Assignment: Applying Your Teaching Philosophy to "Every Child is a Special"

Assignment Title: Exploring the Impact of Children's Literature on Society

Objective:
This assignment aims to deepen your understanding of the transformative power of children's
literature by analyzing Sayantani DasGupta's TEDx Talk, "Radical Imagination: Children’s
Literature Changes the World." You will reflect on key insights from the talk and answer a
series of questions in a narrative format.

“Radical Imagination: Children’s Literature Changes the World,” a spontaneous speech by

Sayantanni Dasgupta. She defines the impact of children’s literature as a blueprint and
roadmap for the future. On the inside of every story, children do not just figure out who they
want to be but also what sort of society they want to live in and get to practice figuring out how
they want those worlds to manifest. The children’s literature is substantial, for she believes that
this can change the world by building the radical imagination of young people.

Sayantanni Dasgupta provides anecdotal support, such as a group of plucky young teenagers
who believe in themselves and can potentially overthrow an unjust government. It serves a
transformative potential for children and adults to see themselves in the future thriving to
change the world. Moreover, she provides psychic representational healing from the story of
her grandmother from a Bengali folktale, representing a brown-skilled girl having an adventure
to save the world. This sets an example for all young children to draw strength and reflection
from themselves as empowered people who can build the future.

Positive representation of stories that present diversity in racial, ethnic, gender, sexuality, and
economic backgrounds is crucial to making sure that all young people are equipped with
radical imagination. Whereas, young people will see themselves as the protagonists of the
stories. In this connection, she stressed that now is the time to have a desperate need for radical
action. For now, we deal with religious asperity, racial injustices, and environmental
catastrophes that threaten to wrench the world apart. She stated that future leaders need to be
equipped with radical imagination, radical empathy, and love toward those who are like
ourselves.

Sayantanni Dasgupta is a pediatrician, professor of narrative medicine, a children’s fantasy

author, storyteller, and receiver by profession. She provides appropriate book
recommendations for children to read because she knows that stories are good medicine.
Through reading children’s literature, it imparted intelligence and helped them manifest the
society they live in. Additionally, it creates space for them to feel that they are valued in society.
By reading books, they equip themselves with radical empathy and love for others. Children’s
literature has a great role in shaping societal norms and values for children to bear in mind the
essence of inclusivity. Thus, it allows them to visualize themselves as protagonists in a society
with a great role to play in changing the world.

Sayantanni Dasgupta stressed the challenges to children’s literature, such as depriving children
of positive representation. Therefore, she pointed out that this is unjust and unfair for an
individual. Simply means psychic violence, that one can feel a loss of confidence. For her, she
addressed this by having a diverse positive representation of children’s literature that shows
children of unique racial, ethnic, sexual, gender, family, and economic backgrounds. An
example is the representation of brown-skinned girls being the protagonists of the story,
influencing us all. From this, it creates an open reflection for all to do that and to make it
happen too.

By definition, cultural authenticity is the extent to which a book reflects the worldview of beliefs
and values and depicts the accurate details of everyday life and language for a specific cultural
group. From this, Sayantanni Dasgupta made a significant representation of children’s
literature to cultural groups. As for her, “diversity and representation” is a critical part of this
conversation. As an emphasis, she iterates, “You cannot be what you cannot see,” which
determines the role of children’s books for young people. From that utterance, we can draw a
conclusion, such as how one can feel the desire to be a future frontline member of society if
there is a lack of reading and understanding that a child could look up to. A book is made to
awaken kids to the world around them; it opens the doors for them to explore beyond their safe
zone and what is beyond their ability to do work. That is why stories of racial, family, gender,
and economic backgrounds are critical works to make sure that all young people are able to
envision a model of themselves. “Regardless of genre, for the future is born in this story in the
imagination of young readers; before they can make it, they should have the tools and room to
dream it.”.

Sayantanni Dasgupta discussed actionable recommendations regarding the impacts of

children’s literature. The first takeaway is reading. For her, this act increases attachment and
increases the receptive ability and productive ability of an individual. Aside from that, she
stressed that “now” is the time to have a desperate need for radical action. This radical action
equips them as future leaders, preparing them to solve societal issues that tear the world apart.
Moreover, she suggested that children’s literature should allow children to see themselves in
the future as not just surviving but thriving. Through writing empowerment, she also
challenges the idea that certain people can write the narrative of a future, which allows them to
also build the future. "For it is in these spaces that young people discover the world of
fantastical beauty; it is in this story that a young leader will liberate their imagination and save
us all,” she uttered. Sayantanni Dasgupta prepared an informative speech that knocked on
one’s listener’s door to understand the essence of reading and writing children’s literature. It is
a great opportunity for us all to invest in young readers, to give them a fanatical world that they
will believe they are represented in.

In accordance, Albert Einstein said, “If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy
tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” In connection,
Sayantanni Dasgupta emphasized the significance of children’s literature. There is also a study
that suggests reading increases intelligence and improves the academic performance of a
learner. This proves the pivotal role of reading children’s literature to young people, especially
nowadays. In other ways, one of her notes is an example of Psychic Representational Healing; it
talks about the Bengali folktale where a brown-skinned girl has an adventure. To add to his
own written works, she wrote a series about an Indian immigrant daughter from New Jersey,
being awesome and saving the multiverse. This story is an actual representation of her
experience as she moved to write this book. This serves as proof of the significance of children’s
literature in her own life.

Listening to Sayantanni Dasgupta’s speech has moved me to be a reader and writer who gives
illustrations to those who are marginalized and lack positive representation in society.
Everyone has their own story to tell, but it’s the apathy that deprived them to showcase their
wonderful story