The assignment was to pick 'your' hero or someone who inspires 'you'; not who the teacher thinks should be the hero. The look of happiness on the girls face as she delivered her presentation to the FAA made me smile.
Right?!?! Teach decided to put this girl in a box of "acceptable" heros so she, the teach, didn't have to learn about an important historical figure she wasn't aware of. Do better teacher... YA KNOW, LEARN!
I think that teacher needs to attend a long and arduous series of classes regarding teaching children. She was way out of her lane, telling her student who can and can't be her heroes. SHAME on that teacher for trying to crush the interest, curiosity, independence, and clear thinking out of this child. At the very least, she deserves a letter of reprimand from the state. ~35 year A&P and USAF combat veteran, here.
Exactly. This teacher's attitude is the kind of thing that can destroy a child's natural enthusiasm for learning. When my son says that he loves learning but hates being "taught", you know there's something wrong with the education system.
EXACTLY!!! “Your Hero,” is personal to YOU ~ regardless of what anyone else thinks. “Your Hero,” is someone who encourages you… I cannot for the life of me understand why a TEACHER would take THAT from a child!! (signed ~ offended former teacher). I hope the teacher indeed learned a lesson from this!
The fact that the teacher told her to pick someone more well known shows that the only reason she really had a problem with it is she didn't know who Bessie was and was embarrassed by her ignorance. It's MORE important to bring lesser known inspiring figures to light because many of them have stories that SHOULD be told.
THIS. Rather than allow their student to lift them into the sunlight of knowledge, this teacher tried to push the student back into the darkness of ignorance. For a teacher, this is reprehensible.
The whole point of the project (and of Black History Month) is to highlight lesser known important black figures. The teacher tells her no because the person she picked isn’t well known enough.
Especially on the larger picture of trying to limit black figures in history to just a handful of people. I understand a textbook is not able to fit every significant person in history, but that’s the real purpose of assignments like this. To expand our knowledge. I hope this teacher gets written up, this is inexcusable.
I def agree w/that. It's just so demeaning of a child to do that to and also to deny her a choice that uplifs her. Just SMH @ the conscious ignorance of some people who are our educators, of all things. Anyway, man don't mean to vent on your reply section. ✌🏽out
That's not unusual. Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. Official, per Professor Craig Wright, Head of the Yale Genius School, The Hidden Habits of Genius, 2020
Service men and women are Hero, because they put there bodies on the line to defend and protect. Learning to read or write getting a license make you an achiever, an operator, or manual labor by definition. A pioneer/engineer is someone who invented and create the airplane for them to used in the manual labor force. If you think Frederick Douglass is a hero, then you need a dictionary to be correct. Frederick Douglass is an academic achiever, a poor fortunate straight A student.
But I do not find her to be a hero either. Hero to me is someone who risk something substantial of themselves to substantially help somebody else. That’s why I’m so annoyed when people will say a good samaritan who called 911 to report a house fire was a hero. That’s just cheapening the actions of someone who is willing to rush into a burning house. Someone who calls 911 is not the same as someone who rushes into the burning house. I would say that Bessie Coleman is a trailblazer and that is its own compliment, we don’t have to call everybody we like a hero. That’s just what I think.f
@@JelMain as a teacher, I highly resent that attitude. Please try to teach 25-30 kids (if you teach Middle and High school, this is EACH CLASS) of varying learning styles and abilities (many don't get parental support at home, either because they can't or are too busy working 2 or 3 jobs just to make ends meet).
@@User-mb1tz You're missing the modern usage in reference to someone who inspires or uplifts you. It can make about as much beneficial change in a person's life to present a different perspective as it does to save them from death. That girl is inspired, as you may be inspired by any other hero who did something hard or dangerous, the thing fought for and the method of fighting doesn't matter, in this context she was fighting systemic prejudice, and that is a heroic act of courage, to do what you feel should be done while under the gaze of a massive number of people who see your skin as an enemy, and have been trying to cut down black americans at every chance they could by brutality of various means. A translator in war doesn't necessarily get himself into direct danger but saves lives nonetheless, and should be able to be called heroic in deed.
Wow, as a retired teacher I'm truly astounded that a teacher would be so closed-minded. Did she ever think for a moment that if she didn't know Bessie Coleman, this was her opportunity. I'd love to know who were some of the other "heroes" chosen by the kids. There are people doing heroic things everyday about whom we never hear.
how can she call herself an educator then go to such lengths to suppress a bright child like this? speaks wonders to the integrity of this girl’s spirit that she stood up for her hero, way to go mama for standing strong with her, you set a wonderful example
That teacher is a classic example of a dream killer. How many children's dreams have been crushed by narrow-minded or deliberately spiteful teachers that we don't know about? Think about the long-term impact this has on a child's self esteem and confidence in making good decisions.
...this is commom practice among some teachers, especially when dealing with Black students...I've seen it done to my own kid. Some teachers really "dislike" Black students.
@MM-fl6vn yep. And add the big fight over crt, bitter folks who dont relate to kids, and the increase in racists wanting to be involved in education and you've got a bunch of people who make it their mission to use their access to children to hurt them while they're young.
My young white self has seen this sort of thing, all the way to the point of being paddled in the front of the class for giving a different viewpoint of the Crusades. it was a power play
This infuriated me! A hero is one who inspires! As a retired teacher, I am appalled by the teacher’s actions. Good on the student to persevere and the mother to let her present her project elsewhere.
I came straight to the comments section. I can’t even bring myself to watch the video. As a teacher, I spend tons of time defending teachers from idiots online. Then you get stories like this. Like…why? I’d like to imagine there’s some exculpatory detail, but I can’t imagine what it could be…
@@Newnodrogbob & Jeff Ballam, I agree with you both, that student's teacher was displaying unacceptable behaviour as overt racism by trying to force the student to focus on another person as a subject when the 2nd world war had many such heroes as Bessie Coleman for being a pilot! That teacher's attitude that a woman of African & Native American descent could not achieve what others had achieved. It's just mindboggling.
YASSSSS!!!! You GO little sister. We women in aviation ALL know Bessie for the incredible hero she was. When I joined the US Navy I was told I couldn't go aircrew because they had "overfilled their female quota in the airman field". I was told I had to pick something else, but I stuck to my request like velcro, told them I wanted aircrew or I was out, and about a year later got picked up for aircrew school. Eventually I retired as a Navy Chief Petty Officer and a Naval Aircrewman, and it was the most amazing career I could ever have dreamed of. I am proud to say there are lots of female Aircrewmen today, and our numbers are only growing. And your mom is my newest hero!
As a professor, I'm impressed that a 3rd grader would have the initiative not to go for a typical choice, such as those the teacher suggested (nothing wrong with those choices either, of course, but they're just more well known) and find someone less well known, who deserves to be better known, and speak to her heroic qualities. I'm also wildly impressed that she was not phased at all about giving her presentation in front of officials to prove her point, and I love her attitude about what she's learned as a result of what she went through. By the way, that kind of interest in lesser known subjects and wanting to bring them to light is exactly what drives the best academics and researchers. So, you go, girl! I'd be happy to have you in my college classroom anytime.
This smart young girl has a proud and supportive mama. I'm so glad she set things right and encouraged her daughter not back down in the most eloquent way
Bessie Coleman is my Great Great Aunt and there is so much more to her story than many know. Hers is a story of perseverance, determination, courage and bravery! She got a lot of NO’s here in America, but got a OUI in Paris.🥰
I have to admit I had never heard of her, but she certainly faced great odds and succeeded. She is certainly a hero, and someone to be proud of. I don’t know this teacher created an issue instead of embracing the opportunity to learn something new. Thank you for commenting as a relative - it helps remind us that heroes are real people too!
Has your family done any documentaries you can point me too? I'm curious to learn more about her myself. I'm about to go down a long rabbit hole of learning information about her after work. ❤❤😅😅
I am so proud of this little girl and her mom. She stood up for herself and refused to take no for an answer. Just cause Bessie isn’t as well known as others does not make her any less of a hero. And that little girl didn’t let some close-minded teacher bring her down. And her mom supported her. I love when the mom said she went into “mommy bear” mode. You NEVER want to be in the way of a mama bear (literally or figuratively).
Even teachers can be educated by a student. I can understand if the teacher wants to verify the information first, but they should be thanking this child for introducing them to someone they never heard about before.
@@krazycatz - People like that shouldn't be a teacher. Teachers should encourage learning new information and entertaining different perspectives. They shouldn't be shutting down children, based upon their own ignorance and biases.
Absolutely! This happened to me in high school with an American Literature teacher who tried to block me from writing about black cowboys. I did prevail in my peaceful resistance and did receive an A- grade on my work. You go girl! Always rise in righteous indignation whenever someone attempts to erase/alter historical facts.
Anyway, it's great that the little girl went to show someone less known. People are tired to hear of George Washington, Charles Lindbergh, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Napoleon, Shakespear, you know the same old examples they always talk about... People need to know about the other people who did something.
Please tell me that this was addressed at the superintendent’s level in the school district. I would have been in the principals office the next morning with the response the teacher gave the mom… never stifle anyone for choosing someone who is new to you. That dang teacher should be ashamed of themself.
That’s messed up. It’s weird that the teacher recommended more touched on folks, but I didn’t even know about Bessie Coleman before this clip and wow, what an amazing woman.
My first thought was perhaps the teacher wanted the student to write about a figure the teacher was familiar with in order to make grading easier? Don't have to fact check the more "famous" historical figures but might actually have to do a bit of research to find out about Bessie. Just struck me as laziness but I'm completely speculating.
@@RAMuradin - I don’t think it’s anything malicious as insinuated by msnbc, but still a fascinating choice of historical person of importance and I like how the kid was really into it. Maybe someday she’ll become a pilot herself :)
@@RAMuradin This is what I as thinking, but it's also a little irritating that she said Bessie was "not a hero." It comes off like "I'VE never heard of her, so she's clearly not important." It makes me wonder what figures the other children in her class picked; were they all well known or were any of them more obscure. Why even give kids a choice in these kinds of assignments if you're going to reject or disparage a totally reasonable choice?
@@GogglesVonAwesome - “but it was also alittle irritating that she said Bessie was not a hero” This is is where we need to be careful. Msnbc has its history of giving their own little flourish to stories to sway viewers and make corrections that never make it to social media and usually occur on tv just before going to commercial break. I live in California and I see it all the time.
I have to admit, I was not expecting a happy ending. What a great kid! What a huge difference in tone between people like this, and the people trying to keep kids from learning about history. She'll never forget her mom standing up for her.
I'm a 53 year old white man and I have considered Bessie Coleman a hero since I learned about her. I used to have a small collection of books about pioneering female aviators when I was younger (sadly no longer in my possession), and Bessie Coleman's story came up again and again. Kudos to her, and to the girl and her mother for celebrating that legacy.
@@bryanmck3920 I am not virtue signaling, I am trying ascertain why this bloke thought stating his race would give him more authority or moral superiority in the topic? Also, this is to serve to point out that this line of thoughtless virtue signaling is part of today's problem
@ParagonRex because I want people to know that it is not just black people who care about black history, or women who care about women's rights, but anyone who cares about the world being improved.
@@ParagonRex i think usually its the opposite- i dont think people say " im white" etc to indicate authority moral superiority etc but most times the oppsite- generaly to say "it may not be my place to talk/this issue doesnt effect me the same/i dont have this experience/etc, but i still can understand why this mattters & i recognize this problem &etc."
I had a teacher who NEVER made me cry - in the midst of several years where TOO many WERE making me cry. In little pieces, here-and-there, I wonder if there are ways for teachers like you to remind your students that teachers shouldn’t be making them cry. To suggest or outright say you’d want to know if another teacher did make them cry. Some kids get treated like this and no one stands up for them or believes them, so they just stop telling when it happens. I went back and told my favorite teacher a lot of things, ten years later, and when I told her how the others had treated me, she looked like she’d cry, she looked so angry, and a little bit surprised. I think if I would have told on them, to HER, back then, things might have gone a different way. I appreciate the work that you do. I know you are already pitted up against too many challenges, and it’s not fair. I know you’re one person, but I see something in your spirit, and I felt compelled to send this idea out to you, and out to any other Good Teachers in these comments. As adults, we often have developed some standard for what treatment we will accept, and maybe it seems ‘natural.’ For kids living in abuse and neglect, who go on to be belittled, bullied, and abused by teachers … they may have no concept of where that standard should be, and they may not believe they will be taken seriously or helped if they complain to anyone else. Especially when the people who SHOULD believe and protect them (parents, school admin/counselors) have all repeatedly fallen grossly short I know without a doubt, now - as an adult who knows how children deserve to be treated - that if I would have told Mrs. B what was going on while I was still in school, she would have believed and supported me, and probably we would have gotten some issues addressed within that school. I appreciate the work you do, I appreciate your spirit.
