|
B. Song: "A Cautionary
Tale..."
by Jane Field
Jane Field is a Toronto singer/songwriter whose satirical songs
highlight some of the absurdities of people's attitudes to disability and to
lesbian and gay experience. She has just released her first cassette recording,
The Fishing Is Free. When she's not singing or writing songs, Jane is a
literacy program worker at St. Christopher House in Toronto.
 This song could bring up painful
memories for those who have survived sexual assault; it will likely bring up
feelings about being the object of sexual harassment on the street.
1. Warm-up
* List the following words and expressions used to describe a
person in a wheelchair: handicapped, disabled, otherwise abled, a person with a
disability.
* Some questions to consider:
- Can you think of any other names?
- What do you think is a respectful description?
- Who can you ask about what is respectful?
- Do you think it is important for a woman to know how to
protect herself?
- What steps do you take to protect yourself?
2. Understanding the song
|
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
For example,
the word "handicapped" makes some people think of "cap in hand." Many people
feel that this is not respectful.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
An easier version of the exercise is to ask the
learners to cut apart the jumbled lines, assemble them in the correct order,
then copy them.
|
|
* Listen to the song.
* Give learners the words to the song,
jumbled up (page172).
* Ask them to read the jumbled
lines, then listen to the song and write the lines in the correct order. Play
the song as often as necessary.
* Compare with the correct version given on
page 173.
* Ask learners to answer the questions
about the song (page 174).
3. Guided discussion
* Some questions to consider:
- Do you think the woman in this song was too violent in her
reaction?
- If you answered yes, what would you have done if you were in
her position?
- If you answered no, what do you think needs to be done to
prevent violence in our society?
|
