Citizenship in School: Re-conceptualizing Down Syndrome
Christopher Kliewer
Quotes:
1. "Now we know that people with disabilities can learn and have a full, rich life. The challenge is to erase negatives attitudes about people with developmental disabilities, get rid of the stereotypes and break the barriers for people with disabilities."
I completely agree with this quote and honestly is makes me angry. It makes me angry because I know that these stereotypes will never change no matter how hard we try. Stereotypes are passed down from generation to generation and not only about mentally disabled people. This goes for all of the other readings we were assigned because the main issue in all of them revolve around the stereotypes made whether it's white privileged, social status, or handicapped people.
2. "Dialogue cannot occur...between those who deny others the right to speak their word and those whose right to speak has been denied them. Those who have been denied their primordial right to speak their word must first reclaim this right...Dialogue imposes itself as the way by which [people] achieve significance as human beings."
I really loved this quote. There is nothing more important then the freedom of speech. No one can form their own identity if they are not able to speak. However, if people are refused the right to speak like some mentally disabled, then it may seem as if they are trapped within themselves and cannot form their own being.
3. "If you came into the room and were told there was a retarded child in the class, a child with special needs, I don't think you would pick Lee out. The kids really agree that he's as capable as they are. Intellectually the same."
It amazes me that people automatically assume that because someone has special needs that they will stand out like a sore thumb. They are still human beings, except they require a little bit extra TLC and maybe they have more difficulty learning. This doesn't mean that they aren't human and don't deserve the same chances that we do. Also...I hate when people call other retarded...it is extremely offensive to them. People with special needs have feelings also!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Talking Points #8
Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work
Jean Anyon
Quotes:
1. "Jean Anyon obsereved five elementary schools over the course of a fall school year and concluded that fifth-graders of different economic backgrounds are already being prepared to occupy particular rungs on the social ladder. In a sense, some whole schools are on the vocational trach, while others are geared to produce future doctors.
It is a crazy thought that by fifth grade, we already have begun to choose the path of the rest of our lives. But I do remember always knowing that I would go to college after high school so I could get a job that I wanted. I never even questioned any other options besides going to college. In my house, it wasn't an option, it was where you would go after high school and that's exactly what I did.
2. "...have argued that students in different social-class backgrounds are rewarded for classroom behaviors that correspond to personality traits allegedly rewarded in the different occupational strata-- the working classes for docility and obedience, the managerial classes for initiative and personal assertiveness."
Students are taught how to act from a young age based on demographics. This is wrong. They should be taught how to act based on good morals. When they grow up, maybe in high school, when they have a better understanding of themselves, they should know what different professions look for.
3. "The teachers rarely ecplain why the work is being assigned, how it might connect to other assignments, or what the idea is that lies behind the procedure or gives it coherence and perhaps meaning or significance."
This is exactly what teachers are doing wrong. I feel as thought students will care and want to learn if they can relate to the material and know why it is important that they know what is being taught. Relating materials to each other and to their own lives may help them care and have initiative to learn.
Jean Anyon
Quotes:
1. "Jean Anyon obsereved five elementary schools over the course of a fall school year and concluded that fifth-graders of different economic backgrounds are already being prepared to occupy particular rungs on the social ladder. In a sense, some whole schools are on the vocational trach, while others are geared to produce future doctors.
It is a crazy thought that by fifth grade, we already have begun to choose the path of the rest of our lives. But I do remember always knowing that I would go to college after high school so I could get a job that I wanted. I never even questioned any other options besides going to college. In my house, it wasn't an option, it was where you would go after high school and that's exactly what I did.
2. "...have argued that students in different social-class backgrounds are rewarded for classroom behaviors that correspond to personality traits allegedly rewarded in the different occupational strata-- the working classes for docility and obedience, the managerial classes for initiative and personal assertiveness."
Students are taught how to act from a young age based on demographics. This is wrong. They should be taught how to act based on good morals. When they grow up, maybe in high school, when they have a better understanding of themselves, they should know what different professions look for.
3. "The teachers rarely ecplain why the work is being assigned, how it might connect to other assignments, or what the idea is that lies behind the procedure or gives it coherence and perhaps meaning or significance."
This is exactly what teachers are doing wrong. I feel as thought students will care and want to learn if they can relate to the material and know why it is important that they know what is being taught. Relating materials to each other and to their own lives may help them care and have initiative to learn.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Talking Points #6
A Particularly Cheap White Wine
Tim Wise
Quotes:
1. "President of the College Republicans at Boston University, announces that race-based scholarships for people of color are the worst form of bigotry confronting America today." He is completely right. Picking blacks to get a special scholarship or any race for that matter, is unfair. We are all human and we should all get an equal opportunity for scholarships. It should not be by color, income, class, etc.
2. "First, although white students often think that so-called minority scholarships are a substantial drain on financial aid resources that would otherwise be available to them, nothing could be further from the truth." In my opinion, it has nothing to do with limiting my financial aid, but has everything to do with being equal. Like the above quote, people need to be given an equal opportunity to succeed. When we are all treated differently and unfairly, that is when problems arise.
3. "Of course, on an even more basic level, to complain about so-called unfair preferences for students of color, be it in terms of scholarships or affirmative action policies in admissions, is to ignore the many ways in which the nation's educational system provides unfair advantages to whites, from beginning to end... since attending a low-poverty school generally means having more resources available for direct instruction." I understand that black students may have less than whites in terms of resources. However, if we all work hard, we all can achieve what we want and strive to reach our goals.
For example, our president is black. He is one of the most powerful people in the world, but he had to work for what he has, just like any president of any culture. I feel as though saying that blacks just don't have an opportunity is unfair. There are good and bad people of all different races. Some people strive to succeed and others don't. Your work ethic will determine how well you do in life..not the color of your skin.
Tim Wise
Quotes:
1. "President of the College Republicans at Boston University, announces that race-based scholarships for people of color are the worst form of bigotry confronting America today." He is completely right. Picking blacks to get a special scholarship or any race for that matter, is unfair. We are all human and we should all get an equal opportunity for scholarships. It should not be by color, income, class, etc.