Think of it this way: she ended up telling more people about Bessie Coleman than she ever would have if the teacher had simply accepted her project and allowed her to present it to the class.
What is happening in schools? I'm a retired educator and this teacher should be checked on. Unbelievable! Heroes come in different colors, shapes, sizes, and ages!
I think the teacher had every right to tell the student the princess they were presenting as a hero isn't acceptable. Matter of fact I bet if my son try to do a report on me or his uncle or a neighbor being a hero because we have a driver's license the teacher would have said no. Hero is one of those funny words where it can be applied to almost anything anybody wants to apply it to. So I think it's more than justified for the teacher to be the one who defines what a hero is or isn't for this particular project.
The student is obviously inspired by Bessie’s accomplishments. I’m not an educator, but speaking as a former student I thought the idea of an assignment like this was to locate, absorb, and organize information for presentation to your peers. Having an affinity for your subject could only serve to improve the learning experience. I would love to hear the teacher explain her rationale for discouraging the student’s choice.
It's upsetting that a *teacher* would object to an individual student's passion for history and deny the whole class an opportunity to learn about someone new.
Love the support the mother provided to this little girl. The mom is a hero in my eyes. She is teaching her daughter some very valuable lessons. One lesson is that- when one audience doesn’t approve of your choices, find one that does. She was able to presented her book report to some to a much larger audience.
Service men and women are Hero, because they put there body on the line. Learning to read or write getting a license make you an achiever, an operator, or manual labor by definition. A pioneer is someone who invented and create the airplane for them to used in the manual labor force. "A chicken is not a Duck and surely not a Cow" lol
Reminds me of a play presented to an audience when it's first published--the audience may not like it much, and the playwright adapts it, and edits it until he or she finds the audience that gets it. Just what Alex did here.
@@edmer68 He said Bessie Coleman is inferior because she wasn't a soldier or an inventor. He thinks if he says it like that, you won't notice he just wants to minimize Coleman's achievements because of her race.
Wow! I’m a retired teacher and I would often assign these types of assignments. I would often encourage the students to pick those “ hidden figures” that people were not familiar with.
Hidden Figures is also an excellent book and film about the Black mathematical savants (who also happened to be women) that the US would not have been able to win the space race without. Just thought I'd spread the word
@@alienvomitsex I loved the movie! And mostly because I love to discover the hidden figures. Though the real story had some differences since they still needed to whitewash the movie with a white savior... But as a whole the women were the ones doing all.
Right? As a teacher myself, I can't imagine why we wouldn't want kids to think outside the box, think critically, and look beyond the obvious. I'd be SO excited if one of my students came up w/ something like this.
It seemed like the teacher wanted a cookie cutter "hero". Probably the same person picked by 20 other people. The fact that this girl picked a woman who is very heroic and inspiring and just happened to be a woman of color and not an everyday household name should've been praised instead of being rejected. Well done to this little girl and her mother. I think Bessie would be proud to be her HERO!!!
As a former teacher I have to ask, what kind of teacher is that? If it's the child's hero let her report on it. Bessie Coleman is a legitimate historic figure and worthy for all to know about her. If true history had been told over the years she would have been well known, congratulations to this young student for being curious, thoughtful and persistent, she has taught a lot of people,maybe even the teacher.
That is the exact mindset I had when I went into teaching. I love my job! Children know when they have a good teacher that encourages and allows them to question. I wish you all the best, Good luck 👍🏾👏🏽
Service men and women are Hero, because they put there bodies on the line to defend and protect. Learning to read or write getting a license make you an achiever, an operator, or manual labor by definition. A pioneer/engineer is someone who invented and create the airplane for them to used in the manual labor force. If you think Frederick Douglass is a hero, then you need a dictionary to be correct. Frederick Douglass is an academic achiever, a poor fortunate straight A black student. Children need to be re educated and know the different between a "Chicken, Duck, and Cow" and given a dictionary to be correct. I admire the teacher having the courage to tell the kid that she is wrong as bitter medicine. Shame on the new for idolize stupidity and missed label and information to the general public.
@@Nuttyirishman85 so the only thing that qualifies someone as a hero is if they’ve saved a life? You don’t think the first female of color to get a pilot’s license over a hundred years ago, when both her gender and her race were viewed as “inferior”, and when aviation was much more dangerous, and yet she still pursued her dream in the face of hate and ignorance, resulting in the inspiration of people to this day, qualifies her as a hero?
Well done Mum for arranging for her to have the opportunity to give her presentation to a supportive group of people. Clearly she's very knowledgeable about her subject.
Growing up in the 1960s, I was obsessed with Amelia Earhart; I read her biography over and over again. I also read the biographies of Marie Curie, Elizabeth Blackwell (first US woman to receive a medical degree), Clara Barton, Florence Nightingale, Helen Keller, etc. I often joke that I came out of the womb a feminist, because despite having a traditional family with a SAH mom, I gravitated towards women of accomplishment. I would've been obsessed with Bessie Coleman, too, HAD I KNOWN ABOUT HER back then. Too often the achievements of POC are downplayed or ignored, which is why young Ms. Williams absolutely should have been allowed to present her report to her classmates. Kudos to the FAA for giving Alex an audience; I hope she enjoyed her visit.
My Mom worked in the children's department at our local library (which was located on a JCC campus). The Head Librarian picked the books for Black History Month, & my Mom arranged them in the display case. My Mom hadn't heard of most of the people from the books she was arranging so guess what she did... she read every single book & then she came home & told me about them. We found them fascinating & we were very shocked that by our ages, 35 & 69, we had never known about these people's accomplishments. I seriously don't understand the reason people are so afraid to expand their knowledge base & learn about the glorious history of our country. And by saying glorious, I don't mean that it was all peaches & cream, I mean that it is diverse & every part of it makes the USA what it is & what it can be. Embrace our history, my fellow Americans!
I love aviation, I named my daughter Amelia after Amelia Earhart. Bessie Coleman IS a Hero and being as she's a lesser known one, deserves to be remembered! Not to mention, Coleman was this girls Hero, which was the assignment! I commend that little girl for sticking with her Hero and her mother for supporting her!
As a retired teacher I’d say that Alex is a hero and that teacher is a zero. You don’t have to dictate to a child who their hero is. My dad was my hero and lived a life that proved it. Alex’s mum is also a hero. 👏👏. Bessie Coleman an inspiring woman and an African American hero.
I'll tell you what, this young lady and her mama are heroes. How dare that teacher tell someone, anyone, that their heroes are irrelevant!? Everyone has their own heroes. Society doesn't decide who your hero is. I am so proud of this young lady for believing in herself and going forward with this. I honor her mother for supporting her and promoting her. I'm going to share this to my groups because I think it is so admirable. We all have heros and Alice Williams today has become one of mine. I feel choked up, I'm just a silly old lady but I'm so proud of her. PS, Bessie Coleman is a huge hero!!!! Bravo Queen Bess!
Teacher rule #1: when a kid is truly excited about a project, don't shut them down. It's your job to foster a love of learning so they will *want* to come to school and do their best.
I remember in 7th grade we had to write a book report. I chose Alice in Wonderland because I loved the poems and all the made up words in it. My English teach gave me a 0 and told me to pick a book "that wasn't for children". At first I was confused because Alice in Wonderland contains lots of complicated math and language, and then I realized my teacher must have just never read it herself and had no idea.
Some people truly should not be teachers. That book is laden with politics, historical satire, and philosophy. It is quite literally penned as a 7th grade reading level book.
If the 3rd grade teacher would just read the basic dictionary: Hero: "a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities." I didn't know there were only a selected group of these people called heroes. This mom is the hero!!! I really hope they give this teacher a chance to find opportunity outside of the teaching world. Maybe a nurse, so she can learn what being a real hero means.
@ Laura Lu. So checking someone's blood pressure makes nurses hero's now? Man the bar is low for some people! Dr's are hero's. Not the people who fetch things for Dr.'s !
I remember in the 4th grade the teacher gave us a list of American historical figures we could write a report on. I wanted to do a report on someone not on the list. I went to the teacher and pitched my idea. Really the teacher was just so happy to see someone actually interested in doing the work, she said yes. This teacher should have at least looked at who the person was and just have been happy a student was actually interested in completing the assignment.
And might I add, anyone famous or not can be a hero in our lives-mother, father, brother, sister, grandparents, neighbor, local cop, local grocer. ANYONE!
I remember doing something like that in middle school. We were given a list. As I recall it was all white males except for Harriet Tubman. This was back when the Equal Rights Amendment was still in the works.
WOW! I never knew about Bessie! She absolutely deserves to have a moment in the spotlight! That's really what those kinds of assignments should be about.
Exactly. Telling her to choose a more well know hero is ridiculous. As an educator, the teacher should have recognized that a lesser known hero would expand knowledge
Bet you that when lil girl mentioned a name that teacher hadn't committed to memory to try and stay relevant, her internal monitor cracked in the corner and her face did that thing when a single drop of water hits it for no reason
That teacher didn’t want to have to look up the information about Bessie Coleman in order to grade the paper. A teacher with no curiosity, is the worst.
Service men and women are Hero, because they put there bodies on the line to defend and protect. Learning to read or write getting a license make you an achiever, an operator, or manual labor by definition. A pioneer/engineer is someone who invented and create the airplane for them to used in the manual labor force. If you think Frederick Douglass is a hero, then you need a dictionary to be correct. Frederick Douglass is an academic achiever, a poor fortunate straight A black student.
A hero doesn't mean you had to save anyone. Heroes are role models who mean something to us symbolically, spiritually, or personally... who are we to say a role model isn't someone's hero? What a brave and wonderful young lady. I'm so glad she was recognized for such a carefully thought out presentation
I admit, I tended to reserve the term "hero" in the traditional sense of saving people or overcoming adversity primarily for the greater good, and prefer other words for other people we admire, like role model, idol, or icon. Not that I consider those terms bad, just more precise. For instance, as much as the nerd in me admires Einstein and Newton, I never thought of calling them a hero, just role models. Though after reviewing a few different dictionaries on the common usage of the term hero, it does seem like a legitimate usage is to denote someone who overcomes adversity and is greatly admired for their strength, ingenuity, or courage, and Bessie certainly meets those criteria so in retrospect I think it's definitely fair to consider Bessie a hero unless the teacher gave a more specific definition of hero to follow. The criteria of reporting about "someone who you admire for their courage in the face of adversity" (regardless of if we call them a "hero" or not) though I think it a great criteria for finding interesting hidden figures in history. However, in this case, it seems the teacher had an issue with notability and not whether she saved anyone (I'm not sure her example of Maya Angelou directly saved anyone), so her problem with the choice of hero seems especially problematic, since it discourages diving deep into lesser known figures. On an unrelated note, I do have concerns that many dictionaries list "hero" also being used for the main character of a story, while I think from a literary theory perspective, a hero, main character, and protagonist are all distinct. Though how people use a word and academic/scientific frameworks are often at odds(like tomato as a fruit) so it's to be expected.
@@RiamsWorld "A hero can be anyone. Even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a young boy’s shoulders to let him know the world hadn’t ended." Batman (in Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises")
@@RiamsWorld More to your point about notability, Bess Coleman is maybe obscure to the everyday lay person, but in the aviation community she is a very well known pioneer as the first woman to earn an international pilots license and happened to be both black and Cherokee (you don’t get any more American than THAT) as well as an absolute daredevil wing Walker.
I don't understand the teacher's reasoning for excluding Bessie Coleman; claiming she isn't a hero is insufficient and her alleged conduct throughout this assignment set a poor example to the students. The fact that this student chose someone the other students (or the teacher) may not have been familiar with should have been applauded and encouraged so they could all learn about something new, which one could reasonably assume to be the point of the project.
