two answers for you as to your role as a teacher.
American Answer: teach all of history..teach the good the bad and the ugly. Stalin took extreme measures for extreame times. He really is responsible for helping to defeat Nazi Germany. The Soviet people paid a huge price in defeating the Germans. They also paid a huge price in supporting Stalin in the Cold War that followed. World history can not be taught without including him.....
Chinese Answer: Your not in America. They put people in jail for expressing idea's other then the approved ones. May we always remember Tinamin Square. I would be very careful about what you say about Stalin and Mao.
I wouldn't be able to keep my mouth shut on topic's such as freedom of speech and religion. I am teaching in Korea becouse of this. I don't think I would be able to teach in China.
Worshipping the Most Collosal Bandits.............
Yeah i find in society all societys people end up worshipping the most collosal murdering bandits history can produce.........
well because they are the ones that write the history.......Here in china the chines do not seem afraid to dicuss anything nor do they care about Mao or Stalin...................they just want to eat a KFC burger and buy the most expensive forein made Phone.................
But I hate being part of the machine and maintaining the social order.................even though there doesn't seem to be anyway out.......................
well because they are the ones that write the history.......Here in china the chines do not seem afraid to dicuss anything nor do they care about Mao or Stalin...................they just want to eat a KFC burger and buy the most expensive forein made Phone.................
But I hate being part of the machine and maintaining the social order.................even though there doesn't seem to be anyway out.......................
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billjordan
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Wed Nov 23, 2005 10:08 pm