2. "First, although white students often think that so-called minority scholarships are a substantial drain on financial aid resources that would otherwise be available to them, nothing could be further from the truth." In my opinion, it has nothing to do with limiting my financial aid, but has everything to do with being equal. Like the above quote, people need to be given an equal opportunity to succeed. When we are all treated differently and unfairly, that is when problems arise.
3. "Of course, on an even more basic level, to complain about so-called unfair preferences for students of color, be it in terms of scholarships or affirmative action policies in admissions, is to ignore the many ways in which the nation's educational system provides unfair advantages to whites, from beginning to end... since attending a low-poverty school generally means having more resources available for direct instruction." I understand that black students may have less than whites in terms of resources. However, if we all work hard, we all can achieve what we want and strive to reach our goals.
For example, our president is black. He is one of the most powerful people in the world, but he had to work for what he has, just like any president of any culture. I feel as though saying that blacks just don't have an opportunity is unfair. There are good and bad people of all different races. Some people strive to succeed and others don't. Your work ethic will determine how well you do in life..not the color of your skin.
Talking Points #5
In the Service of What?
Kahne and Westheimer
Quotes
1. "In his inaugural address, President John Kennedy challenged the nation with his well-known appeal: "...ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."" I think that we should be asking "what can we do for each other" instead. Our country was built on the principles of democracy, so we are the country and we should all be one big community. We need to work together to fix the problems instead of working against each other, creating more. Service learning is a start of a way that we can help each other.
2. "What kind of society does service learning lead students to work toward?" Service learning is leading us to a society where people care about each other and show it by reaching out a helping hand.
3. "For example, one student worked in a center for babies whose mothers had high levels of crack cocaine in their bloodstreams during their pregnancy." This quote absolutely sickens me to think that people do this to their children before they are even born. I wanted to be a nurse before I entered into the teaching career. I had heard stories about things like this, but never witnessed it. I hope I never have to either...it really bugs me that people do not think before they do things and it affects many people.
Every action we do will affect at least another person in some way or another. Service learning is a positive enforcement that will keep people out of trouble and keep them headed in the right direction. I feel as though doing it at a young age feels pointless because I was there, in high school, and thought the same thing. However, much like the other articles we read, children learn by example and if they are brought up doing good deeds and service learning, they will be more likely to help out in the future.
Kahne and Westheimer
Quotes
1. "In his inaugural address, President John Kennedy challenged the nation with his well-known appeal: "...ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."" I think that we should be asking "what can we do for each other" instead. Our country was built on the principles of democracy, so we are the country and we should all be one big community. We need to work together to fix the problems instead of working against each other, creating more. Service learning is a start of a way that we can help each other.
2. "What kind of society does service learning lead students to work toward?" Service learning is leading us to a society where people care about each other and show it by reaching out a helping hand.
3. "For example, one student worked in a center for babies whose mothers had high levels of crack cocaine in their bloodstreams during their pregnancy." This quote absolutely sickens me to think that people do this to their children before they are even born. I wanted to be a nurse before I entered into the teaching career. I had heard stories about things like this, but never witnessed it. I hope I never have to either...it really bugs me that people do not think before they do things and it affects many people.
Every action we do will affect at least another person in some way or another. Service learning is a positive enforcement that will keep people out of trouble and keep them headed in the right direction. I feel as though doing it at a young age feels pointless because I was there, in high school, and thought the same thing. However, much like the other articles we read, children learn by example and if they are brought up doing good deeds and service learning, they will be more likely to help out in the future.
FNED 346-11 Class Overview
Extra Post #2
From the beginning of class, the one goal my teacher had was to make our class feel more like a community. We were always asked to be prepared for class discussions that were run strictly by us with no input from the teacher. I can see now, that these discussions we had, we allowing us to work together to come up with similar goals and ideas. We worked together and by doing this, we became more and more close each class.
Another goal of all of the readings we were given, was to be able to connect our volunteer work with these readings. I was able to understand why we read the articles we were assigned and I could see the readings first hand in the classroom that I volunteered in. I was able to make connections between all of the reading with what I observed in the class and I enjoyed being able to do this. I connected the volunteering to the readings just like I feel I connected to the students.
At first, I honestly did not understand the point in having us read all of the articles we were assigned. After doing the work and volunteering it became quite clear to me. The things we were introduced to in these readings and during our class discussions were real life problems. They did not seem like it when I compared it to my elementary school but in the Providence schools, it is more noticeable. As a teacher "in the making" it is important that we are aware of all of these real life problems and have practice so when the time comes, we know what to do about it.
On Monday, there was a scary moment in class, where something went wrong with someone in class. Without details, we had to all work together as a team to get her in a better place and make sure she was okay. Our class, that was once filled with strangers, worked together as a whole...a group of friends, and worked well under pressure to make sure everything was taken care of. We all pitched in and worked as a team. I feel as though after that scary moment, seeing how well we pitched in and worked together, I can say we truly are a community and more like friends. Some of us even became emotional over the incident when we were all strangers to each other a couple of months ago. We are definitely a lot closer than we were during the first few weeks of school and I will always remember this class and how Dr. Stevos brought us all together.
From the beginning of class, the one goal my teacher had was to make our class feel more like a community. We were always asked to be prepared for class discussions that were run strictly by us with no input from the teacher. I can see now, that these discussions we had, we allowing us to work together to come up with similar goals and ideas. We worked together and by doing this, we became more and more close each class.
Another goal of all of the readings we were given, was to be able to connect our volunteer work with these readings. I was able to understand why we read the articles we were assigned and I could see the readings first hand in the classroom that I volunteered in. I was able to make connections between all of the reading with what I observed in the class and I enjoyed being able to do this. I connected the volunteering to the readings just like I feel I connected to the students.