Yeah, what a strange fight to pick. The student showed initiative and enthusiasm/genuine interest. Why not give her the go-signal and let her hammer out the report she actually cares about? What point is there in trying to redirect the student's enthusiasm onto another person?
@@MJFallout the teacher has never heard of her so she can’t be that important. It’s ego. A decent chunk of teachers are bitter and self important and think their values are knowledge are all kids need to know
This teacher’s style of teaching seems to be potentially suppressing of initiative and enthusiasm for learning Why would someone do this? Ignorance? Deliberate? Decisions such as this can tend to thwart interest and enthusiasm. We can’t know what was behind this decision but I find it to reflect an extremely poor and stultifying style. Shame on this and people who follow this method which can be so so counterproductive. Shame of those that perpetrate this small-minded way of ‘educating’. This is an intelligent and spirited girl - go you and your amazing Mum!!!❤️❤️❤️
I had not heard of Bessie Coleman but thanks to this smart young lady I learned something new today. Thank you, and your momma, for “not taking no” for an answer and being an inspiration to us all.
Not only is Bessie Coleman a hero but Alex Williams is a hero as well. Narrow minded humans have no place in this world we live in now. Throw it in their face America, everytime they insist on acting the fool and showing their ignorance to the whole world !!! Be a hero y'all !!!
Agreed. It's truly bizarre that a teacher would deny a student's choice of hero just because the person isn't super famous. Bessie Coleman sounds like a perfect candidate for a little girl's hero. Rather than just present well-known "heroes" the teacher should be encouraging the students to choose a hero based on those qualities that make up a hero.
What is the definition of a HERO!! It's dramatically been changed , used to be someone who Risked their lives to save others especially when they weren't doing it for fame, glory money or to be a FIRST at something. The white men who fought and died and faced bullets to Free the BLACKs were certainly heros to the African American slaves. Now they were heroes. Whatever kind of heroin, a female who Risked her life to save others isn't a HERO SHE is a HEROINE. Ignorant people don't know that. Duh
a military service man/women are hero because they put there life on the line to protect and serve the nation. Someone learning to read like Frederick Douglas or driving and operate a machine is an academic achiever. In the real world we called them manual labor and educators.
Well technically Bessie Coleman was a heroine and maybe the teacher got confuse as they were supposed to stop children doing heroine. Clearly not the brightest teacher in the industry, lol.
@@robertwilliams8032 That's what happens when "Hunting of the Woke Cooties (aka W.C.s)" is denied its true status as nonsense. Homonyms are not the only ones to suffer.
Service men and women are Hero, because they put there body on the line. Learning to read or write getting a license make you an achiever, an operator, or manual labor by definition. A pioneer is someone who invented and create the airplane for them to used in the manual labor force.
@suzanne farrington well, no, in the English language you call women who act an actress, men who act an actor and people who act actors, men are heros and women are heroines. You also missed that the dude in the other post is being obviously sarcastic.
I’m from the same town that Bessie Coleman grew up in. I recently went back there with my girls to visit. There’s not even a monument nor anything dedicated to her that we could easily find. I lived through elementary, middle school and all of my high school years in Atlanta, Texas and had never heard of her. That’s a real shame because she WAS a hero, a trailblazer and I would have felt so good as a little Black girl from that small town to have known she existed and she mattered!
Chicagoan’s are familiar with Bessie Coleman as one of the major roads in O’Hare is named Bessie Coleman Drive. There was also an exhibit within O’Hare honoring her.
When I was a special education teacher, I remember many of my 3rd grade girls in my classes over the years doing their biography reports and presentations on Bessie Coleman. That teacher had no good reason to say 'no' to that little girl, and then to not call on her and allow her to present her work to the rest of the class is shameful.
I feel for any child now a days who have to deal with the ignorance of their own parents, teachers who deny them, and violence that threatens them every day. This beautiful child made a sound choice decision and she was denied because of an ignorant teacher.
@J F You’re not exactly wrong, but that’s by design. Our education system is atrocious, if not an outright nightmare. They have to work within that, so it’s no wonder many get jaded pretty quickly. They’re overworked, underpaid, and are in charge of WAY too many students at once, the teacher to student ratio has gotten worse and has only added to the crap they already deal with from above them.
The child did so much work on her project. Bessie Coleman was and is a hero. On a positive note, look how many more people know of Bessie. Keep your spirit, you are going to have a hero project done about you one day.
LOL ... The FAA says:" In your face closed minded non- educator". There's something so wrong with these people. The whole idea is about finding the unknown. That's what education is about. Disgusting and infuriating.
I’d be extremely embarrassed to be that teacher in general BUT then to get showed up by that adorable , intelligent student that received her big gigantic YES at the end is the icing on the cake 😭♥️
Such a gorgeous intelligent young girl Her mother is raising her for big things You go little girl Thankfully this is the future generation and what an asset this one will be You sure put a smile on my face today
Service men and women are Hero, because they put there bodies on the line to defend and protect. Learning to read or write getting a license make you an achiever, an operator, or manual labor by definition. A pioneer/engineer is someone who invented and create the airplane for them to used in the manual labor force. If you think Frederick Douglass is a hero, then you need a dictionary to be correct. Frederick Douglass is an academic achiever, a poor fortunate straight A black student. Children need to be re educated and know the different between a "Chicken, Duck, and Cow" and given a dictionary to be correct. I admire the teacher having the courage to tell the kid that she is wrong as bitter medicine. Shame on the new for idolize stupidity and missed label and information to the general public.
@@User-mb1tz Clearly, you need to check your own dictionary. The teacher suggested Maya Angelou as a suggestion. How does Ms. Angelou, a scholar, a teacher and a Poet Laureate, fit your ridiculous and limiting definition? Mirriam-Webster gives THREE definitions of "hero." They are: hero hîr′ō noun 1. In mythology and legend, a man, often of divine ancestry, who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for his bold exploits, and favored by the gods. 2. A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life. 3. A person noted for special achievement in a particular field. Please note the last one in particular. And shame on YOU.
This little girl is my new hero. She had the strength & courage to stand up to those who said. That her school report about the first. African/Native American female pilot wasn't valid & proved them wrong. *RESPECT!* ✊
Service men and women are Hero, because they put there bodies on the line to defend and protect. Learning to read or write getting a license make you an achiever, an operator, or manual labor by definition. A pioneer/engineer is someone who invented and create the airplane for them to used in the manual labor force. If you think Frederick Douglass is a hero, then you need a dictionary to be correct. Frederick Douglass is an academic achiever, a poor fortunate straight A black student. Children need to be re educated and know the different between a "Chicken, Duck, and Cow" and given a dictionary to be correct.
As a little girl who's dream it was to be a pilot I can say with absolute certainty that Bessie Coleman is an American hero. I looked up to her too and this little girl is going somewhere! Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do or be something, because all that means is that no one has done it YET
Miss Williams presenting her report in aviation gear is about the cutest thing I've ever seen! ❤ I wish the story had elaborated on why the teacher did not consider Bessie Colman a hero. What is her criteria for someone to be considered a hero? I imagine that being a pioneer in your field and showing perseverance, courage and inner strength does make Bessie Colman a hero.
Ignorance? Deliberate suppression of curiosity? Who knows. This was disgraceful and unforgivable and this smart child rose above the nonsense, sided and abetted by Mum. ❤️❤️❤️
I hope the teacher sees this an keeps seeing this. Who the heck tells someone who their heros should be, glad she got to do her presentation ❤I learned from her presentation 😊
I’d be extremely embarrassed to be that teacher in general BUT then to get showed up by that adorable , intelligent student that received her big gigantic YES at the end is the icing on the cake 😭♥️
Service men and women are Hero, because they put there bodies on the line to defend and protect. Learning to read or write getting a license make you an achiever, an operator, or manual labor by definition. A pioneer/engineer is someone who invented and create the airplane for them to used in the manual labor force. If you think Frederick Douglass is a hero, then you need a dictionary to be correct. Frederick Douglass is an academic achiever, a poor fortunate straight A black student. Children need to be re educated and know the different between a "Chicken, Duck, and Cow" and given a dictionary to be correct. I admire the teacher having the courage to tell the kid that she is wrong as bitter medicine. Shame on the new for idolize stupidity and missed label and information to the general public.
@@User-mb1tz Ahh you’re one of those people that loves telling people the truth like they’re too stupid to comprehend or just to put them in their place right… I can’t stand pick mes who brag about their own intelligence.
That teacher is disgusting! Look at all the work that child has done! She did great! I’m sad to say I didn’t know brave Bessie before, but now I will remember her forever ❤️
@Karl H I disagree. It seems like the teacher has her idea of what defines a hero, instead of the child's definition. I would have challenged that idea if I was the mother.
@@jasonandersen5975 Nice try at internet baiting. Go find some flunkie to fall for it. The answer to this trollish question is in my original post. Any other cowardly passive aggressive BS to pass out?
As an educator, I say what any good teacher would have done is be happy to LEARN ALONG WITH THE CLASS about this hero I didn't already know about. I perfectly understand why a teacher with no background in aviation might not know who this woman is, but that just means the child has something to teach YOU, and every educator should welcome such an opportunity to become the student.
AMEN!!! Fellow educator here. I never stop learning. If she'd been in my class she'd have received an A from me, for teaching us all about a new HERO to admire.
Here's a chance for the class to actually *learn* something new, and this teacher had the crickets to say "no, you can only select from the approved list of heroes?" NO WAY! Now a special someone got on the news AND to present to US aviation officials! Thank you Alice for teaching us all about Bessie Coleman!
I appreciate the young girls enthusiam and really appreciate the story being shared. I remember hearing about Bessie when I was probably around her age (47 now), but literally had forgotten about her as the African American scientists and civil rights leaders were pushed more for projects in school. Seeing the picture of her reminded me of some of the pictures that were up on one of my teachers walls in elementary school. Grateful for the reminder!
I'm ready to go out and buy a Bessie Coleman biography book. Never heard of this hero. Glad to see Ms. Alex Williams recognizing the previous generations, finding strength and courage in their struggles and successes. Ms. Williams is the way forward, she is smart, strong, optimistic and aware! WAY TO GO!! (Great moms make great kids!!)🥰
"Not to take 'No' for an answer because there's a big gigantic 'Yes' at the end of the road." Wise words to live by coming from someone so young. There IS hope for the future! YOU GO GIRL!
I thank this wonderful little girl for educating ME about the great Bessie Coleman. I had no idea of her until this video! That breaks my heart. Of course she was a hero! Anyone who inspires you and pushes you to dream bigger and go as far as you can is a true hero, even people the world will NEVER hear of and only you might know.
White Americans need to recognize our own IGNORANCE about BLACK HISTORY. We were raised on WHITE HISOTRY that approached history as if black and brown people didn't exist and even WHITE WOMEN were not considered WORTHY of heroism and fame. If our real American History makes you uncomfortable, you should pack you bags and GET THE $UCK OUT because the rest of us are TIRED OF your BULL$HIT.
It is obvious that her "teacher" knew nothing about Bessie Coleman. This young student did an awesome job with her research and the support of her mom put her over the top. It was then that the young student was clearly able to "teach her" own teacher. Great job young lady and way to go loving and very supportive Mom.🔥👸🏽💥
@@DarcyMidland I read about her many years ago, I think in a publication from the Smithsonian Institution. I worked in a used book shop in Northern Virginia, and I began a small collection of books about pioneering female aviators. Bessie Coleman's story is truly inspirational. Sadly, I no longer have those books, but I have often thought to make a linocut print portrait of her. She should be remembered.
Teachers need to always learn. The best teachers always try to learn the latest findings in their fields, listen to street culture and adapt. Being a teacher is the greatest profession because they elevate minds to the best they can be. Its unfortunate that we have bad/ignorant teachers who want to break their students down. It makes me appreciate all the good teachers I have had like my high school principal who helped me from a toxic situation at home to my master's supervisor who encouraged me weekly as I was doing my thesis, believing in my work and telling me with conviction in 2020 that 'You must be on the graduation list this year come what may' and I was. Teachers can be a true blessing
Teachers have been banning report subjects out of ignorance for decades. Over fifty years ago, I wanted to do a report on the most successful fighter pilot of World War l, Rittmeister Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen. She didn't know much about him and cared even less, so she made me chose a more mainstream subject.
