Michael Dorris and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Michael Dorris was a Native American writer, anthropologist and head of the Native Amerian Studies program at Dartmouth College. In 1989 he published an autobiographical account of his experiences raising his adopted son who had Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The book is called The Broken Cord. It's a poignant tale of the love and frustration he experienced as a first time father with a special needs kid. It's also the story of Dorris's unfolding research into the syndrome and its epidemiological and social nature. At the time, FAS research (both clinical and epidemiological) was just at its infancy. Dorris hadn't guessed that it was the cause of his son's physical and mental disabilities or even heard of the disorder until his son was a teenager. By that time (the early 1980's), some health care workers on reservations were estimating the effects of FAS and FAE (Fetal Alcohol Effect, with less pervasive symptoms) hit up to a quarter of kids in their communities. One of the most troubling results of FAS or FAE is poor judgement or the inability to grasp the long term consequences of immediate actions. Thus, women who themselves have been victims of FAS are the most likely to repeat the cycle. All the education attempts are tainted by the simple fact that those who are most likely to drink during pregnancy are unable to learn to avoid behaviors that are damaging to themselves and to their innocent babies. A lot of research progress has surely been made in the past 30 years since FAS was discovered, but as a disorder of the poor, the downtrodden, the uneducated, it will always take a back seat to such well-funded disorders as autism and cancer. Advocate, educate, work for change. But how? Dorris thought he was doing good by caring for these children, giving them all he could provide, but it is never enough to change the course of their preventable fate.
A Broken Life (story of Michael Dorris's suicide in Solon.com)
A well referenced wikipedia article on FAS

Today's bookbag

Today, I'm carrying:
The Best American Science Writing of 2007 (ed. Kulata)
A Field Guide for Science Writers (ed. Blum, Knudson, Henig)
Bechara Kachar's newest science article on hair cells
Spiral bound, quad rule notebook
An apple, an orange and a banana
Water in a plastic bottle- I need to switch to metal
Gym clothes for pilates class
Tissues, cough drops, and chap stick
At least 3 pens and a pencil

Parenting Beyond Belief

I'm excited to read a collection of essays compiled in the book Parenting Beyond Belief: On Raising Ethical, Caring Kids Without Religion. The primary compelling arguments I hear in favor of organized religion are about establishing a moral framework and a reason to be or do good. I think kids don't necessarily need religion to motivate morality, but they do need some guidance. Parents need guidance too. I think this book will have some interesting ideas. Plus, it looks like the editor will be speaking in Portland sometime this year (dates not yet set).

Living Biblically

I've been following A.J. Jacob's yearlong journey through the familiar and the obscure (often absurd) teachings of the Bible. A secular Jew living in a secular community, Jacob's spent a year trying to obey the rules of the Bible "as literally as possible", uncovering the absurdity of fundamentalism but hoping to find some spiritual meaning along the way. There are outdated and funny rules, and so he ends up doing some pretty funny stuff. But this is not a satire or an attack on religion. He genuinely wants to understand the Bible better, and in doing so, understand the religions that are based on its teachings. Living by over 700 biblical laws is an extreme and direct way to pursue these goals. Of course, what else would one expect from the guy whose last book was about reading the encyclopedia from A to Z?

Newbery Medal Books

I was in Powells Books today, and they have a section with all the Newbery Medal award winners from the past 85 years. The Newbery Medal was created to encourage quality children's book writing, and the medal winners are selected by children's librarians. The books must be for children, and written by American authors. They are judged to be distinguished work based on "Interpretation of the theme or concept; Presentation of information including accuracy, clarity, and organization; Development of a plot; Delineation of characters; Delineation of setting; and Appropriateness of style. I read and loved a lot of these.

I have read: 1936 Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink, 1944 These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder, 1953 Charlotte's Web by E. B. White, 1957 Old Yeller by Fred Gipson, 1961 Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell, 1963 A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle, 1966 I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino, 1970 Sounder by William H. Armstrong, 1972 Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien, 1973 Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George, 1975 My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier & Christopher Collier, 1977 Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor, 1978 Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, 1979 The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson, 1981 Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson, 1982 Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary, 1984 Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary, 1986 Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan, 1988 Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, 1990 Shabanu, Daughter of the Wind by Suzanne Fisher Staples, 1990 Number the Stars by Lois Lowry; 1991 Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli, 1992 Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, 1994 The Giver by Lois Lowry, 1995 Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech, 1996 The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman.

So, it looks like I pretty well nailed the books that came out in the early nineties when I was about 8-12. It would be nice to read the newer medal winners I've missed, or have a kid to read them with.