Teaching and Testimony
Rigoberta Menchu and the North American Classroom
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Contains narratives of the experiences of teachers using the testimonial of Rigoberta Menchu, a Guatemalan Indian woman who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992. Includes background essays on Menchu and the role of her story in political correctness debates.
Description
By utilizing the testimonial narrative of Rigoberta Menchú—a Mayan-Quiché of Guatemala and winner of the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize—teachers in this volume engage students in vital and relevant cross-cultural learning in a variety of locations, disciplines, and levels. Teaching and Testimony tells teachers' stories of using Menchu's testimonial in their classrooms, and invites reflection on the transformative possibility of integrating previously marginalized voices. Energized by the teaching of Menchu's testimonial narrative, I, Rigoberta Menchú, these teachers let their guard down, wrestle with the immediate difficulties and possibilities of multicultural teaching, and speak with passion about the importance of what they and their students are learning.
Allen Carey-Webb is Assistant Professor of English Education at Western Michigan University Stephen Benz is Assistant Professor of English at Barry University. He is the author of Guatemalan Journey, an account of his two years as a Fulbright Scholar in Guatemala.
Reviews
"This is one of the more engaging books of its kind—that I have read. Not only will the readership glean fascinating and unique insights into an eclectic number of topics (value of testimony, authenticity of voice and testimony, complexity of culture, deprivation of human rights, U. S. role in the deprivation of human rights, feminism, student resistance to reading a testimony of this nature, etc. ), but also numerous and invaluable pedagogical strategies. A particular strength of the volume is that the authors share with the reader their frustrations, the barriers they faced, some of their failures, and lessons learned during their attempt to teach the work, and resounding successes. The struggle and breakthroughs are enlightening!" — Samuel Totten, University of Arkansas