A brave girl for not letting her teacher discourage her, and a great mom for standing up for her child like that. What became of the teacher? Also, thanks to this little girl, I now know about Bessie Coleman, someone who wasn't included in my school curriculum, but should have been!
What the ACTUAL??? That teacher needs to be retrained. I hesitate to call for her dismissal, but that's atrocious. I regularly knew things my teachers didn't and they let me show them what it was I knew. They were GLAD to learn something new.
Service men and women are Hero, because they put there bodies on the line to defend and protect. Learning to read or write getting a license make you an achiever, an operator, or manual labor by definition. A pioneer/engineer is someone who invented and create the airplane for them to used in the manual labor force. If you think Frederick Douglass is a hero, then you need a dictionary to be correct. Frederick Douglass is an academic achiever, a poor fortunate straight A black student. Children need to be re educated and know the different between a "Chicken, Duck, and Cow" and given a dictionary to be correct. I admire the teacher having the courage to tell the kid that she is wrong as bitter medicine. Shame on the new for idolize stupidity and missed label and information to the general public.
@@User-mb1tzOK robot. Literally the definition of hero is "a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements or noble qualities". If you look up to them as a hero that is literally all that is required to make them a hero.
@@User-mb1tz What you describe is a warrior, not a hero. A hero is someone to idolize. Someone who inspires. Someone who gives hope. For you, that might only be a warrior or a soldier, but to that girl, her hero was the pilot.
You go girl! I was a girl growing up in the 60's and 70's raised by a career marine corp officer who always told me i could be or do anything i wanted if i had the grit. In those days however there were many prefessions strictly prohibited to women. I always wanted to be a pilot and i did make that dream happen despite many obstacles. I am white but nevertheless i knew of Bessie and she was certainly a hero to me! I am quite certain she was to many other bright females who dreamed of the stars. I bet she is cheering for you somewhere right now. Last but not least i hope this became a case of student teaching teacher and that yours has had her mind open. Maybe now she understands that heroism is in the eye of the beholder. KUDOS to your mom too! Its clear to see where you get your grit from!
That teacher doesn't need to be teaching and i wouldn't want my child in that class after that smh. Im so glad she still got to do her presentation. Way to go mom!
This story brought tears to my eyes - and I'm a middleage white European. Good to see that her great hero story was heard in spite of the teachers lack of knowledge..
As a 42 year old black man i cried as well,because they try to keep us out of everything,because they know when we set our mind to do it we get it done..
Service men and women are Hero, because they put there bodies on the line to defend and protect. Learning to read or write getting a license make you an achiever, an operator, or manual labor by definition. A pioneer/engineer is someone who invented and create the airplane for them to used in the manual labor force. If you think Frederick Douglass is a hero, then you need a dictionary to be correct. Frederick Douglass is an academic achiever, straight A student.
But I do not find her to be a hero either. Hero to me is someone who risk something substantial of themselves to substantially help somebody else. That’s why I’m so annoyed when people will say a good samaritan who called 911 to report a house fire was a hero. That’s just cheapening the actions of someone who is willing to rush into a burning house. Someone who calls 911 is not the same as someone who rushes into the burning house. I would say that Bessie Coleman is a trailblazer and that is its own compliment, we don’t have to call everybody we like a hero. That’s just what I think.b
@@iMatti00 How many times are you posting this exact same message? It's the 3rd time I've seen this exact comment. We get it. YOU don't consider her a hero, but others can have a different opinion than you !! On a whim, I looked further and found your comment 6 more times. SMH
I remember something similar to this happening to my daughter when she was in Middle School. She had to do an assignment for black history month one of our local radio stations, so she chose the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. She did a full-scale report but the radio station did not choose her. They instead chose someone that pick MLK. This is because a my daughter's report she scolded the radio station for never mentioning certain aspects of black history even though this was a majority-black radio station. And me and my daughter's report was put on a plaque on the wall in the main hallway of the school where it stayed for quite a few years.
Good job young lady! I first learned of Bessie Coleman as a young girl in church during Black History Month. An older lady wanted me to speak on Bessie Coleman from an article the Waxahachie Daily Light published in the 90s. Bessie lived in Waxahachie, TX as a child. Now there is a street named after her. I grew up there as well so Brave Bessie is a hero especially in Waxahachie!
I think her and her mama have taught the teacher more than the teacher has taught her on the subject of heroes. I love how her mama stood by her and supported her decision and let her have a platform to do her presentation. To the mama of this young lady kudos to you for raising a strong minded daughter.
Loved this story. How inspiring this young lady is. She will go far with that positive attitude and courage to not accept the status quo. Well done Momma Bear! I think her presentation to the FAA’s senior staff was a lot better than taking no from a teacher. We need more people like you both.
Service men and women are Hero, because they put there bodies on the line to defend and protect. Learning to read or write getting a license make you an achiever, an operator, or manual labor by definition. A pioneer/engineer is someone who invented and create the airplane for them to used in the manual labor force. If you think Frederick Douglass is a hero, then you need a dictionary to be correct. Frederick Douglass is an academic achiever, a poor fortunate straight A black student. Children need to be re educated and know the different between a "Chicken, Duck, and Cow" and given a dictionary to be correct.
Good for her and great for a mom who stood up for her daughter and supported her. Good job young girl, awesome job and work! Don’t let anyone shatter your dreams or your spirit!
I'm pretty sure that the mother complained and her daughter was allowed to submit her chosen her for the class project. She just wasn't called on to give an oral presentation in class.
@@brentwalker8596 Most curriculum/learning objectives in language arts and social studies (areas where research projects are usually completed) require oral presentation as part of the project’s grade. Since when isn’t every student required/allowed to present?
@@Flipper86 The reporter stated that the girl featured in this story was not called on to present her hero to the class. That is why she gave a presentation to the FAA group in the video.
I was on a flight from Dallas to Phoenix, and when we deplaned, there was a celebration of Coleman’s achievements. She was able to be a commercial pilot, so she went to stunt flying. Her’s is a remarkable and inspiring story!
Good for her! Bessie would've been proud of that young lady and so should we all. As an aviation enthusiast and someone who works in the industry, I still didn't know her story, and now I do. Thank you!
That the little girl just taught me something. Imagine what she should have taught her classmates.. Heros come in many different professions and ways they inspire.
I'm astonished, I'll admit I never even heard of Besse Coleman and now that I have, I want to learn more about her. She sounds awesome from this story clip. Keep history alive, no matter what the cost is; it needs to be known and absolutely should be heard.
The assignment was to pick 'your' hero or someone who inspires 'you'; not who the teacher thinks should be the hero. The look of happiness on the girls face as she delivered her presentation to the FAA made me smile.
My thoughts exactly
Right? Coleman clearly meant something to that little girl - that alone makes her a hero
Exactly
Right?!?! Teach decided to put this girl in a box of "acceptable" heros so she, the teach, didn't have to learn about an important historical figure she wasn't aware of. Do better teacher... YA KNOW, LEARN!
@@serpent77 How is it someone who refuses to learn, is given the responsibility to teach?
As a white man, and naval aviation veteran, I say Bessie Coleman is absolutely an American hero 👍🇺🇸
Why?
Right on~!!!!
Right?! I learned about Queen Bess in middle school, she inspired me too!
@@arcdecibel9986 did you listen to the girls report? She explained it pretty well
@@arcdecibel9986 If you can't figure that out you may need some sort of "help".
I think that teacher needs to attend a long and arduous series of classes regarding teaching children. She was way out of her lane, telling her student who can and can't be her heroes. SHAME on that teacher for trying to crush the interest, curiosity, independence, and clear thinking out of this child. At the very least, she deserves a letter of reprimand from the state. ~35 year A&P and USAF combat veteran, here.
Exactly. This teacher's attitude is the kind of thing that can destroy a child's natural enthusiasm for learning. When my son says that he loves learning but hates being "taught", you know there's something wrong with the education system.
But not in Florida-that's probably not allowed there. It makes me sick that some states want to be able to fire teachers who teach real history.
EXACTLY!!! “Your Hero,” is personal to YOU ~ regardless of what anyone else thinks. “Your Hero,” is someone who encourages you… I cannot for the life of me understand why a TEACHER would take THAT from a child!! (signed ~ offended former teacher). I hope the teacher indeed learned a lesson from this!
No. The bigoted pig needs to be fired and stripped of all teaching credentials.
Totally agree...
The fact that the teacher told her to pick someone more well known shows that the only reason she really had a problem with it is she didn't know who Bessie was and was embarrassed by her ignorance. It's MORE important to bring lesser known inspiring figures to light because many of them have stories that SHOULD be told.
AMEN!!! SO many more unsung heroes out there.
THIS.
Rather than allow their student to lift them into the sunlight of knowledge, this teacher tried to push the student back into the darkness of ignorance. For a teacher, this is reprehensible.
You got that right, the hidden figures.
The whole point of the project (and of Black History Month) is to highlight lesser known important black figures.
The teacher tells her no because the person she picked isn’t well known enough.
Except she is well known enough
What a horrible thing for the teacher to do. Sometimes your heroes are unknown to the world. That doesn't invalidate their heroism.
Especially on the larger picture of trying to limit black figures in history to just a handful of people. I understand a textbook is not able to fit every significant person in history, but that’s the real purpose of assignments like this. To expand our knowledge. I hope this teacher gets written up, this is inexcusable.
I def agree w/that. It's just so demeaning of a child to do that to and also to deny her a choice that uplifs her. Just SMH @ the conscious ignorance of some people who are our educators, of all things. Anyway, man don't mean to vent on your reply section. ✌🏽out
@@Vincenza8907 when you consider most of the textbooks come from Texas it's really not all that surprising is it
That's what teachers do. They teach how horrible and discriminatory the world is by example.
And heroes do not have to be famous.
It shows that the girl knows more than the teacher.
That's not unusual. Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. Official, per Professor Craig Wright, Head of the Yale Genius School, The Hidden Habits of Genius, 2020
Service men and women are Hero, because they put there bodies on the line to defend and protect. Learning to read or write getting a license make you an achiever, an operator, or manual labor by definition. A pioneer/engineer is someone who invented and create the airplane for them to used in the manual labor force. If you think Frederick Douglass is a hero, then you need a dictionary to be correct. Frederick Douglass is an academic achiever, a poor fortunate straight A student.
But I do not find her to be a hero either. Hero to me is someone who risk something substantial of themselves to substantially help somebody else. That’s why I’m so annoyed when people will say a good samaritan who called 911 to report a house fire was a hero. That’s just cheapening the actions of someone who is willing to rush into a burning house. Someone who calls 911 is not the same as someone who rushes into the burning house. I would say that Bessie Coleman is a trailblazer and that is its own compliment, we don’t have to call everybody we like a hero. That’s just what I think.f
@@JelMain as a teacher, I highly resent that attitude.
Please try to teach 25-30 kids (if you teach Middle and High school, this is EACH CLASS) of varying learning styles and abilities (many don't get parental support at home, either because they can't or are too busy working 2 or 3 jobs just to make ends meet).
@@User-mb1tz
You're missing the modern usage in reference to someone who inspires or uplifts you. It can make about as much beneficial change in a person's life to present a different perspective as it does to save them from death.
That girl is inspired, as you may be inspired by any other hero who did something hard or dangerous, the thing fought for and the method of fighting doesn't matter, in this context she was fighting systemic prejudice, and that is a heroic act of courage, to do what you feel should be done while under the gaze of a massive number of people who see your skin as an enemy, and have been trying to cut down black americans at every chance they could by brutality of various means.
A translator in war doesn't necessarily get himself into direct danger but saves lives nonetheless, and should be able to be called heroic in deed.
Wow, as a retired teacher I'm truly astounded that a teacher would be so closed-minded. Did she ever think for a moment that if she didn't know Bessie Coleman, this was her opportunity. I'd love to know who were some of the other "heroes" chosen by the kids. There are people doing heroic things everyday about whom we never hear.
