Tuesday, April 28, 2009
My evaluation on class
I am going to miss FNED 346. This class was very good, and was always interesting to go to. The people in the class were very cool, and we all got along. Professor Bogad is a fun professor and made the class interesting. Many of the articles were interesting to read except a few lol like Delpit and a few others haha. Although some articles were boring they always had a certain point to show. In conclusion this class was fun,ill miss it and our discussions and stuff, and good luck to everyone and have a good summer! wooo!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Talking points #10 थे last one!
Privilege,Power, and Difference-Allan Johnson.
Johnson argues that we have to get past the words that keep us on the sidelines. We have to not be silent and speak out. The article shows us that racism still is around us and still exist. Johnson offers many routes to take to stop privilege and racism.
Quote #1
No individual leaf on he tree matters; whether it lives or dies has no effect on much of anything. But collectively, the leaves are essential to the whole tree because they photosynthesize the sugar that feeds it.Without leaves, the tree dies.
By working by ourselves to stop the injustices that happen we might never see the change, but if we combine our actions together change can happen and we will be able to stop the inequalities that exist. By putting our differences aside and working together to stop the inequalities anything is achievable. Also even if you are by yourself trying to make jumps of progress you shouldn't stop you should gather others so that the dreams can be possible.
Quote#2
By not looking at the institutions through which humans organize economic and social life,we also engage in the fantasy that solving the problem of privilege and oppression is only a matter of changing how individual people think.
To solve the problem we can't try to avoid it we have to look at it and analyze it to solve the problem. Today many people try to avoid the problem. When people try to stop racism people say that hasn't existed in years, but it still does. Although slavery hasn't existed in many years it still has an effect on today's society. So to fix the present we have to acknowledge the past so that we can solve the present and future.
Quote #3
We don't have to convince anyone of anything. AS Gandhi put it,the work begins with us as we ty to be the change we want to see happen in the world. If you think this has no effect, watch how people react to the slightest departures from established paths and how much effort they expend trying to ignore or explain away or challenge those who choose alternative paths.
By promoting the agenda for equality and working together even if we don't change peoples mind if they get annoyed we are scratching the surface because they know that it is right and they dont want to admit taht it is right. If we keep raising awareness on issues like racism sexism someone is bound to change their views, and for those who haven't eventually they will change their views.
Johnson argues that we have to get past the words that keep us on the sidelines. We have to not be silent and speak out. The article shows us that racism still is around us and still exist. Johnson offers many routes to take to stop privilege and racism.
Quote #1
No individual leaf on he tree matters; whether it lives or dies has no effect on much of anything. But collectively, the leaves are essential to the whole tree because they photosynthesize the sugar that feeds it.Without leaves, the tree dies.
By working by ourselves to stop the injustices that happen we might never see the change, but if we combine our actions together change can happen and we will be able to stop the inequalities that exist. By putting our differences aside and working together to stop the inequalities anything is achievable. Also even if you are by yourself trying to make jumps of progress you shouldn't stop you should gather others so that the dreams can be possible.
Quote#2
By not looking at the institutions through which humans organize economic and social life,we also engage in the fantasy that solving the problem of privilege and oppression is only a matter of changing how individual people think.
To solve the problem we can't try to avoid it we have to look at it and analyze it to solve the problem. Today many people try to avoid the problem. When people try to stop racism people say that hasn't existed in years, but it still does. Although slavery hasn't existed in many years it still has an effect on today's society. So to fix the present we have to acknowledge the past so that we can solve the present and future.
Quote #3
We don't have to convince anyone of anything. AS Gandhi put it,the work begins with us as we ty to be the change we want to see happen in the world. If you think this has no effect, watch how people react to the slightest departures from established paths and how much effort they expend trying to ignore or explain away or challenge those who choose alternative paths.
By promoting the agenda for equality and working together even if we don't change peoples mind if they get annoyed we are scratching the surface because they know that it is right and they dont want to admit taht it is right. If we keep raising awareness on issues like racism sexism someone is bound to change their views, and for those who haven't eventually they will change their views.
Talking Points 9
Citizenship in School: Reconeptualizing Down Syndrome Kliewer
Kliewer argues that the teaching in schools for kids with down syndrome is very limited, and they are kept apart from the "normal kids" which stunts their learning and social skills. This kind of relates back to the carlson article in a way. People who are less abled and have handicaps are treated as invisible. We see this in schools and the article demonstrates this people who have disabilities are in their own classrooms and own area away from everyone else. Some people might think that they don't notice, but it the special ed. students do notice and it does make them feel left out. Also keeping them separated creates a sense of awkwardness for the "normal" kids because they don't know how to interact with the special education students. What needs to happenis that special education students need to be incorporated into the normal classes so that they can develop the basic skills to be a part of society.
Quote 1
"its not like they come here to be labeled,or to believe the label. We're all here-kids,teachers,parents,whoever-its about all of us working together, playing together,being together, and that's what learning is. Don't tell me any of these kids are being set up to fail."
This quote is good because this is how learning should be. Yes if someone has a disablity they might require a little more attention then others, but they shouldn't be labeled and put in a classroom of other kids that are exactly like them. They need to be with the general population of students so that they can grow too. By setting them up not to fail really, but to not grow as a student the teacher is failing them. This quote connects to the Jeannie oakes piece because you could say that in the "normal" classes teachers might have some tough times dealing with class they put energy into their to help the kids. In the special education classes they might not push them to do much just the simple things how to talk basic math etc. THe teachers should try to push the special ed. children to do bigger things if they were in the general population it would help them become more social and grow more.
Quote 2
"The underdevelopment of the high funtions is a secondary structure on top of the defect. underdevelopment springs from what we might call the isolation of an abnormal child from his colletive."
By keeping special ed. kids by themselves they'll never learn how to socially interact with other children that are in their grade. This will create a stigma because they will think that they are not good, and th enormal kids will think that they are weird because they arent in their classes. By keeping special ed kids grouped together you are hurting them. In the movie we watched on tuesday it showed one of the boys who had a disability and he got integrated into a regular classroom. AT first there was trouble,but the boy blossomed so having special ed kids in classes with other kids won't slow down the class itll help the students.
Quote 3
His move to mendocino shattered the image of john as a community burden. there he entered into rlationships in which his individuality was both recognized and valued. john was not forced to prove his competence to the mdendocino citizenry in the way schools had first demanded, then given up on. "
By being in a postivie community and not being put down it allowed john who was mentally retarded to succeed. Before he was labeled negatively and people had no faith in him they didnt think he would succeed. When john went to the school in mendocino he made great connections with his community in the school. THis shows that all students can succeed if they are supported and encouraged.
This article was very interesting,and it should make all of us think back on our days back in elementary,middle or high school. Students with disabilities are treated as outcast and that they can't function in society. When i was in high school at lunch for example they sat in a certain area of the cafeteria. Why couldn't they sit with everyobody else? because by being separated so long a stigma came in and the "normal kids" would never go over and try to make connections and the special ed kids couldnt and wouldnt either. By putting all students together it allows them to connect and help each other reach the same goal to learn and become educated.