At first, I honestly did not understand the point in having us read all of the articles we were assigned. After doing the work and volunteering it became quite clear to me. The things we were introduced to in these readings and during our class discussions were real life problems. They did not seem like it when I compared it to my elementary school but in the Providence schools, it is more noticeable. As a teacher "in the making" it is important that we are aware of all of these real life problems and have practice so when the time comes, we know what to do about it.
On Monday, there was a scary moment in class, where something went wrong with someone in class. Without details, we had to all work together as a team to get her in a better place and make sure she was okay. Our class, that was once filled with strangers, worked together as a whole...a group of friends, and worked well under pressure to make sure everything was taken care of. We all pitched in and worked as a team. I feel as though after that scary moment, seeing how well we pitched in and worked together, I can say we truly are a community and more like friends. Some of us even became emotional over the incident when we were all strangers to each other a couple of months ago. We are definitely a lot closer than we were during the first few weeks of school and I will always remember this class and how Dr. Stevos brought us all together.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Talking Points #1
White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack
Peggy McIntosh
Quotes:
1. "Through work to bring materials from Women's Studies into the rest of the curriculum, I have often noticed that men's unwillingness to grant that they are over privileged, even though they may grant that women are disadvantaged. They may say they will work to improve women's status, in the society, the university, or the curriculum, but they can't or won't support the idea of lessening men's." Every one is privileged or under privileged in some ways. Men are privileged and are turned to for a lot of things. This quite reminds me of my own experience. At my old job, my boss would send a male to help me set up stuff or do something when I didn't even ask for the help. He assumed that because I am a female I couldn't do it on my own without the help of a male.
2. "I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege...White privilege is like an invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, code books, visas, clothes, tools and blank checks." This is a very interesting way to look at this subject matter. A lot of the time we will say we do not have any privilege over others and as a white, over a black, but we do. If we were on the other side and felt under privileged, I'm sure we would see just how much whites are more privileged than blacks for really bad reasons.
3. "4. I can go shopping along most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed." I am pretty much addicted to shopping and I have never thought about this. I can go into stores without having this thought that I am being stared at and having a stereotype used against me. My old boss would always follow everyone that wasn't white and any person that was younger than 30. He used this stereotype all of the time in his store and would follow people he didn't trust and I never really thought about it until now.
White privilege is existent whether or not we like to admit it. The person with the power will usually be the stereotypical heterosexual, white, male. As a white female, I can notice how I am both privileged and under privileged. I do agree with Peggy McIntosh that white people are privileged, I just never really noticed it...maybe I didn't want to admit it because I feel that we should all be treated equally. I know that I feel awful when someone judges me about something because I am a female, so I can understand how blacks feel when people use stereotypes against them. The stereotypes that have been around forever is what's preventing all humans to be treated equally. Just because I can't carry 500 pounds doesn't mean I can only carry 10 pounds because I am a female. And just because someone has dark skin, does not mean they need to be followed around a store and not trusted.
Peggy McIntosh
Quotes:
1. "Through work to bring materials from Women's Studies into the rest of the curriculum, I have often noticed that men's unwillingness to grant that they are over privileged, even though they may grant that women are disadvantaged. They may say they will work to improve women's status, in the society, the university, or the curriculum, but they can't or won't support the idea of lessening men's." Every one is privileged or under privileged in some ways. Men are privileged and are turned to for a lot of things. This quite reminds me of my own experience. At my old job, my boss would send a male to help me set up stuff or do something when I didn't even ask for the help. He assumed that because I am a female I couldn't do it on my own without the help of a male.
2. "I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege...White privilege is like an invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, code books, visas, clothes, tools and blank checks." This is a very interesting way to look at this subject matter. A lot of the time we will say we do not have any privilege over others and as a white, over a black, but we do. If we were on the other side and felt under privileged, I'm sure we would see just how much whites are more privileged than blacks for really bad reasons.
3. "4. I can go shopping along most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed." I am pretty much addicted to shopping and I have never thought about this. I can go into stores without having this thought that I am being stared at and having a stereotype used against me. My old boss would always follow everyone that wasn't white and any person that was younger than 30. He used this stereotype all of the time in his store and would follow people he didn't trust and I never really thought about it until now.
White privilege is existent whether or not we like to admit it. The person with the power will usually be the stereotypical heterosexual, white, male. As a white female, I can notice how I am both privileged and under privileged. I do agree with Peggy McIntosh that white people are privileged, I just never really noticed it...maybe I didn't want to admit it because I feel that we should all be treated equally. I know that I feel awful when someone judges me about something because I am a female, so I can understand how blacks feel when people use stereotypes against them. The stereotypes that have been around forever is what's preventing all humans to be treated equally. Just because I can't carry 500 pounds doesn't mean I can only carry 10 pounds because I am a female. And just because someone has dark skin, does not mean they need to be followed around a store and not trusted.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Class Discussion: How many ways is education political?
Extra Post about class on November 29, 2010
In class today, we were asked the question, is education political and how. Before we discussed anything about it, my first instinct was no, education isn't political at all. It didn't take long into discussing for me to realize that I was wrong. Education is very political and in many ways. My group came up with three different ways. One way that education is political is by the structure of the school. Power and ranking is very political and in a school, you have a superintendent above a principal. The principal is about the teachers and the teachers are above the students. There is clearly a rank system in education and in all schools.
Another extremely important thing in schools is a curriculum. The "higher ranks" get to decide what should or what shouldn't be on the curriculum. They get to choose basically what they think is important for the future generations to know. Teachers have the potential to mold students and create their idea of "model citizens." Since teachers are above the students and have that political power, they can alter the curriculum to best suit his or her own classroom. Teachers are also in charge of how they teach the material given. They can use whatever method they want to and it can either benefit the teacher, students, or both. The problem with that is trying to figure out what works for both the teacher and students.
The last way my group thought that education is political is by the funding. Schools and states are constantly competing to be the best and receive the highest test scores in order to receive the funding. Politics mainly focus and work around money and education does as well. When schools compete for funding, it also affects the way teachers may go about their classwork. Instead of having an interactive classroom, the teachers may feel as though they need to drill the information into the students heads and make them memorize it.
