Recorder:  Terri Brunt

TEXT:  The Land of Many Colors by the Lamath County YMCA Family Preschool

OBJECTIVE:  2.C.  utopia/dystopia/ecotopia.  A simple plan, built of old past parts where life is low tech and people are warmer.

SUMMARY:  A simple message of peace and respect for differences is the theme of this book written for children by children.  When the purple people, the blue people, and the green people begin fighting and hurting each other, they are reminded that although they have different feelings and like different things, they can still be friends.  In time, The Land of Many Colors becomes "a peaceful, loving world."

Klamath County YMCA Family Preschool.  The Land of Many Colors. 

            Scholastic, New York. 1993.

K-12 Education in Philanthropy

1.  With the right nurturing, can the simple message of hope these children write about can be fulfilled?

2. Is utopia the past we have lost?  If so, how do we restore the old past parts?

After I showed the video of the reading of The Land of Many Colors I read the questions from my handout to generate discussion among and with the audience. 

Melissa stated that generations are showing less bigotry and hatred because we are working towards not seeing the outer self and focusing more on the inner self. 

Lacy said we have come a long way in our attitudes towards different races.  She said we must continue to break the cycle of intolerance, which has been passed down from generation to generation. 

The children in the video not being affected by the video camera amazed Dr. White.  A student made the observation that that is the crux of the issue, our children have been brought up with video cameras and technology does not phase them. They have been videoed since they were born. What really mattered, said Dr. White, was that some adults were taking care of those children, reading some wholesome literature to them, and encouraging them to speak in turn.  The content of what they said was less significant than the kindness and sweetness of the voices reaching out to each other. 

Lacy pointed out that young children have no concept of intolerance.  She asked if they become more cynical as they interact with the world?

Laura commented that we teach children not to question things.  We hold our children back and that prevents them from learning and accepting others and their differences.

Kim commented that is important to bring in cultural aspects and share their culture with the others in the classroom.

Glenn made the statement that if a person thinks utopia is the past then they are going back to Homer and the idea of the Golden Age.

Keely said as we become more physically integrated, skin tones become more alike, but there will always be one group that will be segregated although race may not be the focal point.  This is caused by the fear of the unknown.

 Terri shared a personal view of segregation by telling us about her son, Chris, who was born with disabilities.  Her son was segregated from the other children at lunch due to medical reasons.  One child protested about her son not being able to join him and his classmates at lunch.  Terri was able to ease people’s minds by showing the children and their families the differences between Chris and them.  The students had no problem with Chris’ disabilities and they were very proud to have him as a friend.

Lacy made the comment that parents were the ignorant ones.  By segregating children with disabilities we are putting a spotlight on their disabilities and that is when problems start regarding people’s fears of the unknown.

Lisa said her niece found out about racism through her neighbor who objected to having his Jamaican neighbors into his house.