Kliewer argues that the teaching in schools for kids with down syndrome is very limited, and they are kept apart from the "normal kids" which stunts their learning and social skills. This kind of relates back to the carlson article in a way. People who are less abled and have handicaps are treated as invisible. We see this in schools and the article demonstrates this people who have disabilities are in their own classrooms and own area away from everyone else. Some people might think that they don't notice, but it the special ed. students do notice and it does make them feel left out. Also keeping them separated creates a sense of awkwardness for the "normal" kids because they don't know how to interact with the special education students. What needs to happenis that special education students need to be incorporated into the normal classes so that they can develop the basic skills to be a part of society.
Quote 1
"its not like they come here to be labeled,or to believe the label. We're all here-kids,teachers,parents,whoever-its about all of us working together, playing together,being together, and that's what learning is. Don't tell me any of these kids are being set up to fail."
This quote is good because this is how learning should be. Yes if someone has a disablity they might require a little more attention then others, but they shouldn't be labeled and put in a classroom of other kids that are exactly like them. They need to be with the general population of students so that they can grow too. By setting them up not to fail really, but to not grow as a student the teacher is failing them. This quote connects to the Jeannie oakes piece because you could say that in the "normal" classes teachers might have some tough times dealing with class they put energy into their to help the kids. In the special education classes they might not push them to do much just the simple things how to talk basic math etc. THe teachers should try to push the special ed. children to do bigger things if they were in the general population it would help them become more social and grow more.
Quote 2
"The underdevelopment of the high funtions is a secondary structure on top of the defect. underdevelopment springs from what we might call the isolation of an abnormal child from his colletive."
By keeping special ed. kids by themselves they'll never learn how to socially interact with other children that are in their grade. This will create a stigma because they will think that they are not good, and th enormal kids will think that they are weird because they arent in their classes. By keeping special ed kids grouped together you are hurting them. In the movie we watched on tuesday it showed one of the boys who had a disability and he got integrated into a regular classroom. AT first there was trouble,but the boy blossomed so having special ed kids in classes with other kids won't slow down the class itll help the students.
Quote 3
His move to mendocino shattered the image of john as a community burden. there he entered into rlationships in which his individuality was both recognized and valued. john was not forced to prove his competence to the mdendocino citizenry in the way schools had first demanded, then given up on. "
By being in a postivie community and not being put down it allowed john who was mentally retarded to succeed. Before he was labeled negatively and people had no faith in him they didnt think he would succeed. When john went to the school in mendocino he made great connections with his community in the school. THis shows that all students can succeed if they are supported and encouraged.
This article was very interesting,and it should make all of us think back on our days back in elementary,middle or high school. Students with disabilities are treated as outcast and that they can't function in society. When i was in high school at lunch for example they sat in a certain area of the cafeteria. Why couldn't they sit with everyobody else? because by being separated so long a stigma came in and the "normal kids" would never go over and try to make connections and the special ed kids couldnt and wouldnt either. By putting all students together it allows them to connect and help each other reach the same goal to learn and become educated.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Diversity Blog
On March 26th i attended the WHS Spring Concert. The students that were invovled were the Woonsocket HS chorus,band and jazz band. The performance went very well, and they did an excellent job. I always enjoy seeing the performances because i was involved in the band and chorus when i was in high school. I am using this as my diversity event because Woonsocket is a urban school and is made up of people from all different cultures. Many of you might know this, but Woonsocket is in debt and as a result as of next year all extra curricular activities would be cut. This means no football, no band, no debate club, no art etc.
The reason i am writing about this because i do feel like this is a very diverse subject because by doing this you'll have the rich get richer the poor get poorer effect. If urban schools starts cutting programs and extracurricular activities chances of them getting into college will be much slimmer. Academics are very important,but colleges look for people who are involved too. Another is SAT's are becoming less of a factor for colleges so being involved in programs will be more important. If you go to private schools or school's in the suburbs programs aren't getting cut so those students will be able to succeed and keep learning.
Another thing that will happen is that many of these activities and programs have helped kids become the people that they are. Many of the programs help them learn many characteristics like communication, teamwork,etc. By having a passion for something it helps these kids be successful. If these things get rid of there could be an increase of kids resorting to the streets or getting involved in drugs etc etc. For the kids who come from a poor background for them this activites or programs are the only thing going for them and something that is their's. If it is gone they might drop out of school because they feel that there is nothing for them.
The reason i am writing about this because i do feel like this is a very diverse subject because by doing this you'll have the rich get richer the poor get poorer effect. If urban schools starts cutting programs and extracurricular activities chances of them getting into college will be much slimmer. Academics are very important,but colleges look for people who are involved too. Another is SAT's are becoming less of a factor for colleges so being involved in programs will be more important. If you go to private schools or school's in the suburbs programs aren't getting cut so those students will be able to succeed and keep learning.
Another thing that will happen is that many of these activities and programs have helped kids become the people that they are. Many of the programs help them learn many characteristics like communication, teamwork,etc. By having a passion for something it helps these kids be successful. If these things get rid of there could be an increase of kids resorting to the streets or getting involved in drugs etc etc. For the kids who come from a poor background for them this activites or programs are the only thing going for them and something that is their's. If it is gone they might drop out of school because they feel that there is nothing for them.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Talking points # 8
Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work
-Jean Anyon
Tracking: Why Schools Need to Take another route.
-Jeannie oakes
Oakes and Anyon argues that by having advanced classes and by dividing children it doesn't allow all children to get a great education. The kids in the advanced classes will get that full expierience, and kids in the " less able" classes don't get a full educational expierience. Another argument that was in the articles is that the richer you are the better education there is and are able to expand your mind, and as you make your way down the financial ladder the education gets watered down, and kids minds don't expand as much.
"They also know that when teachers adn students trust one another class time and energy are freed up for teaching and learning. on the other without a positive classroom climate, students spend considerable energy interfering with the taecher's agenda, and the teachers spend more of their time and energy just trying to maintain control"
This quote is a prime example of the breakdown in classes and how in the classes where the students are deemed bad they tend to act out more so half the class is spent trying to get the class under control. These kids might act like this because when they get this label they figure what the hell since they want to label me as a troublemaker i should act the part. Instead of trying to figure out what is wrong with some of the students they are just labeled bad and learning doesn't take place. In the honors classes or advanced placement classes learning can take place and teachers can get to know the students on a personal level. Pretty much all of the kids in the honors or advanced placement have always been in a positive environment so they are engaged in learning and the teacher is able to help them expand their minds. While in the lower classes kids are labeled problem childs or not able to learn so the battle is these classes is controlling the class, and trying to teach them at a slow place. By having tracking in school it is creating two types of students in school the students who will succeed and keep learning, and those who will either drop out or graduate,but have little to show for it.