After our class discussion, I realized that I was definitely wrong. Education is very political and with the classes input, we came up with a lot of different ways. I thought this discussion was very important to have as teachers "in the making." It is very important for us to know the ins and outs of teaching and not just the basics. Not only do we have to care about our jobs as teachers, but we have to realize that we are carving the minds of students so they can be successful in the future.
In class today, we were asked the question, is education political and how. Before we discussed anything about it, my first instinct was no, education isn't political at all. It didn't take long into discussing for me to realize that I was wrong. Education is very political and in many ways. My group came up with three different ways. One way that education is political is by the structure of the school. Power and ranking is very political and in a school, you have a superintendent above a principal. The principal is about the teachers and the teachers are above the students. There is clearly a rank system in education and in all schools.
Another extremely important thing in schools is a curriculum. The "higher ranks" get to decide what should or what shouldn't be on the curriculum. They get to choose basically what they think is important for the future generations to know. Teachers have the potential to mold students and create their idea of "model citizens." Since teachers are above the students and have that political power, they can alter the curriculum to best suit his or her own classroom. Teachers are also in charge of how they teach the material given. They can use whatever method they want to and it can either benefit the teacher, students, or both. The problem with that is trying to figure out what works for both the teacher and students.
The last way my group thought that education is political is by the funding. Schools and states are constantly competing to be the best and receive the highest test scores in order to receive the funding. Politics mainly focus and work around money and education does as well. When schools compete for funding, it also affects the way teachers may go about their classwork. Instead of having an interactive classroom, the teachers may feel as though they need to drill the information into the students heads and make them memorize it.
After our class discussion, I realized that I was definitely wrong. Education is very political and with the classes input, we came up with a lot of different ways. I thought this discussion was very important to have as teachers "in the making." It is very important for us to know the ins and outs of teaching and not just the basics. Not only do we have to care about our jobs as teachers, but we have to realize that we are carving the minds of students so they can be successful in the future.
Talking Points #10 Shor
"Empowering Education"
Ira Shor
Quotes:
1. "The deficiency is the curriculum in schools, which he saw as a one-way transmission of rules and knowledge from teacher to students, stifling their curiosity. People are naturally curious. They are born learners. Education can either develop or stifle their inclination to ask why and to learn. A curriculum that avoids questioning school and society is not, as is commonly supposed, politically neutral. It cuts off the students; development as critical thinkers about their world. If the students' task is to memorize rules and existing knowledge, without questioning the subject matter or the learning process, their potential for critical thought and action will be restricted." I couldn't agree more with this quote. All of this of when I read this is when I was in high school and we were always forced to read books that we were never interested in. The teachers are given a curriculum to follow and it doesn't matter if we want to learn about it or not. One of my teachers at the beginning of the year asked us some books that we would want to read that were popular. That was the smartest thing she could have ever done because we always tried to do all the work without even laying a finger on the books. If you take things that students will be interested in, they will enjoy learning it and want to learn more.
2. "Human beings do not invent themselves in a vacuum, and society cannot be made unless people create it together. The goals of his pedagogy are to relate personal growth to public life, by developing strong skills, academic knowledge, habits of inquiry, and critical curiosity about society, power, inequality and change." The goals of his pedagogy make complete sense. People develop, grow, and learn from the influences around them. If a baby was left alone, it would grow up not knowing how to talk, interact, walk, etc. because there wouldn't be anyone around for him to learn from. Society makes us who we are today and it basically has molded us and will continue to mold us until we are no longer around.
3. "Participation provides students with active experiences in class, through which they develop knowledge that is reflective understanding, not mere memorization. Further, participation sends a hopeful message to students about their present and future; it encourages their achievement by encouraging their aspirations. They are treated as responsible, capable human beings who should expect to do a lot and do it well, an affective feature of the empowering classroom..." There is nothing more important then an interactive classroom. That is why participation should be encouraged and used all of the time in classrooms. Children will learn or be more willing to learn if they are having fun participating and communicating. If they are not allowed to speak their mind and chime in once and awhile, they will have no ambition or drive to pay attention.
This Empowering Education article has basically tied in everything we have learned throughout the course of the semester. There are bits and pieces in this article that I could probably relate to the other nine articles we read in class. Shor focuses on "critical teaching for social change." I agreed with pretty much everything stated in his article about teachers having the capability to make these students into something great. The different teaching methods are important and it is important to be creative and have a high-energy classroom. Children will learn from their society and by participating and questioning. However, in a lot of classrooms, children are not given this freedom to converse freely about questions they may have or observations. It is hard for children to learn to think freely if they are always told to be quiet and not to participate. I remember being so bored in my classes where we weren't allowed to communicate and we were "talked at." It is hard even in college for me to pay attention to professors if they are simply lecturing us and not interacting with us...I can only imagine how children feel in elementary school when their minds are so young.
Ira Shor
Quotes:
1. "The deficiency is the curriculum in schools, which he saw as a one-way transmission of rules and knowledge from teacher to students, stifling their curiosity. People are naturally curious. They are born learners. Education can either develop or stifle their inclination to ask why and to learn. A curriculum that avoids questioning school and society is not, as is commonly supposed, politically neutral. It cuts off the students; development as critical thinkers about their world. If the students' task is to memorize rules and existing knowledge, without questioning the subject matter or the learning process, their potential for critical thought and action will be restricted." I couldn't agree more with this quote. All of this of when I read this is when I was in high school and we were always forced to read books that we were never interested in. The teachers are given a curriculum to follow and it doesn't matter if we want to learn about it or not. One of my teachers at the beginning of the year asked us some books that we would want to read that were popular. That was the smartest thing she could have ever done because we always tried to do all the work without even laying a finger on the books. If you take things that students will be interested in, they will enjoy learning it and want to learn more.
