From the Children (11 of 11)

Thomas Doty – Storyteller

From 8th Grade Students

These are excerpts from essays written by 8th grade Social Studies students at Cascade Middle School in Eugene, Oregon. They were responding to a storytelling given by Thomas Doty called Coyote, Columbus & Beeson that focused on Indian/White contact time.

Mr. Doty's presentation was very powerful. He taught us a side of history which is generally not taught.

Mr. Doty is a storyteller, but he makes the story stay with you for the rest of your life.

He actually reached into his story, he was so passionate. For some reason it didn't feel like he was telling a story, it felt like he was the story.

Mr. Doty's presentation was inspiring.

I am glad Mr. Doty came and talked about the Native American's side because it was a great way to visualize the other side of the story.

I think its sad that Native Americans were treated the way they were. I don't think that was right at all. All people are human, none less or more than any other.

I loved everything about Mr. Doty's poem at the beginning of his presentation and the end so we could better understand what he told in the poem.

I think it was really interesting when Mr. Doty told me that Native Americans are all about circles and cycles, and how we base our life on squares and lines. I never looked at it that way before.

It was all very different than reading out of the text book, which was written by the winners. Not much people think about how text books should be written from all points of view which is how they should be done.

Mr. Doty's stories made me feel differently about U. S. History.