Name games

Here's an excerpt from George Guthridge's book The Kids from Nowhere. Basically, it's a book about a teacher (George Guthridge) who went to Gambell on St. Lawrence Island. He taught and led a Future Problem Solvers team to the national championship. It's an inspiring read. One part in particular hit me in regards to naming. In the following excerpt the kids face their school's teachers to solve a very practical problem. "The council has just received word that the local Headstart Program might lose its federal funding. There is too much absenteeism among preschoolers the program serves. What can be done?" So, here it is:


The next Monday, Bruce, who has scored the booklets, announces the winner.

The kids have beaten the teachers by fifty points.

Most of the teachers' solutions involve games and rewards designed to increase attendance. The kids, on the other hand, looked at the possible root causes of the problem. They noted that , since Eskimo children are named for a recently deceased loved one, disciplining a child can be an affront to the dead. The result, they argued, is that children in the village are often spoiled. The team proposed a return to discipline similar to that in the old days: renew the elders' disciplinary council and reestablish the gravel ring whre errant children were forced to exercise until exhausted. They also suggested developing a process in shich elders, not just anyone, will award certificates to kids with excellent attendance.(pp.181-182)

What do you think?

Piurci