So true
It is Florida , a deep south state. Why expect anything else.😮😢
Most were probably cops and firefighter parents.
just actually wondering where this was...florida? nah, they wouldn't acknowledge any heroes of color...Texas? Oklahoma? Does it even matter now?
It's not surprising! This is part of their agenda! They want everyone to see black history the way they tell it!
how can she call herself an educator then go to such lengths to suppress a bright child like this? speaks wonders to the integrity of this girl’s spirit that she stood up for her hero, way to go mama for standing strong with her, you set a wonderful example
Mama is a badass, working on rearing a badass. We need more Mamas like this, and more Alexes, too!
That teacher is a classic example of a dream killer. How many children's dreams have been crushed by narrow-minded or deliberately spiteful teachers that we don't know about? Think about the long-term impact this has on a child's self esteem and confidence in making good decisions.
...this is commom practice among some teachers, especially when dealing with Black students...I've seen it done to my own kid. Some teachers really "dislike" Black students.
@MM-fl6vn yep. And add the big fight over crt, bitter folks who dont relate to kids, and the increase in racists wanting to be involved in education and you've got a bunch of people who make it their mission to use their access to children to hurt them while they're young.
My young white self has seen this sort of thing, all the way to the point of being paddled in the front of the class for giving a different viewpoint of the Crusades. it was a power play
That teacher is a classic example of a bigoted pig. The teacher needs to be fired, and barred from any teaching position in any state.
and the rest of the kids in the class!
“…a big yes at the end.”
What a cute kid, good for her.
She actually got a better audience than the rest of her class.
The disappointment is they didn’t end by asking the teacher what SHE/HE learned from it.
@@rayray8687 I'm going to guess the teacher learned to say "no comment."
The rest of her class missed out
And for her next project she should do a report on this video and present it to the class.
And the teacher was probably humiliated, too. Two hits with one stone. Stupid teacher.
This infuriated me! A hero is one who inspires! As a retired teacher, I am appalled by the teacher’s actions. Good on the student to persevere and the mother to let her present her project elsewhere.
I came straight to the comments section. I can’t even bring myself to watch the video. As a teacher, I spend tons of time defending teachers from idiots online. Then you get stories like this. Like…why? I’d like to imagine there’s some exculpatory detail, but I can’t imagine what it could be…
@@Newnodrogbob & Jeff Ballam, I agree with you both, that student's teacher was displaying unacceptable behaviour as overt racism by trying to force the student to focus on another person as a subject when the 2nd world war had many such heroes as Bessie Coleman for being a pilot!
That teacher's attitude that a woman of African & Native American descent could not achieve what others had achieved. It's just mindboggling.
It's inexplicable!
@@Newnodrogbob Dont bother defending anybody on the internet, everybody does it but its a game nobody wins where the best move is to not play at all
I wouldn’t believe anything from MSNBC…..they haven’t got a story right in 8 years.
YASSSSS!!!! You GO little sister. We women in aviation ALL know Bessie for the incredible hero she was. When I joined the US Navy I was told I couldn't go aircrew because they had "overfilled their female quota in the airman field". I was told I had to pick something else, but I stuck to my request like velcro, told them I wanted aircrew or I was out, and about a year later got picked up for aircrew school. Eventually I retired as a Navy Chief Petty Officer and a Naval Aircrewman, and it was the most amazing career I could ever have dreamed of. I am proud to say there are lots of female Aircrewmen today, and our numbers are only growing. And your mom is my newest hero!
You are one badass lady miss Deena ❤🎉👏
As a professor, I'm impressed that a 3rd grader would have the initiative not to go for a typical choice, such as those the teacher suggested (nothing wrong with those choices either, of course, but they're just more well known) and find someone less well known, who deserves to be better known, and speak to her heroic qualities. I'm also wildly impressed that she was not phased at all about giving her presentation in front of officials to prove her point, and I love her attitude about what she's learned as a result of what she went through. By the way, that kind of interest in lesser known subjects and wanting to bring them to light is exactly what drives the best academics and researchers. So, you go, girl! I'd be happy to have you in my college classroom anytime.
This smart young girl has a proud and supportive mama. I'm so glad she set things right and encouraged her daughter not back down in the most eloquent way
She has not yet learned to comply like most of us sheep do.
@@eringo-bragh4243 the only sheep are the ones on the right
Curious about how the teacher responded to publicity about her actions
She should get a scholarship forthwith!
Bessie Coleman is my Great Great Aunt and there is so much more to her story than many know. Hers is a story of perseverance, determination, courage and bravery! She got a lot of NO’s here in America, but got a OUI in Paris.🥰
👍
I have to admit I had never heard of her, but she certainly faced great odds and succeeded. She is certainly a hero, and someone to be proud of. I don’t know this teacher created an issue instead of embracing the opportunity to learn something new.
Thank you for commenting as a relative - it helps remind us that heroes are real people too!
Sbe even died doing what she loved. R.i.p Bessie angels got to fly
Has your family done any documentaries you can point me too? I'm curious to learn more about her myself. I'm about to go down a long rabbit hole of learning information about her after work. ❤❤😅😅
❤
I am so proud of this little girl and her mom. She stood up for herself and refused to take no for an answer. Just cause Bessie isn’t as well known as others does not make her any less of a hero. And that little girl didn’t let some close-minded teacher bring her down. And her mom supported her. I love when the mom said she went into “mommy bear” mode. You NEVER want to be in the way of a mama bear (literally or figuratively).
You mean that her mom caused a big stink and made it a political issue
Even teachers can be educated by a student. I can understand if the teacher wants to verify the information first, but they should be thanking this child for introducing them to someone they never heard about before.
@@krazycatz - People like that shouldn't be a teacher. Teachers should encourage learning new information and entertaining different perspectives. They shouldn't be shutting down children, based upon their own ignorance and biases.
Absolutely! This happened to me in high school with an American Literature teacher who tried to block me from writing about black cowboys. I did prevail in my peaceful resistance and did receive an A- grade on my work. You go girl! Always rise in righteous indignation whenever someone attempts to erase/alter historical facts.
Anyway, it's great that the little girl went to show someone less known. People are tired to hear of George Washington, Charles Lindbergh, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Napoleon, Shakespear, you know the same old examples they always talk about... People need to know about the other people who did something.
Please tell me that this was addressed at the superintendent’s level in the school district. I would have been in the principals office the next morning with the response the teacher gave the mom… never stifle anyone for choosing someone who is new to you. That dang teacher should be ashamed of themself.
That’s messed up. It’s weird that the teacher recommended more touched on folks, but I didn’t even know about Bessie Coleman before this clip and wow, what an amazing woman.
My first thought was perhaps the teacher wanted the student to write about a figure the teacher was familiar with in order to make grading easier? Don't have to fact check the more "famous" historical figures but might actually have to do a bit of research to find out about Bessie. Just struck me as laziness but I'm completely speculating.
@@RAMuradin - I don’t think it’s anything malicious as insinuated by msnbc, but still a fascinating choice of historical person of importance and I like how the kid was really into it. Maybe someday she’ll become a pilot herself :)
@@RAMuradin This is what I as thinking, but it's also a little irritating that she said Bessie was "not a hero." It comes off like "I'VE never heard of her, so she's clearly not important." It makes me wonder what figures the other children in her class picked; were they all well known or were any of them more obscure. Why even give kids a choice in these kinds of assignments if you're going to reject or disparage a totally reasonable choice?
@@GogglesVonAwesome - “but it was also alittle irritating that she said Bessie was not a hero”
This is is where we need to be careful. Msnbc has its history of giving their own little flourish to stories to sway viewers and make corrections that never make it to social media and usually occur on tv just before going to commercial break.
I live in California and I see it all the time.
You serious bro okay I learned about her from a black sitcom...
I have to admit, I was not expecting a happy ending. What a great kid! What a huge difference in tone between people like this, and the people trying to keep kids from learning about history. She'll never forget her mom standing up for her.
I'm a 53 year old white man and I have considered Bessie Coleman a hero since I learned about her. I used to have a small collection of books about pioneering female aviators when I was younger (sadly no longer in my possession), and Bessie Coleman's story came up again and again. Kudos to her, and to the girl and her mother for celebrating that legacy.
Why did you feel the need to start your virtue signaling with a statement of your race? Ask yourself that
@@ParagonRex You are doing the same. cant fix hate with hate ;)
@@bryanmck3920 I am not virtue signaling, I am trying ascertain why this bloke thought stating his race would give him more authority or moral superiority in the topic? Also, this is to serve to point out that this line of thoughtless virtue signaling is part of today's problem
@ParagonRex because I want people to know that it is not just black people who care about black history, or women who care about women's rights, but anyone who cares about the world being improved.
@@ParagonRex i think usually its the opposite- i dont think people say " im white" etc to indicate authority moral superiority etc but most times the oppsite- generaly to say "it may not be my place to talk/this issue doesnt effect me the same/i dont have this experience/etc, but i still can understand why this mattters & i recognize this problem &etc."
As a teacher, I can’t imagine treating a student this way, especially to the point of making her cry. 😢
I had a teacher who NEVER made me cry - in the midst of several years where TOO many WERE making me cry. In little pieces, here-and-there, I wonder if there are ways for teachers like you to remind your students that teachers shouldn’t be making them cry. To suggest or outright say you’d want to know if another teacher did make them cry. Some kids get treated like this and no one stands up for them or believes them, so they just stop telling when it happens.
I went back and told my favorite teacher a lot of things, ten years later, and when I told her how the others had treated me, she looked like she’d cry, she looked so angry, and a little bit surprised. I think if I would have told on them, to HER, back then, things might have gone a different way.
I appreciate the work that you do. I know you are already pitted up against too many challenges, and it’s not fair. I know you’re one person, but I see something in your spirit, and I felt compelled to send this idea out to you, and out to any other Good Teachers in these comments.
As adults, we often have developed some standard for what treatment we will accept, and maybe it seems ‘natural.’ For kids living in abuse and neglect, who go on to be belittled, bullied, and abused by teachers … they may have no concept of where that standard should be, and they may not believe they will be taken seriously or helped if they complain to anyone else. Especially when the people who SHOULD believe and protect them (parents, school admin/counselors) have all repeatedly fallen grossly short
I know without a doubt, now - as an adult who knows how children deserve to be treated - that if I would have told Mrs. B what was going on while I was still in school, she would have believed and supported me, and probably we would have gotten some issues addressed within that school.
I appreciate the work you do, I appreciate your spirit.
some of them get this weird power trip its actually insane
I hate what that child experienced, but I am beyond proud of her for standing up for herself! She is a hero in her own right.
She got to put that teacher in place in a great way too
Think of it this way: she ended up telling more people about Bessie Coleman than she ever would have if the teacher had simply accepted her project and allowed her to present it to the class.
As an aerospace engineer, this makes me so happy to see Alex presenting her report on a hero and an aviation pioneer to the FAA. Well done Alex!
What is happening in schools? I'm a retired educator and this teacher should be checked on. Unbelievable! Heroes come in different colors, shapes, sizes, and ages!
Yeah, I'm not sure what that teachers line of thinking was. What if she had said her mom was her hero maybe, or a loved one?
I think the teacher had every right to tell the student the princess they were presenting as a hero isn't acceptable. Matter of fact I bet if my son try to do a report on me or his uncle or a neighbor being a hero because we have a driver's license the teacher would have said no. Hero is one of those funny words where it can be applied to almost anything anybody wants to apply it to. So I think it's more than justified for the teacher to be the one who defines what a hero is or isn't for this particular project.
@@M.O.UptownFunk missed the /s at the end
It's called Fascism, look it up.🤔
The student is obviously inspired by Bessie’s accomplishments. I’m not an educator, but speaking as a former student I thought the idea of an assignment like this was to locate, absorb, and organize information for presentation to your peers. Having an affinity for your subject could only serve to improve the learning experience. I would love to hear the teacher explain her rationale for discouraging the student’s choice.
It's upsetting that a *teacher* would object to an individual student's passion for history and deny the whole class an opportunity to learn about someone new.
I know. They always pick the same ones!
Love the support the mother provided to this little girl. The mom is a hero in my eyes. She is teaching her daughter some very valuable lessons. One lesson is that- when one audience doesn’t approve of your choices, find one that does. She was able to presented her book report to some to a much larger audience.