2. "Human beings do not invent themselves in a vacuum, and society cannot be made unless people create it together. The goals of his pedagogy are to relate personal growth to public life, by developing strong skills, academic knowledge, habits of inquiry, and critical curiosity about society, power, inequality and change." The goals of his pedagogy make complete sense. People develop, grow, and learn from the influences around them. If a baby was left alone, it would grow up not knowing how to talk, interact, walk, etc. because there wouldn't be anyone around for him to learn from. Society makes us who we are today and it basically has molded us and will continue to mold us until we are no longer around.
3. "Participation provides students with active experiences in class, through which they develop knowledge that is reflective understanding, not mere memorization. Further, participation sends a hopeful message to students about their present and future; it encourages their achievement by encouraging their aspirations. They are treated as responsible, capable human beings who should expect to do a lot and do it well, an affective feature of the empowering classroom..." There is nothing more important then an interactive classroom. That is why participation should be encouraged and used all of the time in classrooms. Children will learn or be more willing to learn if they are having fun participating and communicating. If they are not allowed to speak their mind and chime in once and awhile, they will have no ambition or drive to pay attention.
This Empowering Education article has basically tied in everything we have learned throughout the course of the semester. There are bits and pieces in this article that I could probably relate to the other nine articles we read in class. Shor focuses on "critical teaching for social change." I agreed with pretty much everything stated in his article about teachers having the capability to make these students into something great. The different teaching methods are important and it is important to be creative and have a high-energy classroom. Children will learn from their society and by participating and questioning. However, in a lot of classrooms, children are not given this freedom to converse freely about questions they may have or observations. It is hard for children to learn to think freely if they are always told to be quiet and not to participate. I remember being so bored in my classes where we weren't allowed to communicate and we were "talked at." It is hard even in college for me to pay attention to professors if they are simply lecturing us and not interacting with us...I can only imagine how children feel in elementary school when their minds are so young.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Youtube Video
I found this video on youtube that relates to the talking points #7 article that focuses on race, class and gender. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E1vpFW8sCs&feature=fvw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E1vpFW8sCs&feature=fvw
Talking Points #7
Peter McLaren
Race, Class, and Gender
Why Students Fail
Quotes:
1. "It is not hard to imagine the deep distrust between blacks and public schools and blacks and white authorities, which Ogbu claims is communicated to children from a very early age by parents, relatives, and neighbors." It shouldn't surprise us that this distrust between blacks and the school systems actually exist. There have been so many incidents that have occurred because of the stereotypes set about different cultures. For example, in the reading they talk about the black youth simply "making it" through school rather than the students succeeding or striving to do well. This is an unfair stereotype about races that will never disappear because the ideas are passed on from parents to children.
2. "For many economically disadvantaged students, success in school means a type of forced cultural suicide, and in the case of minority youth, racial suicide....A moderate level of depression, an absence of political awareness, the presence of self blame, low assertiveness, and high conformity may tragically have constituted evidence of the 'good' urban student." I think it is awful that we even judge people by their class level, especially as the student youth. When we are students, we are young and living under a parent/guardians roof. Thus meaning that the classification of the students class is really based on the parents. It is extremely unfair to the students to have these preconceived notions about them as students because of the class level in which their parents fall under.
3. "The girls in my class were particularly concerned with popularity and physical attractiveness--areas of interest that for superseded academic aspirations. Girls were constantly experimenting with makeup and improving clothing styles. Subcultural dress codes established by the disaffected denizens were not only symbolic challenges to the conservative sartorial codes of teachers and more affluent peers, but a way of fostering group identity and solidarity." All I can think of after reading this quote is about the project we just spent time on in class. It focused on how the media portrays women which causes women to feel the need to always improve. With all of the medias attention on women celebrities constantly promote sex and beauty and no girl is happy unless she looks like these models.
I chose three different quotes that deal with the three different sections of this article; race, class, and gender. I feel as though these three factors will always play an important role in the school system even though it shouldn't have to be. Like stated in the article, these "ideas" are passed on from generation to generation by parents and relatives to their youth and I don't think these stereotypes are ever going to stop. In America, we say that everyone is equal and treated equally when we know in reality, that because of the stereotypes that have been in place for years, white people are looked at as the dominant color over the black people.
I feel as though this whole article is based on the stereotypes that have been made in society for years. There are good black students and there are bad white students. There are students from underprivileged areas that succeed and there are privileged students that fail. There are some women who are more successful than men and vice verse. This reading ties into several other readings we have had that deal with being underprivileged and that dealt with race, gender and class.
I feel as though this one article can tie in to all of the other readings in one way or another. This article made me irritated while I was reading it because it focuses on the stereotypes and not the fact that there are many people of many races, classes, and genders who succeed. To me, it is sad that so many people really do think like this and there isn't really a thing that can be done to change it other than making people aware of it.
Race, Class, and Gender
Why Students Fail
Quotes:
1. "It is not hard to imagine the deep distrust between blacks and public schools and blacks and white authorities, which Ogbu claims is communicated to children from a very early age by parents, relatives, and neighbors." It shouldn't surprise us that this distrust between blacks and the school systems actually exist. There have been so many incidents that have occurred because of the stereotypes set about different cultures. For example, in the reading they talk about the black youth simply "making it" through school rather than the students succeeding or striving to do well. This is an unfair stereotype about races that will never disappear because the ideas are passed on from parents to children.
2. "For many economically disadvantaged students, success in school means a type of forced cultural suicide, and in the case of minority youth, racial suicide....A moderate level of depression, an absence of political awareness, the presence of self blame, low assertiveness, and high conformity may tragically have constituted evidence of the 'good' urban student." I think it is awful that we even judge people by their class level, especially as the student youth. When we are students, we are young and living under a parent/guardians roof. Thus meaning that the classification of the students class is really based on the parents. It is extremely unfair to the students to have these preconceived notions about them as students because of the class level in which their parents fall under.