#2"In low-ability classes, for example, teachers seem to be less encouraging and more punitive, placing more emphasis on discipline and behavior and less on academic learning'
In the academic classes or low ability classes teachers just discipline the kids and everything is very mechanical. They have to do everything the same, and a routine is set for them. This sounds like a dog school training kids to act a certain away and not really helping them become better and learn. When i was in middle school i remember i was in clusters and it broke down into groups group 0 was the highest and 3 was the lowest. I was in group 0. I remember my math teacher always telling us we are the cream of the crop and how we represent the school and how good we are. It made us feel better and learning did take place, and i liked my teacher. What about the other kids in the lower groups did this positive reinforcement take place? I had friends in the lower groups did they get positive words or did they get barked at all day. By having schools like this it makes kids who are in the "low ability classes feel like they aren't good enough so that makes them resort to acting out and class and dismissing learning.
#3
"In the affluent professional school,work is creative activity carried out independently. The students are continually asked to express and apply ideas and concepts. Work involves individual thought and expressiveness, expansion and illustration of ideas, and choice of appropriate method and material"
This is how education should be for everybody but this is at a highly professional school where it is rich and there are few minorities. What this shows is that students who attend lower class schools or urban schools learning isn't what is focused on it is about discipline and when learning does take place it is bare bones and it doesn't allow the students to work independently and grow as a learner. In the schools that are more advanced and where wealth is abundant the students are able to grow at a faster rate and learn and get taught new concepts. In the article by Anyon when she showed what teaching was like in the middle class schools or lower class schools it shows how the student doesn't get much hands on expierience and that everything is regurgitated to them. The teacher says everything and the students aren't allowed to build off the concepts and discuss. Most of the work is just note taking and parroting back what the teacher says. By having schools like this once again it allows schools that have more resources to have students who will grow, and expand there minds and in other schools learning will go at a slower rate. money isn't the issue to even at the urban schools where there are advanced classes it still created two types of students because all the teachers put all there energy into the honors and advanced kids, and all the other kids are left in the cold.
I thought this was very interesting and very true. I have seen this all through my education i never questioned it but it does bring up good points. Through my whole education i was in honors classes and in high school a few AP classes. I was always able to learn more and branch out. I wonder if i was in academic classes if i would be where i am today. who knows i might not have wanted to go to college. In the honors classes my teachers pushed me and wanted me to learn and grow. Both the articles were very good the second one was a little bit long and got repetitive.
-Jean Anyon
Tracking: Why Schools Need to Take another route.
-Jeannie oakes
Oakes and Anyon argues that by having advanced classes and by dividing children it doesn't allow all children to get a great education. The kids in the advanced classes will get that full expierience, and kids in the " less able" classes don't get a full educational expierience. Another argument that was in the articles is that the richer you are the better education there is and are able to expand your mind, and as you make your way down the financial ladder the education gets watered down, and kids minds don't expand as much.
"They also know that when teachers adn students trust one another class time and energy are freed up for teaching and learning. on the other without a positive classroom climate, students spend considerable energy interfering with the taecher's agenda, and the teachers spend more of their time and energy just trying to maintain control"
This quote is a prime example of the breakdown in classes and how in the classes where the students are deemed bad they tend to act out more so half the class is spent trying to get the class under control. These kids might act like this because when they get this label they figure what the hell since they want to label me as a troublemaker i should act the part. Instead of trying to figure out what is wrong with some of the students they are just labeled bad and learning doesn't take place. In the honors classes or advanced placement classes learning can take place and teachers can get to know the students on a personal level. Pretty much all of the kids in the honors or advanced placement have always been in a positive environment so they are engaged in learning and the teacher is able to help them expand their minds. While in the lower classes kids are labeled problem childs or not able to learn so the battle is these classes is controlling the class, and trying to teach them at a slow place. By having tracking in school it is creating two types of students in school the students who will succeed and keep learning, and those who will either drop out or graduate,but have little to show for it.
#2"In low-ability classes, for example, teachers seem to be less encouraging and more punitive, placing more emphasis on discipline and behavior and less on academic learning'
In the academic classes or low ability classes teachers just discipline the kids and everything is very mechanical. They have to do everything the same, and a routine is set for them. This sounds like a dog school training kids to act a certain away and not really helping them become better and learn. When i was in middle school i remember i was in clusters and it broke down into groups group 0 was the highest and 3 was the lowest. I was in group 0. I remember my math teacher always telling us we are the cream of the crop and how we represent the school and how good we are. It made us feel better and learning did take place, and i liked my teacher. What about the other kids in the lower groups did this positive reinforcement take place? I had friends in the lower groups did they get positive words or did they get barked at all day. By having schools like this it makes kids who are in the "low ability classes feel like they aren't good enough so that makes them resort to acting out and class and dismissing learning.
#3
"In the affluent professional school,work is creative activity carried out independently. The students are continually asked to express and apply ideas and concepts. Work involves individual thought and expressiveness, expansion and illustration of ideas, and choice of appropriate method and material"
This is how education should be for everybody but this is at a highly professional school where it is rich and there are few minorities. What this shows is that students who attend lower class schools or urban schools learning isn't what is focused on it is about discipline and when learning does take place it is bare bones and it doesn't allow the students to work independently and grow as a learner. In the schools that are more advanced and where wealth is abundant the students are able to grow at a faster rate and learn and get taught new concepts. In the article by Anyon when she showed what teaching was like in the middle class schools or lower class schools it shows how the student doesn't get much hands on expierience and that everything is regurgitated to them. The teacher says everything and the students aren't allowed to build off the concepts and discuss. Most of the work is just note taking and parroting back what the teacher says. By having schools like this once again it allows schools that have more resources to have students who will grow, and expand there minds and in other schools learning will go at a slower rate. money isn't the issue to even at the urban schools where there are advanced classes it still created two types of students because all the teachers put all there energy into the honors and advanced kids, and all the other kids are left in the cold.
I thought this was very interesting and very true. I have seen this all through my education i never questioned it but it does bring up good points. Through my whole education i was in honors classes and in high school a few AP classes. I was always able to learn more and branch out. I wonder if i was in academic classes if i would be where i am today. who knows i might not have wanted to go to college. In the honors classes my teachers pushed me and wanted me to learn and grow. Both the articles were very good the second one was a little bit long and got repetitive.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Tech exam
stupid computers. they lost connection so we weren't able to finish our exam so i have to call next week to finish the rest of it.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Talking points on Anita Hill
The author is Peggy Orentein and the name of the text is Anita HIll is a Boy:Tales from a Gender-Fair Classroom
The argument that orenstein has is somewhat similar to Johnson/Delpit to say those forbidden words or things. Women have always been portrayed as weaker than men and men are always the dominant figure in every aspect of our society. In this text it is about showing the other side and about women's history and how women have done great things. The author wants to have more on women's right's but at the same show that history and society has great figures that are male and female and that one side shouldn't be focused on the other like it is in the other classes where male figures dominate.
Quote 1
"The boys definitely resent it," she says matter-of-factly. "They think Ms. Logan is sexist. But you know what i think? I think that it's the resentment of losing their place. In our other clases, the teachers just focus on men, but the boys don't complain that that's sexist. They say. It's different in those classes because we're focusing on the important people in history, who just happen to be men."
Through this class it allowed boys and girls to understand the history of woman, but as seen the boys tended to not enjoy the class as much but the girls did. This is unintentional but at a young age boys and girls are always taught that men are always superior. Like they said in the other classes how it's always male figures that are always shown this is true. Even in history classes they never discuss important events about women and when they are discussed they are lightly brushed over and never really get in depth.