Service men and women are Hero, because they put there body on the line. Learning to read or write getting a license make you an achiever, an operator, or manual labor by definition. A pioneer is someone who invented and create the airplane for them to used in the manual labor force. "A chicken is not a Duck and surely not a Cow" lol
Reminds me of a play presented to an audience when it's first published--the audience may not like it much, and the playwright adapts it, and edits it until he or she finds the audience that gets it. Just what Alex did here.
@@User-mb1tz WTF did I just re.....did you just write?
@@User-mb1tz A hero is anyone who inspires others to be great. That little girl is a hero. You are an idget.
@@edmer68 He said Bessie Coleman is inferior because she wasn't a soldier or an inventor. He thinks if he says it like that, you won't notice he just wants to minimize Coleman's achievements because of her race.
Wow! I’m a retired teacher and I would often assign these types of assignments. I would often encourage the students to pick those “ hidden figures” that people were not familiar with.
Hidden Figures is also an excellent book and film about the Black mathematical savants (who also happened to be women) that the US would not have been able to win the space race without.
Just thought I'd spread the word
@@alienvomitsex I loved the movie! And mostly because I love to discover the hidden figures. Though the real story had some differences since they still needed to whitewash the movie with a white savior... But as a whole the women were the ones doing all.
Right? As a teacher myself, I can't imagine why we wouldn't want kids to think outside the box, think critically, and look beyond the obvious. I'd be SO excited if one of my students came up w/ something like this.
me too. i always liked it when a student taught ME something i hadnt known
It seemed like the teacher wanted a cookie cutter "hero". Probably the same person picked by 20 other people. The fact that this girl picked a woman who is very heroic and inspiring and just happened to be a woman of color and not an everyday household name should've been praised instead of being rejected. Well done to this little girl and her mother. I think Bessie would be proud to be her HERO!!!
As a former teacher I have to ask, what kind of teacher is that? If it's the child's hero let her report on it. Bessie Coleman is a legitimate historic figure and worthy for all to know about her. If true history had been told over the years she would have been well known, congratulations to this young student for being curious, thoughtful and persistent, she has taught a lot of people,maybe even the teacher.
It’s a teacher who didn’t want to do research to verify the students work.
Don't hold your breath on the teacher part.
Mom rocks. Without a doubt. Getting that child to present at work, stunning. Well done.
This is why I'm going into teaching, children like her deserve to be praised and encouraged, not stifled
That is the exact mindset I had when I went into teaching. I love my job! Children know when they have a good teacher that encourages and allows them to question. I wish you all the best, Good luck 👍🏾👏🏽
Service men and women are Hero, because they put there bodies on the line to defend and protect. Learning to read or write getting a license make you an achiever, an operator, or manual labor by definition. A pioneer/engineer is someone who invented and create the airplane for them to used in the manual labor force. If you think Frederick Douglass is a hero, then you need a dictionary to be correct. Frederick Douglass is an academic achiever, a poor fortunate straight A black student. Children need to be re educated and know the different between a "Chicken, Duck, and Cow" and given a dictionary to be correct. I admire the teacher having the courage to tell the kid that she is wrong as bitter medicine. Shame on the new for idolize stupidity and missed label and information to the general public.
I'm counting on teachers like you to help us save America. Bless you and those like you.
Most teachers feel like you, there are a few punks and a lot a nasty parents who don’t “get it”. God speed.
It takes a special mindset to be a teacher, I'm glad you have it ❤
Brought tears to my eyes that the teacher told her no. That is not teaching, that is hindering. This little girl is a hero, too!
Exactly
This teacher sounds dumb as a stump.
Well said and I totally agree.
Not the RACIST Teachers call.
Would it have been racist though if the teacher told somebody who didn't pick up black person as a hero that they had to choose one?
A “hero” is not just someone who is well known, it’s someone who inspires you. I want to hear this teacher’s reasoning as to why Bessie isn’t a hero.
Also this little girls work. Helps bessie become well know.🙄
That teacher is foolish.
The teacher's reasoning is that she is stupid and controlling.
Becoming the first to get a pilot license doesn’t make you a hero. What lives did she save? The teacher was right.
@@Nuttyirishman85 a person admired for achievements and noble qualities -Merrion Webster dictonary.
@@Nuttyirishman85 so the only thing that qualifies someone as a hero is if they’ve saved a life? You don’t think the first female of color to get a pilot’s license over a hundred years ago, when both her gender and her race were viewed as “inferior”, and when aviation was much more dangerous, and yet she still pursued her dream in the face of hate and ignorance, resulting in the inspiration of people to this day, qualifies her as a hero?
Well done Mum for arranging for her to have the opportunity to give her presentation to a supportive group of people. Clearly she's very knowledgeable about her subject.
That girl definitely embodied Bessie's spirit. ❤
Growing up in the 1960s, I was obsessed with Amelia Earhart; I read her biography over and over again. I also read the biographies of Marie Curie, Elizabeth Blackwell (first US woman to receive a medical degree), Clara Barton, Florence Nightingale, Helen Keller, etc. I often joke that I came out of the womb a feminist, because despite having a traditional family with a SAH mom, I gravitated towards women of accomplishment. I would've been obsessed with Bessie Coleman, too, HAD I KNOWN ABOUT HER back then. Too often the achievements of POC are downplayed or ignored, which is why young Ms. Williams absolutely should have been allowed to present her report to her classmates. Kudos to the FAA for giving Alex an audience; I hope she enjoyed her visit.
I grew up in the Sixties and today is the first I have ever heard about Bessie Coleman. Sad!😢
I read about Nelly Bly in 1st grade. Changed my young life.
@@im-gi2pg 80s for me but the sentiment is the same.
So very true, and I agree.
My Mom worked in the children's department at our local library (which was located on a JCC campus). The Head Librarian picked the books for Black History Month, & my Mom arranged them in the display case. My Mom hadn't heard of most of the people from the books she was arranging so guess what she did... she read every single book & then she came home & told me about them. We found them fascinating & we were very shocked that by our ages, 35 & 69, we had never known about these people's accomplishments. I seriously don't understand the reason people are so afraid to expand their knowledge base & learn about the glorious history of our country. And by saying glorious, I don't mean that it was all peaches & cream, I mean that it is diverse & every part of it makes the USA what it is & what it can be. Embrace our history, my fellow Americans!
I love aviation, I named my daughter Amelia after Amelia Earhart. Bessie Coleman IS a Hero and being as she's a lesser known one, deserves to be remembered! Not to mention, Coleman was this girls Hero, which was the assignment! I commend that little girl for sticking with her Hero and her mother for supporting her!
As a retired teacher I’d say that Alex is a hero and that teacher is a zero. You don’t have to dictate to a child who their hero is. My dad was my hero and lived a life that proved it. Alex’s mum is also a hero. 👏👏. Bessie Coleman an inspiring woman and an African American hero.
There is a tree out there that is producing oxygen for this teacher and they need to go find that tree and apologize.
Bessie Coleman can manage “hero” without a qualification of being “African American”.
I'll tell you what, this young lady and her mama are heroes. How dare that teacher tell someone, anyone, that their heroes are irrelevant!? Everyone has their own heroes. Society doesn't decide who your hero is. I am so proud of this young lady for believing in herself and going forward with this. I honor her mother for supporting her and promoting her. I'm going to share this to my groups because I think it is so admirable. We all have heros and Alice Williams today has become one of mine. I feel choked up, I'm just a silly old lady but I'm so proud of her.
PS, Bessie Coleman is a huge hero!!!! Bravo Queen Bess!
@@thesheriff5091 It was African American history month, I think they're safe.
Teacher rule #1: when a kid is truly excited about a project, don't shut them down. It's your job to foster a love of learning so they will *want* to come to school and do their best.
Parent rule number one: if a child shows a spark of interest in anything positive, fan the flame, don’t shut it down!
I remember in 7th grade we had to write a book report. I chose Alice in Wonderland because I loved the poems and all the made up words in it. My English teach gave me a 0 and told me to pick a book "that wasn't for children". At first I was confused because Alice in Wonderland contains lots of complicated math and language, and then I realized my teacher must have just never read it herself and had no idea.
likely she watched the disney cartoon and made up her mind from that.
Some people truly should not be teachers. That book is laden with politics, historical satire, and philosophy. It is quite literally penned as a 7th grade reading level book.
Should have done the Brothers' Grimm version. That would shut her up real quick.
Or she had a set criteria and guidelines and you didn't listen.
@@taco8951 Brothers Grimm did not write Alice in Wonderland.
How many of us were just educated by this little girl..that's amazing..props to her parents..keep it going ❤
If the 3rd grade teacher would just read the basic dictionary: Hero: "a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities." I didn't know there were only a selected group of these people called heroes. This mom is the hero!!! I really hope they give this teacher a chance to find opportunity outside of the teaching world. Maybe a nurse, so she can learn what being a real hero means.
Exactly and well said!
Nope !!!!! no closed minded people in nursing....
@ Laura Lu. So checking someone's blood pressure makes nurses hero's now? Man the bar is low for some people! Dr's are hero's. Not the people who fetch things for Dr.'s !
Not nursing...I don't trust she will give unbiased care.
I remember in the 4th grade the teacher gave us a list of American historical figures we could write a report on. I wanted to do a report on someone not on the list. I went to the teacher and pitched my idea. Really the teacher was just so happy to see someone actually interested in doing the work, she said yes. This teacher should have at least looked at who the person was and just have been happy a student was actually interested in completing the assignment.
really really BAD TEACHER!! AWFUL!
And might I add, anyone famous or not can be a hero in our lives-mother, father, brother, sister, grandparents, neighbor, local cop, local grocer. ANYONE!
I remember doing something like that in middle school. We were given a list. As I recall it was all white males except for Harriet Tubman. This was back when the Equal Rights Amendment was still in the works.
That had always been my experience. Teacher are happy when kids are learning.
WOW! I never knew about Bessie! She absolutely deserves to have a moment in the spotlight! That's really what those kinds of assignments should be about.
Exactly. Telling her to choose a more well know hero is ridiculous. As an educator, the teacher should have recognized that a lesser known hero would expand knowledge
That teacher must have a knack for killing even the smallest trace of excitement in kids
“…in kids”
Yeah, but thankfully not this one.
Nicely put! 😄
Bet you that when lil girl mentioned a name that teacher hadn't committed to memory to try and stay relevant, her internal monitor cracked in the corner and her face did that thing when a single drop of water hits it for no reason
That teacher didn’t want to have to look up the information about Bessie Coleman in order to grade the paper. A teacher with no curiosity, is the worst.
Service men and women are Hero, because they put there bodies on the line to defend and protect. Learning to read or write getting a license make you an achiever, an operator, or manual labor by definition. A pioneer/engineer is someone who invented and create the airplane for them to used in the manual labor force. If you think Frederick Douglass is a hero, then you need a dictionary to be correct. Frederick Douglass is an academic achiever, a poor fortunate straight A black student.
A hero doesn't mean you had to save anyone. Heroes are role models who mean something to us symbolically, spiritually, or personally... who are we to say a role model isn't someone's hero? What a brave and wonderful young lady. I'm so glad she was recognized for such a carefully thought out presentation
I admit, I tended to reserve the term "hero" in the traditional sense of saving people or overcoming adversity primarily for the greater good, and prefer other words for other people we admire, like role model, idol, or icon. Not that I consider those terms bad, just more precise. For instance, as much as the nerd in me admires Einstein and Newton, I never thought of calling them a hero, just role models.
Though after reviewing a few different dictionaries on the common usage of the term hero, it does seem like a legitimate usage is to denote someone who overcomes adversity and is greatly admired for their strength, ingenuity, or courage, and Bessie certainly meets those criteria so in retrospect I think it's definitely fair to consider Bessie a hero unless the teacher gave a more specific definition of hero to follow. The criteria of reporting about "someone who you admire for their courage in the face of adversity" (regardless of if we call them a "hero" or not) though I think it a great criteria for finding interesting hidden figures in history.
However, in this case, it seems the teacher had an issue with notability and not whether she saved anyone (I'm not sure her example of Maya Angelou directly saved anyone), so her problem with the choice of hero seems especially problematic, since it discourages diving deep into lesser known figures.
