Camilo Arango

Reading response

1.  What does Miss Moore hope to accomplish during the class outing?  What lesson does she want to teach?  Does it need teaching?  Why?  To what extent does Miss Moore's method of teaching succeed?

I think Miss Moore is trying to introduce the children to a new side of life that  they were not aware of before. She is trying to show them that there are beautiful things outside of the slums where they occupy their time. By broadening the horizons of these kids, she is trying to show those kids how the world is out of their community, showing them the unfairness to which they are part. She is trying to show them how the segregation has affected the economic status between social classes  where one of those toys could easily maintain the house living expenses of a family back at their place. She wants to teach them that there are so many things out there that could only be theirs, but the only way to get them is by opening their hearts and minds and accept the knowledge that Miss Moore have been trying to inculcate in them. Moreover, they should strive to be better.

Miss Moore is a knowledgeable black woman in a society where black people are seen as less educated and violent. She is trying to change this by teaching a lesson to these kids. A lesson that will make them realize of the inequality. And encourage them to change these presumptions. This lesson might not have made a big change on their mindset, but I am sure it has take deep root in their vision of society.