Another Transcript

This is another partial discussion about the same book, conducted in much the same way, but with a different group of kids.  Usually the difference between the two groups is that this group is much faster and more eager to have discussions and respond to one another without my prompting.  But this is also a group where a few kids often dominate the discussion (the kids below Sedeke, Khiara, Shaday, and Zamia are often very frequent contributers.  Kevin, Kina, and Ebony are less so.  Amanda's participation varies a lot.)

Unidentified kid: How did they go broke, but they weren’t broke… (with prodding to explain, the question turned out to be how did the neighbors have money to give if they were broke?)

Teacher: What do you guys think?

Kina: Because I think the people who had money, gave what they didn’t need to the people who did need it.

Kevin: Even if you have a small amount of money, it’s millions of people…well not millions but a lot.

Khiara: They didn’t have much money.  I was observing what they looked like, in the pictures what they had on, they looked like they didn’t have a lot of money. (Pause) But I mean sometimes people look like they have money but don’t or they do, but they don’t look like…(Pause) I think that’s a good way to make money

*I found Khiara's comment really interesting because she started to really get into addressing the question of what poverty means, but then backtracked into just saying she liked the idea of rent parties when she couldn't quite express herself and no other kids picked up on it.

Amanda: Most people aren’t really that nice (told story of friend’s house burning down and not getting enough help) Most people want to be rich and have everyone be slaves around them.  They’re [the people in the book] lucky.

Sedeke: I don’t think 10 cents a day is enough. [this is the salary the child got]

Zamia: Now people are stingy and won’t help.  Back then they helped each other.

Ebony: Nowadays people just want to get money for themselves.

Shaday: I disagree with that.  Because some people do help other people.  Like your husband if you’re married, he will help you.