On an unrelated note, I do have concerns that many dictionaries list "hero" also being used for the main character of a story, while I think from a literary theory perspective, a hero, main character, and protagonist are all distinct. Though how people use a word and academic/scientific frameworks are often at odds(like tomato as a fruit) so it's to be expected.
@@RiamsWorld "A hero can be anyone. Even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a young boy’s shoulders to let him know the world hadn’t ended." Batman (in Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises")
@@RiamsWorld More to your point about notability, Bess Coleman is maybe obscure to the everyday lay person, but in the aviation community she is a very well known pioneer as the first woman to earn an international pilots license and happened to be both black and Cherokee (you don’t get any more American than THAT) as well as an absolute daredevil wing Walker.
@@RiamsWorld I mean being the first female black pilot, one could say she overcame great adversity especially for her time!
Ah yes, I remember well when Maya Angelou saved all those children from that burning building. Truly inspiring
I don't understand the teacher's reasoning for excluding Bessie Coleman; claiming she isn't a hero is insufficient and her alleged conduct throughout this assignment set a poor example to the students. The fact that this student chose someone the other students (or the teacher) may not have been familiar with should have been applauded and encouraged so they could all learn about something new, which one could reasonably assume to be the point of the project.
Yeah, what a strange fight to pick. The student showed initiative and enthusiasm/genuine interest. Why not give her the go-signal and let her hammer out the report she actually cares about? What point is there in trying to redirect the student's enthusiasm onto another person?
@@MJFallout the teacher has never heard of her so she can’t be that important. It’s ego. A decent chunk of teachers are bitter and self important and think their values are knowledge are all kids need to know
The teacher is stupid and doesn't understand what Google is. She shouldn't be anywhere near a classroom.
This teacher’s style of teaching seems to be potentially suppressing of initiative and enthusiasm for learning Why would someone do this? Ignorance? Deliberate? Decisions such as this can tend to thwart interest and enthusiasm. We can’t know what was behind this decision but I find it to reflect an extremely poor and stultifying style. Shame on this and people who follow this method which can be so so counterproductive. Shame of those that perpetrate this small-minded way of ‘educating’. This is an intelligent and spirited girl - go you and your amazing Mum!!!❤️❤️❤️
Exactly!
I had not heard of Bessie Coleman but thanks to this smart young lady I learned something new today. Thank you, and your momma, for “not taking no” for an answer and being an inspiration to us all.
Not only is Bessie Coleman a hero but Alex Williams is a hero as well. Narrow minded humans have no place in this world we live in now. Throw it in their face America, everytime they insist on acting the fool and showing their ignorance to the whole world !!! Be a hero y'all !!!
Agreed. It's truly bizarre that a teacher would deny a student's choice of hero just because the person isn't super famous. Bessie Coleman sounds like a perfect candidate for a little girl's hero. Rather than just present well-known "heroes" the teacher should be encouraging the students to choose a hero based on those qualities that make up a hero.
What is the definition of a HERO!! It's dramatically been changed , used to be someone who Risked their lives to save others especially when they weren't doing it for fame, glory money or to be a FIRST at something. The white men who fought and died and faced bullets to Free the BLACKs were certainly heros to the African American slaves. Now they were heroes. Whatever kind of heroin, a female who Risked her life to save others isn't a HERO SHE is a HEROINE. Ignorant people don't know that. Duh
Sorry to say the narrow minded out number the sensible by 10 to 1. Why else do you think so many worship Hitler to this day?
Well written.
a military service man/women are hero because they put there life on the line to protect and serve the nation. Someone learning to read like Frederick Douglas or driving and operate a machine is an academic achiever. In the real world we called them manual labor and educators.
Of course Bessie was a hero! Go Mom for backing her kid up!
Well technically Bessie Coleman was a heroine and maybe the teacher got confuse as they were supposed to stop children doing heroine. Clearly not the brightest teacher in the industry, lol.
@@robertwilliams8032 That's what happens when "Hunting of the Woke Cooties (aka W.C.s)" is denied its true status as nonsense. Homonyms are not the only ones to suffer.
@@robertwilliams8032 That was beyond stupid but please continue
Service men and women are Hero, because they put there body on the line. Learning to read or write getting a license make you an achiever, an operator, or manual labor by definition. A pioneer is someone who invented and create the airplane for them to used in the manual labor force.
@suzanne farrington well, no, in the English language you call women who act an actress, men who act an actor and people who act actors, men are heros and women are heroines. You also missed that the dude in the other post is being obviously sarcastic.
I’m from the same town that Bessie Coleman grew up in. I recently went back there with my girls to visit. There’s not even a monument nor anything dedicated to her that we could easily find. I lived through elementary, middle school and all of my high school years in Atlanta, Texas and had never heard of her. That’s a real shame because she WAS a hero, a trailblazer and I would have felt so good as a little Black girl from that small town to have known she existed and she mattered!
Until somebody suggests a monument, none will exist.
Wasn't a street named after her in the town? Other commenters on here are claiming this. Maybe y'all should meet here and discuss honoring her more?
Maybe because of this wonderful little girl, there will be new awareness about AMERICAN HERO Bessie!!! Maybe a monument in her honor will be put up!!!
Chicagoan’s are familiar with Bessie Coleman as one of the major roads in O’Hare is named Bessie Coleman Drive. There was also an exhibit within O’Hare honoring her.
get a petition going to be known as the hometown of the FIRST woman pilot.
So proud of this young lady and her mom. You all are both my heroes!
When I was a special education teacher, I remember many of my 3rd grade girls in my classes over the years doing their biography reports and presentations on Bessie Coleman. That teacher had no good reason to say 'no' to that little girl, and then to not call on her and allow her to present her work to the rest of the class is shameful.
Ego
I feel for any child now a days who have to deal with the ignorance of their own parents, teachers who deny them, and violence that threatens them every day. This beautiful child made a sound choice decision and she was denied because of an ignorant teacher.
@J F Parents these days want to censor history.
@J F You’re not exactly wrong, but that’s by design. Our education system is atrocious, if not an outright nightmare. They have to work within that, so it’s no wonder many get jaded pretty quickly. They’re overworked, underpaid, and are in charge of WAY too many students at once, the teacher to student ratio has gotten worse and has only added to the crap they already deal with from above them.
@@jenniferhiemstra5228 Add to that the requirement that they "teach to the tests" in too many cases. which limits anything like actual education.
Thank you,Alex, for teaching me about Brave Bessie. I’d never heard her story before. She was a true hero as are you! Keep up the good work!
The child did so much work on her project. Bessie Coleman was and is a hero. On a positive note, look how many more people know of Bessie. Keep your spirit, you are going to have a hero project done about you one day.
Imagine being told no by an elementary school teacher but YES by the Federal Aviation Administration. ❤
👏👏👏👏👏
Once in a great while, a government agency gets something right.
I hope that elementary school teacher feels smaller than a . Kindergartener on his first day!
LOL ... The FAA says:" In your face closed minded non- educator". There's something so wrong with these people. The whole idea is about finding the unknown. That's what education is about. Disgusting and infuriating.
I love that the FAA was invested in this. Good on them!!!!
I’d be extremely embarrassed to be that teacher in general BUT then to get showed up by that adorable , intelligent student that received her big gigantic YES at the end is the icing on the cake 😭♥️
Such a gorgeous intelligent young girl
Her mother is raising her for big things
You go little girl
Thankfully this is the future generation and what an asset this one will be
You sure put a smile on my face today
"Never take no for an answer because there's a big gigantic yes at the end of the road" - Alex Williams
Words to live by, that's a wise little girl
This story brought tears to my eyes. I see two heroes portrayed in this report.
Service men and women are Hero, because they put there bodies on the line to defend and protect. Learning to read or write getting a license make you an achiever, an operator, or manual labor by definition. A pioneer/engineer is someone who invented and create the airplane for them to used in the manual labor force. If you think Frederick Douglass is a hero, then you need a dictionary to be correct. Frederick Douglass is an academic achiever, a poor fortunate straight A black student. Children need to be re educated and know the different between a "Chicken, Duck, and Cow" and given a dictionary to be correct. I admire the teacher having the courage to tell the kid that she is wrong as bitter medicine. Shame on the new for idolize stupidity and missed label and information to the general public.
@@User-mb1tz Clearly, you need to check your own dictionary. The teacher suggested Maya Angelou as a suggestion. How does Ms. Angelou, a scholar, a teacher and a Poet Laureate, fit your ridiculous and limiting definition? Mirriam-Webster gives THREE definitions of "hero." They are:
hero
hîr′ō
noun
1. In mythology and legend, a man, often of divine ancestry, who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for his bold exploits, and favored by the gods.
2. A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life.
3. A person noted for special achievement in a particular field.
Please note the last one in particular. And shame on YOU.
This little girl is my new hero. She had the strength & courage to stand up to those who said. That her school report about the first. African/Native American female pilot wasn't valid & proved them wrong. *RESPECT!* ✊
She had the strength and courage to say what was already popular?
Service men and women are Hero, because they put there bodies on the line to defend and protect. Learning to read or write getting a license make you an achiever, an operator, or manual labor by definition. A pioneer/engineer is someone who invented and create the airplane for them to used in the manual labor force. If you think Frederick Douglass is a hero, then you need a dictionary to be correct. Frederick Douglass is an academic achiever, a poor fortunate straight A black student. Children need to be re educated and know the different between a "Chicken, Duck, and Cow" and given a dictionary to be correct.
You mean her mother made a stink. Let's keep it honest at least
@@User-mb1tz Pedant.
And then to say no to the mother after hearing very reasonable arguments. Time for this teacher to retire.
As a little girl who's dream it was to be a pilot I can say with absolute certainty that Bessie Coleman is an American hero. I looked up to her too and this little girl is going somewhere! Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do or be something, because all that means is that no one has done it YET
Exactly
Way to go, mom. You did great standing up for your daughter
Miss Williams presenting her report in aviation gear is about the cutest thing I've ever seen! ❤
I wish the story had elaborated on why the teacher did not consider Bessie Colman a hero. What is her criteria for someone to be considered a hero? I imagine that being a pioneer in your field and showing perseverance, courage and inner strength does make Bessie Colman a hero.
Ignorance? Deliberate suppression of curiosity? Who knows. This was disgraceful and unforgivable and this smart child rose above the nonsense, sided and abetted by Mum. ❤️❤️❤️
I would bet money that she just hadn't heard of her - though I'm sure she won't admit that in a million years, after this came out in the news.
I hope the teacher sees this an keeps seeing this. Who the heck tells someone who their heros should be, glad she got to do her presentation ❤I learned from her presentation 😊
I feel the same! I hope she got to show her news spotlight to the class...and that her teacher apologized to her.
I think we could be waiting….
I’d be extremely embarrassed to be that teacher in general BUT then to get showed up by that adorable , intelligent student that received her big gigantic YES at the end is the icing on the cake 😭♥️
@@klynn014 that teacher is awful!
I wish we could have seen her entire presentation! I hope her teacher and the administrators of the school see this, too.
When the student is more educated than the teacher. Glad she wouldn't be told by others who she can and can't admire as heroic.
Service men and women are Hero, because they put there bodies on the line to defend and protect. Learning to read or write getting a license make you an achiever, an operator, or manual labor by definition. A pioneer/engineer is someone who invented and create the airplane for them to used in the manual labor force. If you think Frederick Douglass is a hero, then you need a dictionary to be correct. Frederick Douglass is an academic achiever, a poor fortunate straight A black student. Children need to be re educated and know the different between a "Chicken, Duck, and Cow" and given a dictionary to be correct. I admire the teacher having the courage to tell the kid that she is wrong as bitter medicine. Shame on the new for idolize stupidity and missed label and information to the general public.
@@User-mb1tz Dumb as the teacher. Not hard to look up the definition of Hero or Heroine.
@@User-mb1tz Ahh you’re one of those people that loves telling people the truth like they’re too stupid to comprehend or just to put them in their place right… I can’t stand pick mes who brag about their own intelligence.
@@User-mb1tz troll account. your rank in the gru?
I'm 71 years and sadly, never heard of Bessie Coleman. Thanks to this young lady choosing Ms Coleman as her 'Hero', I am now Educated.