Quote 2
"It's like how boys learn to see girls," says one of the girls. "i mean you turn on MTV Spring break and there's these stupid girls with huge breasts and the tiniest batin suits dancing around ....But if your a guy says luis, you see all those great bodies, and you think you want a girl like that. You think you should have a gil like that"
This quote is very intersting because it goes on beyond the classroom part and shows how our mindsets are very different. Girl's get offended by the stuff they see on this and don't want to be like that, but guy's think that this is what there supposed to see. Television has really brainwashed us so this kids think thats what they should see in a girl big boobs etc and girls think its apalling or they think thats how they are supposed to act for someone to like them. Some guys don't like the behavior either as it stated in the text. This shows just how we need to communicate with each other to stop this stereotypes and from happening so young impressionable kids don't fall into this mindset where guys think girls are pieces of meat and girls think they have to act like this.
Quote 3
"But i don't tell my freinds," he says. "if i told them i was interested in women's history, they'd call me a fag. Si i just take it and don't talk about it.
This quote is very good because it shows how in society some men put there own gender down if they want to become interested in learning about women's history. This happens in other things in society too if a male likes to cook,sew etc he is deemed gay, fag or wuss. We give these labels on what is manly and what is girly that it separates us from really being able to talk to one another. The boy luis is doing good because he is trying to expand his mind by learning about women, but at the same time he has to hide the fact that he wants to learn about women's studies because he'll be an outcast among his friends. This shows that sexism still exist and male dominance is still a must and if some men don't agree with it then they become wusses for wanting to learn more.
I thought the reading was very interesting. It shed light on things i never really thought of. I know about what women fought for and stuff, but at the same time there has been instances where i felt like Luis if i did this and someone found out people would call me names etc. What is wrong with embracing the history of women, or African americans or gays/lesbians? Nothing is wrong with it,but some people make it seem like it is so people hide that there learning. Like i said in the beginning i think this piece relates to johnson/delpit because it wants us to communicate with each other and have dialogue so that we can break down these stereotypes and notions that we have about each other.
The argument that orenstein has is somewhat similar to Johnson/Delpit to say those forbidden words or things. Women have always been portrayed as weaker than men and men are always the dominant figure in every aspect of our society. In this text it is about showing the other side and about women's history and how women have done great things. The author wants to have more on women's right's but at the same show that history and society has great figures that are male and female and that one side shouldn't be focused on the other like it is in the other classes where male figures dominate.
Quote 1
"The boys definitely resent it," she says matter-of-factly. "They think Ms. Logan is sexist. But you know what i think? I think that it's the resentment of losing their place. In our other clases, the teachers just focus on men, but the boys don't complain that that's sexist. They say. It's different in those classes because we're focusing on the important people in history, who just happen to be men."
Through this class it allowed boys and girls to understand the history of woman, but as seen the boys tended to not enjoy the class as much but the girls did. This is unintentional but at a young age boys and girls are always taught that men are always superior. Like they said in the other classes how it's always male figures that are always shown this is true. Even in history classes they never discuss important events about women and when they are discussed they are lightly brushed over and never really get in depth.
Quote 2
"It's like how boys learn to see girls," says one of the girls. "i mean you turn on MTV Spring break and there's these stupid girls with huge breasts and the tiniest batin suits dancing around ....But if your a guy says luis, you see all those great bodies, and you think you want a girl like that. You think you should have a gil like that"
This quote is very intersting because it goes on beyond the classroom part and shows how our mindsets are very different. Girl's get offended by the stuff they see on this and don't want to be like that, but guy's think that this is what there supposed to see. Television has really brainwashed us so this kids think thats what they should see in a girl big boobs etc and girls think its apalling or they think thats how they are supposed to act for someone to like them. Some guys don't like the behavior either as it stated in the text. This shows just how we need to communicate with each other to stop this stereotypes and from happening so young impressionable kids don't fall into this mindset where guys think girls are pieces of meat and girls think they have to act like this.
Quote 3
"But i don't tell my freinds," he says. "if i told them i was interested in women's history, they'd call me a fag. Si i just take it and don't talk about it.
This quote is very good because it shows how in society some men put there own gender down if they want to become interested in learning about women's history. This happens in other things in society too if a male likes to cook,sew etc he is deemed gay, fag or wuss. We give these labels on what is manly and what is girly that it separates us from really being able to talk to one another. The boy luis is doing good because he is trying to expand his mind by learning about women, but at the same time he has to hide the fact that he wants to learn about women's studies because he'll be an outcast among his friends. This shows that sexism still exist and male dominance is still a must and if some men don't agree with it then they become wusses for wanting to learn more.
I thought the reading was very interesting. It shed light on things i never really thought of. I know about what women fought for and stuff, but at the same time there has been instances where i felt like Luis if i did this and someone found out people would call me names etc. What is wrong with embracing the history of women, or African americans or gays/lesbians? Nothing is wrong with it,but some people make it seem like it is so people hide that there learning. Like i said in the beginning i think this piece relates to johnson/delpit because it wants us to communicate with each other and have dialogue so that we can break down these stereotypes and notions that we have about each other.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Talking Points # 6
One more River to Cross-Charles Lawrence
Whites Swim in Racial preferences- Tim Wise
In the article by Tim wise he argues that think that affirmative action always is connected with minorities and people of color, but in actuality there has always been affirmative action programs for whites for hundreds of years.
In the article by Charles Lawrence argues that Brown vs. the board of education was a great stride in the U.S. the court still kept making alternative ways to make sure that blacks were considered inferior. The article went more beyond education it was about how african americans were discriminated in all realms of American Society.
"Yet few whites have ever though of our position as resulting from racial preferences. Indeed, we pride ourselves on our hard work and ambition, as if somehow we invented the concepts"
White privilege has existed for many years and white people have always benefited from it. This relates back to Delpit and the codes of power. Many people who have white privilege don't realize that they benefit from it, and when they are questioned they become defensive and don't want to see the real existence. As the article showed white people benefited from many different things. For examplee the part about in the 1930's to 1960's how 15 million white families benefited from FHA loans, but people of color denied these programs. To have this privilege a group of people must be excluded as seen here. The blacks were denied loans, but 15 million white families were able to get the loans.
"In short, segregation American-style, like South African apartheid, has only one purpose: to create and maintain a permanent lower class or subcaste defined as race. ...They are kept separate because the separation labels or classifeies blacks as inferior beings."
Through all the court cases they were able to tip toe around the 14th amendment and other amendments that were supposed to help blacks become citizens and have rights. For example the case Plessy vs. Ferguson with separate but equal although it was supposed to keep things fair that didn't happen. Schools that were white had better teachers, facilities, etc while schools that were of color were run down overcrowded and didn't have enough staff. By doing the separate but equal clause it prevented blacks from having a good education and kept up the message that government was saying that you aren't good enough.
"Equality of education is not enough. There can be no equality under a segregated system. The American negro is not a dominant minority; therefore he must fight for complete elimination of segregation as his ultimate goal."
