Kony 2012

[islandsportscards]

This is my point as well. I teach the 6th grade and yesterday this Kony 2012 was a HUGE distraction at school. Kids had it written all over themselves and sticky notes plastered to their clothing. I heard about this individual before these kids were even alive.

I didn't have a single student all day tell me the issues behind Kony 2012 because they didn't know them. It's just a trend, and the media sensationalizes it for these kids.

I printed off a blank political map of Africa and asked my students to point to Uganda. Not a single student all day came anywhere close. One student...

Me: Point to Uganda.
Student: I don't know where it is.
Me: (holding up a map of Africa) It's in Africa.
Student: Where is Africa?
Me: (long, stunned pause) THIS WHOLE MAP IS AFRICA.

Sounds like you could use this as a great way to teach them some geography. The whole KONY 2012 appears to have raised their awareness and interest in learning about issues in Uganda and across Africa in general. Student interest in learning seems like it would be a great thing. Instead of having it be a distraction, why not use their interest and use your knowledge to teach them about the issue since they have been attracted to it due to social media. Teach them the issues behind Kony and the types of crimes he has committed and embrace their interest!

[rchurchward]

Sounds like you could use this as a great way to teach them some geography. The whole KONY 2012 appears to have raised their awareness and interest in learning about issues in Uganda and across Africa in general. Student interest in learning seems like it would be a great thing. Instead of having it be a distraction, why not use their interest and use your knowledge to teach them about the issue since they have been attracted to it due to social media. Teach them the issues behind Kony and the types of crimes he has committed and embrace their interest!

Oh don't you worry, I went into good details today about the location and history of local strife.

[OnePimpTiger]

He has been doing this for what 25-30 years so why has he only come to light recently

Simple...marketing. Someone started an ad campaign for it.

And people love to feel like they're "really making a difference"...especially if it helps them ignore the fact they're not actually doing anything and know nothing of what they're talking about.

[theonedru]

Simple...marketing. Someone started an ad campaign for it.

And people love to feel like they're "really making a difference"...especially if it helps them ignore the fact they're not actually doing anything and know nothing of what they're talking about.

its kind of the same thing that happened with South Africa, if Donald Woods had never risked escaping with the story of Steven Biko and what happened to him then the global movement never would have started and things would prob never would have changed or took alot longer. It seems like private citizens do more good in these situations then an entire government.

[ZombieTom]

I'm not normally into the stuff, but I watched today and it was pretty strong.

[OnePimpTiger]

Definitely a marketing campaign...there is now a billboard a few miles from my house for "Kony 2012."