That teacher is disgusting! Look at all the work that child has done! She did great! I’m sad to say I didn’t know brave Bessie before, but now I will remember her forever ❤️
If I remember right, Orville Wright signed her pilot’s license after solo flight. Talk about the final authority on aviation no one can dispute that.
I bet there is more to the story. I imagine Bessie Coleman did fall outside of the parameters the students were given.
@@KarlH1980 do you have any credible evidence, or just your hunch?
@Karl H I disagree. It seems like the teacher has her idea of what defines a hero, instead of the child's definition. I would have challenged that idea if I was the mother.
@@jasonandersen5975 Nice try at internet baiting. Go find some flunkie to fall for it. The answer to this trollish question is in my original post. Any other cowardly passive aggressive BS to pass out?
As an educator, I say what any good teacher would have done is be happy to LEARN ALONG WITH THE CLASS about this hero I didn't already know about. I perfectly understand why a teacher with no background in aviation might not know who this woman is, but that just means the child has something to teach YOU, and every educator should welcome such an opportunity to become the student.
Ok why are you telling us you're an educator? Lmao you chose your horrible job stop trying to seek validation
AMEN!!! Fellow educator here. I never stop learning. If she'd been in my class she'd have received an A from me, for teaching us all about a new HERO to admire.
Even if don’t know. You look it up not say no. Makes no sense
Well said!
I had a teacher like that. I fought as well
Here's a chance for the class to actually *learn* something new, and this teacher had the crickets to say "no, you can only select from the approved list of heroes?"
NO WAY!
Now a special someone got on the news AND to present to US aviation officials! Thank you Alice for teaching us all about Bessie Coleman!
I appreciate the young girls enthusiam and really appreciate the story being shared. I remember hearing about Bessie when I was probably around her age (47 now), but literally had forgotten about her as the African American scientists and civil rights leaders were pushed more for projects in school. Seeing the picture of her reminded me of some of the pictures that were up on one of my teachers walls in elementary school. Grateful for the reminder!
I'm ready to go out and buy a Bessie Coleman biography book. Never heard of this hero.
Glad to see Ms. Alex Williams recognizing the previous generations, finding strength and courage in their struggles and successes.
Ms. Williams is the way forward, she is smart, strong, optimistic and aware!
WAY TO GO!! (Great moms make great kids!!)🥰
"Not to take 'No' for an answer because there's a big gigantic 'Yes' at the end of the road." Wise words to live by coming from someone so young. There IS hope for the future! YOU GO GIRL!
Exactly was I was thinking. There’s hope .
Bessie would be proud ❤
Any teacher that is insecurely threatened by their students’ knowledge, insights, or experiences doesn’t deserve to be in a classroom.
I thank this wonderful little girl for educating ME about the great Bessie Coleman. I had no idea of her until this video! That breaks my heart. Of course she was a hero! Anyone who inspires you and pushes you to dream bigger and go as far as you can is a true hero, even people the world will NEVER hear of and only you might know.
I hope that teacher sees this and realizes how ridiculous and unfair she was being.
White Americans need to recognize our own IGNORANCE about BLACK HISTORY. We were raised on WHITE HISOTRY that approached history as if black and brown people didn't exist and even WHITE WOMEN were not considered WORTHY of heroism and fame. If our real American History makes you uncomfortable, you should pack you bags and GET THE $UCK OUT because the rest of us are TIRED OF your BULL$HIT.
It is obvious that her "teacher" knew nothing about Bessie Coleman. This young student did an awesome job with her research and the support of her mom put her over the top. It was then that the young student was clearly able to "teach her" own teacher. Great job young lady and way to go loving and very supportive Mom.🔥👸🏽💥
You are absolutely correct. To be honest, I had not her about her until about two years ago. Huh, I wonder why? I think we all know that answer.
@@DarcyMidland I read about her many years ago, I think in a publication from the Smithsonian Institution. I worked in a used book shop in Northern Virginia, and I began a small collection of books about pioneering female aviators. Bessie Coleman's story is truly inspirational. Sadly, I no longer have those books, but I have often thought to make a linocut print portrait of her. She should be remembered.
Teachers need to always learn. The best teachers always try to learn the latest findings in their fields, listen to street culture and adapt. Being a teacher is the greatest profession because they elevate minds to the best they can be. Its unfortunate that we have bad/ignorant teachers who want to break their students down. It makes me appreciate all the good teachers I have had like my high school principal who helped me from a toxic situation at home to my master's supervisor who encouraged me weekly as I was doing my thesis, believing in my work and telling me with conviction in 2020 that 'You must be on the graduation list this year come what may' and I was. Teachers can be a true blessing
Just because someone is a teacher does not mean they cannot learn something from their students.
Teachers have been banning report subjects out of ignorance for decades. Over fifty years ago, I wanted to do a report on the most successful fighter pilot of World War l, Rittmeister Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen. She didn't know much about him and cared even less, so she made me chose a more mainstream subject.
A brave girl for not letting her teacher discourage her, and a great mom for standing up for her child like that. What became of the teacher? Also, thanks to this little girl, I now know about Bessie Coleman, someone who wasn't included in my school curriculum, but should have been!
Oh that's awesome. That was very cool of those representatives of the FAA to hear that young ladies history lesson.
The sweet little girl understood the assignment and completed it❤ I hope the teacher was reprimanded.
What the ACTUAL??? That teacher needs to be retrained. I hesitate to call for her dismissal, but that's atrocious. I regularly knew things my teachers didn't and they let me show them what it was I knew. They were GLAD to learn something new.
Probably all because a teacher didn’t want to learn something new.
Not part of her lesson plan lol.
@@TheAginG420 I wish you were joking. 🤦🏽♂️😄
Service men and women are Hero, because they put there bodies on the line to defend and protect. Learning to read or write getting a license make you an achiever, an operator, or manual labor by definition. A pioneer/engineer is someone who invented and create the airplane for them to used in the manual labor force. If you think Frederick Douglass is a hero, then you need a dictionary to be correct. Frederick Douglass is an academic achiever, a poor fortunate straight A black student. Children need to be re educated and know the different between a "Chicken, Duck, and Cow" and given a dictionary to be correct. I admire the teacher having the courage to tell the kid that she is wrong as bitter medicine. Shame on the new for idolize stupidity and missed label and information to the general public.
@@User-mb1tzOK robot. Literally the definition of hero is "a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements or noble qualities". If you look up to them as a hero that is literally all that is required to make them a hero.
@@User-mb1tz
What you describe is a warrior, not a hero.
A hero is someone to idolize. Someone who inspires. Someone who gives hope.
For you, that might only be a warrior or a soldier, but to that girl, her hero was the pilot.
You go girl! I was a girl growing up in the 60's and 70's raised by a career marine corp officer who always told me i could be or do anything i wanted if i had the grit. In those days however there were many prefessions strictly prohibited to women. I always wanted to be a pilot and i did make that dream happen despite many obstacles. I am white but nevertheless i knew of Bessie and she was certainly a hero to me! I am quite certain she was to many other bright females who dreamed of the stars. I bet she is cheering for you somewhere right now. Last but not least i hope this became a case of student teaching teacher and that yours has had her mind open. Maybe now she understands that heroism is in the eye of the beholder. KUDOS to your mom too! Its clear to see where you get your grit from!
That teacher doesn't need to be teaching and i wouldn't want my child in that class after that smh. Im so glad she still got to do her presentation. Way to go mom!
This story brought tears to my eyes - and I'm a middleage white European. Good to see that her great hero story was heard in spite of the teachers lack of knowledge..
As a 42 year old black man i cried as well,because they try to keep us out of everything,because they know when we set our mind to do it we get it done..
Service men and women are Hero, because they put there bodies on the line to defend and protect. Learning to read or write getting a license make you an achiever, an operator, or manual labor by definition. A pioneer/engineer is someone who invented and create the airplane for them to used in the manual labor force. If you think Frederick Douglass is a hero, then you need a dictionary to be correct. Frederick Douglass is an academic achiever, straight A student.
But I do not find her to be a hero either. Hero to me is someone who risk something substantial of themselves to substantially help somebody else. That’s why I’m so annoyed when people will say a good samaritan who called 911 to report a house fire was a hero. That’s just cheapening the actions of someone who is willing to rush into a burning house. Someone who calls 911 is not the same as someone who rushes into the burning house. I would say that Bessie Coleman is a trailblazer and that is its own compliment, we don’t have to call everybody we like a hero. That’s just what I think.b
@@iMatti00 How many times are you posting this exact same message? It's the 3rd time I've seen this exact comment. We get it. YOU don't consider her a hero, but others can have a different opinion than you !! On a whim, I looked further and found your comment 6 more times. SMH
@@User-mb1tz: Is there some point to your comment or is it just to practise ‘copy and paste’? It seems to have nothing to do with the story at hand.
I remember something similar to this happening to my daughter when she was in Middle School. She had to do an assignment for black history month one of our local radio stations, so she chose the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. She did a full-scale report but the radio station did not choose her. They instead chose someone that pick MLK. This is because a my daughter's report she scolded the radio station for never mentioning certain aspects of black history even though this was a majority-black radio station.
And me and my daughter's report was put on a plaque on the wall in the main hallway of the school where it stayed for quite a few years.
Good job young lady! I first learned of Bessie Coleman as a young girl in church during Black History Month. An older lady wanted me to speak on Bessie Coleman from an article the Waxahachie Daily Light published in the 90s. Bessie lived in Waxahachie, TX as a child. Now there is a street named after her. I grew up there as well so Brave Bessie is a hero especially in Waxahachie!
This child is definitely a hero. Watch out, because she's going places! 💖
I think her and her mama have taught the teacher more than the teacher has taught her on the subject of heroes. I love how her mama stood by her and supported her decision and let her have a platform to do her presentation. To the mama of this young lady kudos to you for raising a strong minded daughter.
Loved this story. How inspiring this young lady is. She will go far with that positive attitude and courage to not accept the status quo. Well done Momma Bear! I think her presentation to the FAA’s senior staff was a lot better than taking no from a teacher. We need more people like you both.
Well said, thank you.
The little lady is going to great places! Good on her for sticking to her guns.
I thought the same thing!
Service men and women are Hero, because they put there bodies on the line to defend and protect. Learning to read or write getting a license make you an achiever, an operator, or manual labor by definition. A pioneer/engineer is someone who invented and create the airplane for them to used in the manual labor force. If you think Frederick Douglass is a hero, then you need a dictionary to be correct. Frederick Douglass is an academic achiever, a poor fortunate straight A black student. Children need to be re educated and know the different between a "Chicken, Duck, and Cow" and given a dictionary to be correct.
@@User-mb1tz Once again: Pedant.
Good for her and great for a mom who stood up for her daughter and supported her. Good job young girl, awesome job and work! Don’t let anyone shatter your dreams or your spirit!
Who gets to determine ones hero/heroine. Did her mom speak to the head of the school
I'm pretty sure that the mother complained and her daughter was allowed to submit her chosen her for the class project. She just wasn't called on to give an oral presentation in class.
@@brentwalker8596 Most curriculum/learning objectives in language arts and social studies (areas where research projects are usually completed) require oral presentation as part of the project’s grade. Since when isn’t every student required/allowed to present?
@@Flipper86 Obviously she wasn't in this classroom with that teacher. That's shameful.
It's described in the video.
@@Flipper86 The reporter stated that the girl featured in this story was not called on to present her hero to the class. That is why she gave a presentation to the FAA group in the video.
I was on a flight from Dallas to Phoenix, and when we deplaned, there was a celebration of Coleman’s achievements. She was able to be a commercial pilot, so she went to stunt flying. Her’s is a remarkable and inspiring story!
Good for her! Bessie would've been proud of that young lady and so should we all. As an aviation enthusiast and someone who works in the industry, I still didn't know her story, and now I do. Thank you!
Thanks to letting me know of a new hero and the little heroine that taught me something new. Thanks.
This little girl I promise you will go far with the continued support of her mother and her village.
That the little girl just taught me something. Imagine what she should have taught her classmates.. Heros come in many different professions and ways they inspire.
You go girl!!!!
I'm astonished, I'll admit I never even heard of Besse Coleman and now that I have, I want to learn more about her. She sounds awesome from this story clip.
Keep history alive, no matter what the cost is; it needs to be known and absolutely should be heard.