The victory that Brown vs the board of education was a step in the right direction for people of color, but there was still many other battles that had to be fought so that segregation would be completely gone. There was still separate facilities, taxes when voting, etc. Having schools unsegregated in schools is good, but like the article stated whats the point if they are raised in an environment where there isn't segregation and as soon as they leave taht school again they are back in a segregated society. Even if someone went to a good school that was diverse and segregation wasnt there they would still face discrimination in the workplace, on the streets in voting etc. To make a better environment for all the african american segregation has to be wiped clean oout of government,politics,schools etc.
I thought that this reading was interesting, but at the same time boring. The reading had good points and kept my attention ,but at times reading the court case and going on and dragging bored me a little. This goes well with the text that was assigned with this one by Tim wise because his article shows how the white people benefit from white privilege and this article shows the negative impact of white privilege on how it shows a group that they are inferior and can't succeed. Out of the two readings the article by Tim Wise was more interesting to read. This one was too, but after reading the same thing i became a little bored.
Whites Swim in Racial preferences- Tim Wise
In the article by Tim wise he argues that think that affirmative action always is connected with minorities and people of color, but in actuality there has always been affirmative action programs for whites for hundreds of years.
In the article by Charles Lawrence argues that Brown vs. the board of education was a great stride in the U.S. the court still kept making alternative ways to make sure that blacks were considered inferior. The article went more beyond education it was about how african americans were discriminated in all realms of American Society.
"Yet few whites have ever though of our position as resulting from racial preferences. Indeed, we pride ourselves on our hard work and ambition, as if somehow we invented the concepts"
White privilege has existed for many years and white people have always benefited from it. This relates back to Delpit and the codes of power. Many people who have white privilege don't realize that they benefit from it, and when they are questioned they become defensive and don't want to see the real existence. As the article showed white people benefited from many different things. For examplee the part about in the 1930's to 1960's how 15 million white families benefited from FHA loans, but people of color denied these programs. To have this privilege a group of people must be excluded as seen here. The blacks were denied loans, but 15 million white families were able to get the loans.
"In short, segregation American-style, like South African apartheid, has only one purpose: to create and maintain a permanent lower class or subcaste defined as race. ...They are kept separate because the separation labels or classifeies blacks as inferior beings."
Through all the court cases they were able to tip toe around the 14th amendment and other amendments that were supposed to help blacks become citizens and have rights. For example the case Plessy vs. Ferguson with separate but equal although it was supposed to keep things fair that didn't happen. Schools that were white had better teachers, facilities, etc while schools that were of color were run down overcrowded and didn't have enough staff. By doing the separate but equal clause it prevented blacks from having a good education and kept up the message that government was saying that you aren't good enough.
"Equality of education is not enough. There can be no equality under a segregated system. The American negro is not a dominant minority; therefore he must fight for complete elimination of segregation as his ultimate goal."
The victory that Brown vs the board of education was a step in the right direction for people of color, but there was still many other battles that had to be fought so that segregation would be completely gone. There was still separate facilities, taxes when voting, etc. Having schools unsegregated in schools is good, but like the article stated whats the point if they are raised in an environment where there isn't segregation and as soon as they leave taht school again they are back in a segregated society. Even if someone went to a good school that was diverse and segregation wasnt there they would still face discrimination in the workplace, on the streets in voting etc. To make a better environment for all the african american segregation has to be wiped clean oout of government,politics,schools etc.
I thought that this reading was interesting, but at the same time boring. The reading had good points and kept my attention ,but at times reading the court case and going on and dragging bored me a little. This goes well with the text that was assigned with this one by Tim wise because his article shows how the white people benefit from white privilege and this article shows the negative impact of white privilege on how it shows a group that they are inferior and can't succeed. Out of the two readings the article by Tim Wise was more interesting to read. This one was too, but after reading the same thing i became a little bored.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
career commitmment essay
booo im trying to figure how to start this lol. i want to do it right ahhh this is tough
Monday, March 16, 2009
Talking Points 5
Joseph kahne and Joel Westheimer
Kahne argues that service learning has two approaches one is when you do a charity or fundraiser for a specific cause the other is going into the community and interacting to do service learning. By working in the community you are actually interacting with people and the experience is a fuller one. By just doing a charity you aren’t getting full experience if you aren’t working with the community. In the article it demonstrates this with the two classes. The first group of kids did errands for doctors, preparing survival kits for the homeless. This is an act of generosity and giving of ones time, but they are doing it more behind the scenes and don’t really know who the people they are doing this for. The second class the kids examined homelessness and brought in speakers and made plans to help the homeless. This group actually worked in the community and worked with people from homeless shelters to help aid the homeless.
When I was a freshman I went and did Habitat for humanity. What I did was go to Orlando, Florida and I was there for a week and worked in the community. The work we did was in a section of Orlando where the houses were not kept up on and the people in the area had financial issues. Many of us went and did different things some did babysitting, others worked in stores, others worked on houses. I worked on a specific person’s house. During the week people would go with there groups they were put in and work on the houses. We would paint the houses, clean the yard, fix the fences etc. Through the week though we interacted with the people who lived in the houses and by doing service learning like this it allowed us to connect to the people we were doing this for. Many of the people that we met were very nice and were so appreciative of the work that we were doing. It is very easy to just send money to something and that is your good deed, but by working in the community you get hands on experience and see the people who you are dealing with. When I did this I enjoyed it very much and I was sad to see the week go by so fast. By working in an area too it allows you to break down the stereotypes and negative appearances that people put on areas and places. If someone tried to work in the ghetto people would automatically assume that if they went there that they would get shot or robbed. When people go into these areas though and work to build a better community that isn’t going to happen and many of the people who live there are just like everyone else and are probably nice. People would rather just send something or make a care package as an easy way out so they don’t have to put in the extra effort and go work in the community that needs help.
Kahne argues that service learning has two approaches one is when you do a charity or fundraiser for a specific cause the other is going into the community and interacting to do service learning. By working in the community you are actually interacting with people and the experience is a fuller one. By just doing a charity you aren’t getting full experience if you aren’t working with the community. In the article it demonstrates this with the two classes. The first group of kids did errands for doctors, preparing survival kits for the homeless. This is an act of generosity and giving of ones time, but they are doing it more behind the scenes and don’t really know who the people they are doing this for. The second class the kids examined homelessness and brought in speakers and made plans to help the homeless. This group actually worked in the community and worked with people from homeless shelters to help aid the homeless.