3. "The girls in my class were particularly concerned with popularity and physical attractiveness--areas of interest that for superseded academic aspirations. Girls were constantly experimenting with makeup and improving clothing styles. Subcultural dress codes established by the disaffected denizens were not only symbolic challenges to the conservative sartorial codes of teachers and more affluent peers, but a way of fostering group identity and solidarity." All I can think of after reading this quote is about the project we just spent time on in class. It focused on how the media portrays women which causes women to feel the need to always improve. With all of the medias attention on women celebrities constantly promote sex and beauty and no girl is happy unless she looks like these models.
I chose three different quotes that deal with the three different sections of this article; race, class, and gender. I feel as though these three factors will always play an important role in the school system even though it shouldn't have to be. Like stated in the article, these "ideas" are passed on from generation to generation by parents and relatives to their youth and I don't think these stereotypes are ever going to stop. In America, we say that everyone is equal and treated equally when we know in reality, that because of the stereotypes that have been in place for years, white people are looked at as the dominant color over the black people.
I feel as though this whole article is based on the stereotypes that have been made in society for years. There are good black students and there are bad white students. There are students from underprivileged areas that succeed and there are privileged students that fail. There are some women who are more successful than men and vice verse. This reading ties into several other readings we have had that deal with being underprivileged and that dealt with race, gender and class.
I feel as though this one article can tie in to all of the other readings in one way or another. This article made me irritated while I was reading it because it focuses on the stereotypes and not the fact that there are many people of many races, classes, and genders who succeed. To me, it is sad that so many people really do think like this and there isn't really a thing that can be done to change it other than making people aware of it.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Talking Points #4 Christensen
Linda Christensen
Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us
Quotes:
1. "The impact of racism begins early. Even in our preschool years, we are exposed to misinformation about people different from ourselves. Many of us grow up in neighborhoods where we have limited opportunities to interact with people different from our own families... Consequently, most of the early information we receive about "others"-- people racially, religiously, or socioeconomically different fom ourselves--does not come as a result of firsthand experience." I know that people can be racist except I never thought about how much we are impacted by it, especially at an early age. We learn from what we are exposed to because childrens minds are like sponges at such a young age. We learn by observing the many different things around us, but if we are not exposed to it, then as young children, you will not know anything but the "norm" for your society. Cartoons and movies really do portray many racists topics that children will not pick up on as being derogatory but simply a "norm."
2. "Industrially produced fiction has become one of the primary shapers of our emotions and intellect...Although these stories are supposed to merely entertain us, they constantly give us a secret education." I find the idea of "secret education" very interesting. It is amazing how many things we learn without realizing we are learning...it happens everyday. For example, you know when you go to school that you are going to learn and the same thing can apply for going to work. However, when you turn on the cartoons for younger children, you do not realize what they will actually pick up on from watching a show that probably isn't very educational.
3. "They were fueled by the opportunity to convince some parents of the long-lasting effects cartoons impose on their children, or to enlighten their peers about the roots of some of their insecurities. Instead of leaving students full of bile, standing around with their hands on their hips, shaking their heads about how bad the world is, I provided them the opportunity to make a difference." I think that what this teacher is doing is extremely important. Not only is it teaching them right from wrong, it is making them realize what is going on in the world and recognize that it is a real problem. Allowing them to recognize the actions and why they are wrong will help them steer away from those actions and try to influence the people they know to avoid the stereotypical attitude that many people still have. This teacher is very brave to stand up for what she believes is right and I feel as though it can make a difference in their lives and in the lives of people around them.
Linda Christensen covers very important material in the reading, Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us. Racism is a very strong topic that is too common all over the world. As children, we are raised in our own societies and with our own customs and beliefs. However, we are also strongly influenced by cartoons and children shows when we are young. Christensen explains many examples of cartoons that would shape a child's perspective of different topics without thinking about it. I personally enjoyed her concept of a "secret education." She explains that we learn without realizing it on a daily basis starting when we are very young and I couldn't agree more. Her article was really informative and enjoyable to read.
I found this article very interesting and easy to read. While I was reading it, I really realized how true everything she is saying really is. It was weird to think of the cartoons she mentioned and how that would negatively affect children. I, myself, have watched several of the cartoons when I was younger and how everything portrayed seemed to be "normal" to me. It I was raised and watched shows that portrayed other aspects, I would probably feel as if the different ideas were "normal" also. This article reminds me of the Carlson piece about the view of homosexuals. It seems different to most people because many were raised in an area where that wasn't taught or thought of to be accepted. Everything we are taught influences our outlook on different situations.
Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us
Quotes:
1. "The impact of racism begins early. Even in our preschool years, we are exposed to misinformation about people different from ourselves. Many of us grow up in neighborhoods where we have limited opportunities to interact with people different from our own families... Consequently, most of the early information we receive about "others"-- people racially, religiously, or socioeconomically different fom ourselves--does not come as a result of firsthand experience." I know that people can be racist except I never thought about how much we are impacted by it, especially at an early age. We learn from what we are exposed to because childrens minds are like sponges at such a young age. We learn by observing the many different things around us, but if we are not exposed to it, then as young children, you will not know anything but the "norm" for your society. Cartoons and movies really do portray many racists topics that children will not pick up on as being derogatory but simply a "norm."
2. "Industrially produced fiction has become one of the primary shapers of our emotions and intellect...Although these stories are supposed to merely entertain us, they constantly give us a secret education." I find the idea of "secret education" very interesting. It is amazing how many things we learn without realizing we are learning...it happens everyday. For example, you know when you go to school that you are going to learn and the same thing can apply for going to work. However, when you turn on the cartoons for younger children, you do not realize what they will actually pick up on from watching a show that probably isn't very educational.
3. "They were fueled by the opportunity to convince some parents of the long-lasting effects cartoons impose on their children, or to enlighten their peers about the roots of some of their insecurities. Instead of leaving students full of bile, standing around with their hands on their hips, shaking their heads about how bad the world is, I provided them the opportunity to make a difference." I think that what this teacher is doing is extremely important. Not only is it teaching them right from wrong, it is making them realize what is going on in the world and recognize that it is a real problem. Allowing them to recognize the actions and why they are wrong will help them steer away from those actions and try to influence the people they know to avoid the stereotypical attitude that many people still have. This teacher is very brave to stand up for what she believes is right and I feel as though it can make a difference in their lives and in the lives of people around them.