When I was a freshman I went and did Habitat for humanity. What I did was go to Orlando, Florida and I was there for a week and worked in the community. The work we did was in a section of Orlando where the houses were not kept up on and the people in the area had financial issues. Many of us went and did different things some did babysitting, others worked in stores, others worked on houses. I worked on a specific person’s house. During the week people would go with there groups they were put in and work on the houses. We would paint the houses, clean the yard, fix the fences etc. Through the week though we interacted with the people who lived in the houses and by doing service learning like this it allowed us to connect to the people we were doing this for. Many of the people that we met were very nice and were so appreciative of the work that we were doing. It is very easy to just send money to something and that is your good deed, but by working in the community you get hands on experience and see the people who you are dealing with. When I did this I enjoyed it very much and I was sad to see the week go by so fast. By working in an area too it allows you to break down the stereotypes and negative appearances that people put on areas and places. If someone tried to work in the ghetto people would automatically assume that if they went there that they would get shot or robbed. When people go into these areas though and work to build a better community that isn’t going to happen and many of the people who live there are just like everyone else and are probably nice. People would rather just send something or make a care package as an easy way out so they don’t have to put in the extra effort and go work in the community that needs help.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Talking Points IV
Linda Christensen
Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us
The author argues that mass media defines what makes up our children’s thought process and that their standards and ideas come from these movies, music, etc that shape how they will be. For girl’s movies, magazines, and celebrities show them what is beautiful and what isn’t. For guys they are depicted as buff, wealthy, not so smart etc so these are followed.
“Then students start to notice patterns-like the absence of female characters in many of the older cartoons. When women do appear, they look like Jessica Rabbit or Playboy centerfolds-even in many of the new and improved children’s movies.”
Many girls today feel like they have to look up to these standards that are placed in front of them. Many of the celebrities that they see on television or in magazines are curvy, big boobs, have tans etc. You could say this leads girls to become aneorexic, bulimic, getting more plastic surgeries so that they can achieve this so called beauty that is displayed to them on TV.
“Have you ever seen a black person, an Asian, a Hispanic in a cartoon? Did they have a leading role or were they a savant? What do you think this is doing to your child’s mind?”
I felt this quote was very helpful because it shows that once again being white has its advantages because if you are white then you are beautiful, have a better life etc. If you’re a minority then you are a servant someone who is uneducated etc etc. Although some people might not see this as anything it is an issue. There could be girls or boys out there who feel insecure about themselves because they aren’t white and they feel that being dark skinned is considered ugly. Today though there has been a tendency towards a shift to having that tan color but it isn’t really tan it’s more of an orange. Many movies though like in Disney all the princesses aren’t dark skinned they are white have freckles etc. This sets a standard and that being dark skinned isn’t considered beautiful.
“For some the lesson doesn’t end in the classroom. Many who watched the cartoons before we start our study they say they can no longer enjoy them. Now instead of seeing a bunch of ducks in clothes, they see the racism, sexism, and violence that swim under the surface of the stories.”
I thought this was helpful because at like in Johnson how we just can’t hide and ignore the facts. These students looked farther and now that the information is in front of them they can’t look at what they used to think was funny and cute. It just isn’t in cartoons it’s in pretty much everything we see today movies, billboards, magazines, shows. There is a hidden message that is showing kids and teenagers how one must be or what is considered the right way. Through all these messages they have the same result they show some group of people being the correct way and others being the wrong whether it is race or gender.
I thought this article was very good, but tough at the same time. Most of these cartoons and movies we were raised on and nobody would ever think that racism, sexism would ever be in there. When I was little I wouldn’t have ever thought that Peter Pan would have bad messages in it. When we are children we still have our innocence and don’t realize these deep messages, when we get older though and look back we see the depictions of people and how there is a lot of messages in there that are negative.
I related this article to something I learned before in my sociology class. On the show Jackass it has guys doing stupid stunts and hurting themselves. Although this does have humor to it, there is a stereotype that does develop. It shows guys as stupid and acting ridicolous and doing dangerous stunts. Many young kids watch this and many of them act like this and immitate this behavior.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXNXhIAgxTk
Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us
The author argues that mass media defines what makes up our children’s thought process and that their standards and ideas come from these movies, music, etc that shape how they will be. For girl’s movies, magazines, and celebrities show them what is beautiful and what isn’t. For guys they are depicted as buff, wealthy, not so smart etc so these are followed.
“Then students start to notice patterns-like the absence of female characters in many of the older cartoons. When women do appear, they look like Jessica Rabbit or Playboy centerfolds-even in many of the new and improved children’s movies.”
Many girls today feel like they have to look up to these standards that are placed in front of them. Many of the celebrities that they see on television or in magazines are curvy, big boobs, have tans etc. You could say this leads girls to become aneorexic, bulimic, getting more plastic surgeries so that they can achieve this so called beauty that is displayed to them on TV.
“Have you ever seen a black person, an Asian, a Hispanic in a cartoon? Did they have a leading role or were they a savant? What do you think this is doing to your child’s mind?”
I felt this quote was very helpful because it shows that once again being white has its advantages because if you are white then you are beautiful, have a better life etc. If you’re a minority then you are a servant someone who is uneducated etc etc. Although some people might not see this as anything it is an issue. There could be girls or boys out there who feel insecure about themselves because they aren’t white and they feel that being dark skinned is considered ugly. Today though there has been a tendency towards a shift to having that tan color but it isn’t really tan it’s more of an orange. Many movies though like in Disney all the princesses aren’t dark skinned they are white have freckles etc. This sets a standard and that being dark skinned isn’t considered beautiful.
“For some the lesson doesn’t end in the classroom. Many who watched the cartoons before we start our study they say they can no longer enjoy them. Now instead of seeing a bunch of ducks in clothes, they see the racism, sexism, and violence that swim under the surface of the stories.”
I thought this was helpful because at like in Johnson how we just can’t hide and ignore the facts. These students looked farther and now that the information is in front of them they can’t look at what they used to think was funny and cute. It just isn’t in cartoons it’s in pretty much everything we see today movies, billboards, magazines, shows. There is a hidden message that is showing kids and teenagers how one must be or what is considered the right way. Through all these messages they have the same result they show some group of people being the correct way and others being the wrong whether it is race or gender.
I thought this article was very good, but tough at the same time. Most of these cartoons and movies we were raised on and nobody would ever think that racism, sexism would ever be in there. When I was little I wouldn’t have ever thought that Peter Pan would have bad messages in it. When we are children we still have our innocence and don’t realize these deep messages, when we get older though and look back we see the depictions of people and how there is a lot of messages in there that are negative.
I related this article to something I learned before in my sociology class. On the show Jackass it has guys doing stupid stunts and hurting themselves. Although this does have humor to it, there is a stereotype that does develop. It shows guys as stupid and acting ridicolous and doing dangerous stunts. Many young kids watch this and many of them act like this and immitate this behavior.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXNXhIAgxTk
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Talking Points #3
Dennis Carlson
Gayness, Multicultural Education and Community
Carlson argues that in today’s society that the gay/lesbian community is invisible to the public, and that the “normal” people or people who are straight try to keep gay/lesbians invisible. Although people who are gay/lesbian aren’t persecuted it is still widely frowned upon and tried to be kept secret.
“In 1993, for example, the gay rights movement claimed a major victory in the signing into law of a Minnesota bill that makes it illegal to discriminate against lesbians and gay men in employment and housing. Yet what got ignored in all the celebrating was a provision in the bill that prohibits teaching about homosexuality in the public schools”
This contributes to the article because it is a prime example of how the government throws the gay and lesbian community a bone, but there is a detail that makes it so that homosexuality can’t be talked about in schools. Although they did have a victory they are still losing because society doesn’t want homosexuality to be in schools and fully in the open in society. In the article it said too there have been progressive steps for lesbians/gays. Like ten years ago people who were gay were very quiet about there sexuality because they were afraid of being subjected to violence and abuse. Today people aren’t condemned for their orientation, but people who are Gay/lesbian still aren’t considered fully equal to those who are straight.
“Today, witch hunts against gay teachers are (for the most part) a thing of the past and many lesbian and gay male teachers are relatively “out” among a select group of co-workers. Yet the intimidation continues, much as it does in the military. The official policy in most school districts is in fact identical to that of the U.S. military, namely: Don’t ask, don’t tell.”
This quote puts shows how in education too we want to mold the teachers into what is what we think is right. That all teachers are not straight there are some that are gay/lesbian. If a teacher comes out and says that they are gay then they get condemned and people make up preposterous excuses like they’ll have a crush on students and won’t be able to control themselves. Our society says equality for all, but we pressure people into making themselves invisible because if they showed that they are gay then people would get mad because being gay isn’t the norm.
“One of the most powerful of these symbols, featuring a pink triangle under which is written the slogan “Silence=Death” is associated with most militant and itself marginalized group in the movement, ACT UP. The call, then, is to speak out and be seen.”
This quote is very good because it reinforces the author’s main point. How the gay community needs to rise up and not be silent. By being silent you are not being yourself and you’re letting other people dictate how your life is run. Today gay culture is becoming more prominent in society and in popular culture so by sitting by and being invisible, some people might not know about the gay community and how there not different than anyone else.
I thought this article was very good. It opened my eyes to another part of society we never see the gay culture and how they feel invisible because we make them feel like that. For example most of the stuff I knew about gay people is what I saw in movies or TV. , and many people do base there image on the stuff they see. Although being gay today they are taking many strides forward at times they are getting pushed back. For example in the reading in the education system how they prohibit talking about homosexuality in some schools, and they frown upon teachers who are gay. It is sad to see because just because someone is gay doesn’t mean there going to have a crush on someone in there class or in general. People just make very farfetched assumptions because there afraid of change.
Gayness, Multicultural Education and Community
Carlson argues that in today’s society that the gay/lesbian community is invisible to the public, and that the “normal” people or people who are straight try to keep gay/lesbians invisible. Although people who are gay/lesbian aren’t persecuted it is still widely frowned upon and tried to be kept secret.
“In 1993, for example, the gay rights movement claimed a major victory in the signing into law of a Minnesota bill that makes it illegal to discriminate against lesbians and gay men in employment and housing. Yet what got ignored in all the celebrating was a provision in the bill that prohibits teaching about homosexuality in the public schools”
This contributes to the article because it is a prime example of how the government throws the gay and lesbian community a bone, but there is a detail that makes it so that homosexuality can’t be talked about in schools. Although they did have a victory they are still losing because society doesn’t want homosexuality to be in schools and fully in the open in society. In the article it said too there have been progressive steps for lesbians/gays. Like ten years ago people who were gay were very quiet about there sexuality because they were afraid of being subjected to violence and abuse. Today people aren’t condemned for their orientation, but people who are Gay/lesbian still aren’t considered fully equal to those who are straight.
“Today, witch hunts against gay teachers are (for the most part) a thing of the past and many lesbian and gay male teachers are relatively “out” among a select group of co-workers. Yet the intimidation continues, much as it does in the military. The official policy in most school districts is in fact identical to that of the U.S. military, namely: Don’t ask, don’t tell.”
This quote puts shows how in education too we want to mold the teachers into what is what we think is right. That all teachers are not straight there are some that are gay/lesbian. If a teacher comes out and says that they are gay then they get condemned and people make up preposterous excuses like they’ll have a crush on students and won’t be able to control themselves. Our society says equality for all, but we pressure people into making themselves invisible because if they showed that they are gay then people would get mad because being gay isn’t the norm.
“One of the most powerful of these symbols, featuring a pink triangle under which is written the slogan “Silence=Death” is associated with most militant and itself marginalized group in the movement, ACT UP. The call, then, is to speak out and be seen.”
This quote is very good because it reinforces the author’s main point. How the gay community needs to rise up and not be silent. By being silent you are not being yourself and you’re letting other people dictate how your life is run. Today gay culture is becoming more prominent in society and in popular culture so by sitting by and being invisible, some people might not know about the gay community and how there not different than anyone else.
I thought this article was very good. It opened my eyes to another part of society we never see the gay culture and how they feel invisible because we make them feel like that. For example most of the stuff I knew about gay people is what I saw in movies or TV. , and many people do base there image on the stuff they see. Although being gay today they are taking many strides forward at times they are getting pushed back. For example in the reading in the education system how they prohibit talking about homosexuality in some schools, and they frown upon teachers who are gay. It is sad to see because just because someone is gay doesn’t mean there going to have a crush on someone in there class or in general. People just make very farfetched assumptions because there afraid of change.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Talking points Part Dos
Richard Rodriguez
Aria
In this article I think Rodriguez argues that although there is a need for people to assimilate into society a side effect is that people might lose a sense of culture or individuality. The author assimilated into society and became “American” and learned the language, but at the same time his family lost a sense of unity and there Hispanic roots.
“What would they not do for their children’s ell being? ... IN an instant, they agreed to give up the language (the sounds) that had revealed and accentuated our family’s closeness.” The family had to give up there language so there kids can have opportunities in America. In that time when the author was a child which I would think would be 1970s or so there was a big push towards assimilation and becoming “American” so by learning English the Rodriguez family would fit into there neighborhood, society etc. By doing this though and assimilating the family lost there identities sort of speak and they became distant from each other because of it. In the story as it showed there dinners weren’t the same once they adopted English everyone was quiet all the time and that happy atmosphere was gone.
“But the special feeling of closeness at home was diminished by then. Gone was the desperate, urgent, intense feeling of being at home; …we remained a loving family, but one greatly changed.” In the story the author and his siblings had to assimilate and learn English the nuns thought English should be spoken at home. As a result the family adapted to society and learned English, but there bonds were a little weaker because there native language kept them close, but now English had to be the first language for them. I think this happens a lot of times with many families that come over here. They have to learn English or they won’t succeed in jobs, school etc, and as a result they lose a sense of identity and there culture.
Although the story was short I thought it was very interesting. The story shows how in America we push for people to become part of society and want this whole melting pot, but in essence it makes people lose there heritage, language or identity. I don’t think this article really relates to other text we have read so far. Most of the other text we have read talked about white privilege and to address the issue and not be afraid to use the words that we fear. This could relate to some of the other text maybe it is saying that in America we put a strong push for immigrants to become white so they become successful I don’t know.
Aria
In this article I think Rodriguez argues that although there is a need for people to assimilate into society a side effect is that people might lose a sense of culture or individuality. The author assimilated into society and became “American” and learned the language, but at the same time his family lost a sense of unity and there Hispanic roots.