Linda Christensen covers very important material in the reading, Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us. Racism is a very strong topic that is too common all over the world. As children, we are raised in our own societies and with our own customs and beliefs. However, we are also strongly influenced by cartoons and children shows when we are young. Christensen explains many examples of cartoons that would shape a child's perspective of different topics without thinking about it. I personally enjoyed her concept of a "secret education." She explains that we learn without realizing it on a daily basis starting when we are very young and I couldn't agree more. Her article was really informative and enjoyable to read.
I found this article very interesting and easy to read. While I was reading it, I really realized how true everything she is saying really is. It was weird to think of the cartoons she mentioned and how that would negatively affect children. I, myself, have watched several of the cartoons when I was younger and how everything portrayed seemed to be "normal" to me. It I was raised and watched shows that portrayed other aspects, I would probably feel as if the different ideas were "normal" also. This article reminds me of the Carlson piece about the view of homosexuals. It seems different to most people because many were raised in an area where that wasn't taught or thought of to be accepted. Everything we are taught influences our outlook on different situations.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Talking Points #2
Terry Meier
"Why Can't She Remember That?
Quotes:
1. "Marisa's quick-thinking switch to teasing behavior had been successful in getting her out of trouble was confirmed when everyone at the table, including her father laughed." I find this really impressive at almost three years old, this little girl can push her limits enough and know exactly when to call it quits. I find myself doing this as well except I'm a sophomore in college! It is amazing to think that they can know exactly what to do to get them out of trouble or what to say to make people laugh when they don't even know exactly how to say it properly because they are so young. They cannot even form a sentence yet but they can recognize the body language that means "I'm in trouble."
2. "Book knowledge becomes, in essence, part of these children's sense of identity in the world." I have been babysitting for approximately seven years and mostly all of the children I watch have a nightly routine of reading a few books before they go to bed. I always found this important for a child's development. When I compared the kids that had to read every night with the ones that didn't, I noticed that the more well-behaved and better listening children were the kids I read to. It definitely helps them gain a sense of identity because it opens them up to a variety of topics at such a young age.
3. "In addition to the teacher using dolls and puppets to help read books in lively and engaging ways, children can use them to dramatize the story in the book or to create new dialogues and stories of their own. These storybook characters can also be used in more structured ways to help children develop deeper understandings of story elements like character and plot." At such a young age, it may be hard to capture their attention simply by reading to them. If you make if more interesting, they will want to listen and learn. I remember my elementary school librarian would read to us in the most creative, dramatized way that it was almost impossible to ignore. It made us all want to listen and made it more enjoyable to focus. I think this is a really good tip for us "teachers in the making" to keep in mind when we become a part of the career world.
I really found that this article had a lot of helpful hints. It stated many things that would be essential to what I consider would be a well functioning classroom. It stated several ways in which learning and reading can be more interesting to younger students and to make it more engaging and interactive for them. Storybooks can relate to the lives of these young children and it will help mold their identities if you can make them get something out of the story. I feel as though there may be a few students that this does not apply to but I am not sure...just a thought.
As a "teacher in the making," I think all of the points made in this article will play an important role in my classroom in the future. I know that I always enjoyed learning when it was made fun and it was always easier to pay attention when things were exciting and new. I really enjoyed this article and found it extremely helpful and interesting. I'm glad we were assigned this article to read and recommend it to anyone in the teaching profession.
"Why Can't She Remember That?
Quotes:
1. "Marisa's quick-thinking switch to teasing behavior had been successful in getting her out of trouble was confirmed when everyone at the table, including her father laughed." I find this really impressive at almost three years old, this little girl can push her limits enough and know exactly when to call it quits. I find myself doing this as well except I'm a sophomore in college! It is amazing to think that they can know exactly what to do to get them out of trouble or what to say to make people laugh when they don't even know exactly how to say it properly because they are so young. They cannot even form a sentence yet but they can recognize the body language that means "I'm in trouble."
2. "Book knowledge becomes, in essence, part of these children's sense of identity in the world." I have been babysitting for approximately seven years and mostly all of the children I watch have a nightly routine of reading a few books before they go to bed. I always found this important for a child's development. When I compared the kids that had to read every night with the ones that didn't, I noticed that the more well-behaved and better listening children were the kids I read to. It definitely helps them gain a sense of identity because it opens them up to a variety of topics at such a young age.
3. "In addition to the teacher using dolls and puppets to help read books in lively and engaging ways, children can use them to dramatize the story in the book or to create new dialogues and stories of their own. These storybook characters can also be used in more structured ways to help children develop deeper understandings of story elements like character and plot." At such a young age, it may be hard to capture their attention simply by reading to them. If you make if more interesting, they will want to listen and learn. I remember my elementary school librarian would read to us in the most creative, dramatized way that it was almost impossible to ignore. It made us all want to listen and made it more enjoyable to focus. I think this is a really good tip for us "teachers in the making" to keep in mind when we become a part of the career world.
I really found that this article had a lot of helpful hints. It stated many things that would be essential to what I consider would be a well functioning classroom. It stated several ways in which learning and reading can be more interesting to younger students and to make it more engaging and interactive for them. Storybooks can relate to the lives of these young children and it will help mold their identities if you can make them get something out of the story. I feel as though there may be a few students that this does not apply to but I am not sure...just a thought.
As a "teacher in the making," I think all of the points made in this article will play an important role in my classroom in the future. I know that I always enjoyed learning when it was made fun and it was always easier to pay attention when things were exciting and new. I really enjoyed this article and found it extremely helpful and interesting. I'm glad we were assigned this article to read and recommend it to anyone in the teaching profession.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Talking Points #3 Carlson
Dennis Carlson
Gayness, Multicultural Education, and Community
Quotes:
1. "Within normalizing communities, some individuals and subject positions (i.e., white, middle class, male, heterosexual, etc.) get privileged and represented as "normal" while other individuals and subject positions (i.e., black, working class, female, homosexual, etc.) are dis-empowered and represented as deviant, sick, neurotic, criminal, lazy, lacking in intelligence, and in other ways "abnormal"." The only thing I can think of for this quote is... what is normal? Who created the norm? What makes white, straight, males normal? It is sickening to think that people actually thought or still do think this way! It definitely shows how people used to think (and some still do) and why a lot of people were not excepted for who they were.
2. "Early in this century, the dismissal of gay teachers was legitimated as a way of keeping young people from being exposed to improper role models, lechery, and child molestation." This blows me away as well... how come people who are gay can't be role models? Just because they have a different sexual preference does not mean that they are bad people. They are still human with morals just like the rest of society and it shouldn't matter whether they are interested in men or women!
3. ""Being yourself" celebrates individualism and the autonomy of individuals to construct their own lives according to their own values and achieve goals they set for themselves--a deep foundational value in American culture." If only everyone in America really felt this way. I completely agree with it...everyone should be accepted simply because they are human. It shouldn't matter what their sexual preference is or if they are black or white.
This essay made me really irritated to read. I agree...it seems a bit different to see two boys or two girls together and happy, but that is just because we are used to the "norm." It was strange to read about how strongly the people felt about having gays as teachers. I had no idea that they didn't even let them teach or get a job because of it. I know a few teachers from my old high school that were either gay or lesbians and it didn't make us think any differently about their teaching methods.
It really amazes me that we care so much as a society about a persons sexual preference. This article actually relates to something that just happened at a college. A couple of roommates wanted to find out if another roommate was gay, so they decided it was a good idea to hide a camera in his dorm room and film and broadcast it live on the internet. The boy ended up having intercourse with another male student and when he found out that the other students posted it online, he committed suicide. It just goes to show you how negative things come from people making judgments about someones sexual preference. This article immediately made me think of this sad, awful story that recently happened. People need to find better things to do instead of making judgments towards people they do not know!
Gayness, Multicultural Education, and Community
Quotes:
1. "Within normalizing communities, some individuals and subject positions (i.e., white, middle class, male, heterosexual, etc.) get privileged and represented as "normal" while other individuals and subject positions (i.e., black, working class, female, homosexual, etc.) are dis-empowered and represented as deviant, sick, neurotic, criminal, lazy, lacking in intelligence, and in other ways "abnormal"." The only thing I can think of for this quote is... what is normal? Who created the norm? What makes white, straight, males normal? It is sickening to think that people actually thought or still do think this way! It definitely shows how people used to think (and some still do) and why a lot of people were not excepted for who they were.
2. "Early in this century, the dismissal of gay teachers was legitimated as a way of keeping young people from being exposed to improper role models, lechery, and child molestation." This blows me away as well... how come people who are gay can't be role models? Just because they have a different sexual preference does not mean that they are bad people. They are still human with morals just like the rest of society and it shouldn't matter whether they are interested in men or women!
3. ""Being yourself" celebrates individualism and the autonomy of individuals to construct their own lives according to their own values and achieve goals they set for themselves--a deep foundational value in American culture." If only everyone in America really felt this way. I completely agree with it...everyone should be accepted simply because they are human. It shouldn't matter what their sexual preference is or if they are black or white.
This essay made me really irritated to read. I agree...it seems a bit different to see two boys or two girls together and happy, but that is just because we are used to the "norm." It was strange to read about how strongly the people felt about having gays as teachers. I had no idea that they didn't even let them teach or get a job because of it. I know a few teachers from my old high school that were either gay or lesbians and it didn't make us think any differently about their teaching methods.
It really amazes me that we care so much as a society about a persons sexual preference. This article actually relates to something that just happened at a college. A couple of roommates wanted to find out if another roommate was gay, so they decided it was a good idea to hide a camera in his dorm room and film and broadcast it live on the internet. The boy ended up having intercourse with another male student and when he found out that the other students posted it online, he committed suicide. It just goes to show you how negative things come from people making judgments about someones sexual preference. This article immediately made me think of this sad, awful story that recently happened. People need to find better things to do instead of making judgments towards people they do not know!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Introduction
Hello all.
My name is Corinne Sollecito and I am a sophomore at Rhode Island College. I recently changed my major from Nursing to Early Childhood Education. The semester started off well until I decided that Nursing was not for me. I always thought that I wanted to be a teacher, but I wanted to try out other options first. When I finally made the switch, I had to drop the classes I had been in for two whole weeks and add new ones that went with my new major. Needless to say, the semester, now, is very stressful since I have two weeks of make up work for four different classes. However, with all the stress comes the satisfaction of knowing that I am now on the path that I belong on.
While I am not in school, I babysit full time during the week. I am also starting to look for a new job for the weekends and week nights after I babysit. When I'm not working on school work and work, I love being with people...whether it's family, friends, or my boyfriend. I love to have a great time no matter what I am doing and I am looking forward to a great semester now that I am on the right path!
My name is Corinne Sollecito and I am a sophomore at Rhode Island College. I recently changed my major from Nursing to Early Childhood Education. The semester started off well until I decided that Nursing was not for me. I always thought that I wanted to be a teacher, but I wanted to try out other options first. When I finally made the switch, I had to drop the classes I had been in for two whole weeks and add new ones that went with my new major. Needless to say, the semester, now, is very stressful since I have two weeks of make up work for four different classes. However, with all the stress comes the satisfaction of knowing that I am now on the path that I belong on.
While I am not in school, I babysit full time during the week. I am also starting to look for a new job for the weekends and week nights after I babysit. When I'm not working on school work and work, I love being with people...whether it's family, friends, or my boyfriend. I love to have a great time no matter what I am doing and I am looking forward to a great semester now that I am on the right path!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)