“What would they not do for their children’s ell being? ... IN an instant, they agreed to give up the language (the sounds) that had revealed and accentuated our family’s closeness.” The family had to give up there language so there kids can have opportunities in America. In that time when the author was a child which I would think would be 1970s or so there was a big push towards assimilation and becoming “American” so by learning English the Rodriguez family would fit into there neighborhood, society etc. By doing this though and assimilating the family lost there identities sort of speak and they became distant from each other because of it. In the story as it showed there dinners weren’t the same once they adopted English everyone was quiet all the time and that happy atmosphere was gone.
“But the special feeling of closeness at home was diminished by then. Gone was the desperate, urgent, intense feeling of being at home; …we remained a loving family, but one greatly changed.” In the story the author and his siblings had to assimilate and learn English the nuns thought English should be spoken at home. As a result the family adapted to society and learned English, but there bonds were a little weaker because there native language kept them close, but now English had to be the first language for them. I think this happens a lot of times with many families that come over here. They have to learn English or they won’t succeed in jobs, school etc, and as a result they lose a sense of identity and there culture.
Although the story was short I thought it was very interesting. The story shows how in America we push for people to become part of society and want this whole melting pot, but in essence it makes people lose there heritage, language or identity. I don’t think this article really relates to other text we have read so far. Most of the other text we have read talked about white privilege and to address the issue and not be afraid to use the words that we fear. This could relate to some of the other text maybe it is saying that in America we put a strong push for immigrants to become white so they become successful I don’t know.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Defending the cavemen
I went to a jazz festival today at the stadium theater in woonsocket and i saw a show that is coming in march and it seemed like it related to the class so i thought i would share. On March 21st there is a show called Defending The Caveman at 8 pm. Its a broadway show comedy about the sexes so there could be something in it related to our class.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Discussion on Kozol/Goldberg
Amazing Grace: Johnathan Kozol
100 People Who are Screwing up America : Bernard Goldberg
Goldberg argues that today many kids don’t care about learning and many schools are violent. Goldberg states the person to blame for this is Jonathan Kozol who is saying how traditional schools aren’t good and schools should be more liberal. In the story by Jonathan Kozol I think it is basically describing a hell on Earth and how society doesn’t care. Through the story it talks about parts of New York that are really bad and gives vivid descriptions how terrible life is. The author also shows that many of the people who are in these ghettos are made up of minorities.
Goldberg Quote: “We are taught U.S. history out of politically correct textbooks….They take care not to offend America’s past enemies, but don’t seem to worry about offending Americans…Perhaps needless to add, there are no lessons on the virtue of patriotism” This quote was very interesting because in certain aspects we do see this in our society. America is always making sure to watch out for everyone else’s interest, but not our own. Some could even argue that’s why we are in our economic crisis now. America doesn’t want to piss off other people so we make sure to keep countries happy, but at home we do stuff that irritate the citizens. We should be proud of our country, but instead we make others look good and us look bad. What Goldberg is saying is that today in schools when we teach history we lack patriotism.
Kozol Quote: “Most of the addicts and prostitutes are black. Some are Hispanic. But they’re all people of color. It made me feel frightened for my race. The men are killing themselves with needles and the women are laying their bodies down with anyone they meet, not know who they are.” Many of the cities that the author talks about are minority that he has shown through the reading. Through this reading it shows that in parts where the majority is black, Hispanic etc. the conditions there are poor and bad. Where the majority is white the conditions are obviously better. This quote to shows that living in these poor conditions the people didn’t have much opportunity to grow so the guys either became drug users,dealers,gangmembers and the girls became prostitutes. Through these limited choices the people will eventually kill themselves by overdosing, being killed or the environment itself will kill them.
“I don’t know how sick you have to be to qualify for SSI. My girlfriend died from AIDS in March. …After she died, the checks began to come. Now they keep on coming. Her boyfriend sashes them each month.” The author is talking to a lady he interviews Martha Washington, and she tells of the struggles about how hard it is to get help from the government. This quote shows that in this area in New York the government could care less, and that you have to be practically dying and bleeding to get any sort of money to help you. Many of the people have AIDS and the environment isn’t that clean so there health is very fragile. The SSI check should help them survive, but as seen in this story it shows that the government doesn’t care. I think Kozol is trying to show that the society is very flawed and that they have to take care of there people a lot better than they are.
Through these stories I gathered a lot of information. From Goldberg’s I think in society I do think that many people today don’t have a good sense of American history, and they really don’t support or try to help out. In Kozol’s story I do believe that there are some cities in the United states that are in bad shape and the government isn’t doing much to help. I don’t think they are as bad as he describes in the story I think some of it might have been exaggerated for more effect. Kozol’s article relates to Delpit because race is involved in both of them. Delpit says that people who have power should help those who can’t and in Kozol’s article it shows that the people who do have power aren’t helping those who don’t.
100 People Who are Screwing up America : Bernard Goldberg
Goldberg argues that today many kids don’t care about learning and many schools are violent. Goldberg states the person to blame for this is Jonathan Kozol who is saying how traditional schools aren’t good and schools should be more liberal. In the story by Jonathan Kozol I think it is basically describing a hell on Earth and how society doesn’t care. Through the story it talks about parts of New York that are really bad and gives vivid descriptions how terrible life is. The author also shows that many of the people who are in these ghettos are made up of minorities.
Goldberg Quote: “We are taught U.S. history out of politically correct textbooks….They take care not to offend America’s past enemies, but don’t seem to worry about offending Americans…Perhaps needless to add, there are no lessons on the virtue of patriotism” This quote was very interesting because in certain aspects we do see this in our society. America is always making sure to watch out for everyone else’s interest, but not our own. Some could even argue that’s why we are in our economic crisis now. America doesn’t want to piss off other people so we make sure to keep countries happy, but at home we do stuff that irritate the citizens. We should be proud of our country, but instead we make others look good and us look bad. What Goldberg is saying is that today in schools when we teach history we lack patriotism.
Kozol Quote: “Most of the addicts and prostitutes are black. Some are Hispanic. But they’re all people of color. It made me feel frightened for my race. The men are killing themselves with needles and the women are laying their bodies down with anyone they meet, not know who they are.” Many of the cities that the author talks about are minority that he has shown through the reading. Through this reading it shows that in parts where the majority is black, Hispanic etc. the conditions there are poor and bad. Where the majority is white the conditions are obviously better. This quote to shows that living in these poor conditions the people didn’t have much opportunity to grow so the guys either became drug users,dealers,gangmembers and the girls became prostitutes. Through these limited choices the people will eventually kill themselves by overdosing, being killed or the environment itself will kill them.
“I don’t know how sick you have to be to qualify for SSI. My girlfriend died from AIDS in March. …After she died, the checks began to come. Now they keep on coming. Her boyfriend sashes them each month.” The author is talking to a lady he interviews Martha Washington, and she tells of the struggles about how hard it is to get help from the government. This quote shows that in this area in New York the government could care less, and that you have to be practically dying and bleeding to get any sort of money to help you. Many of the people have AIDS and the environment isn’t that clean so there health is very fragile. The SSI check should help them survive, but as seen in this story it shows that the government doesn’t care. I think Kozol is trying to show that the society is very flawed and that they have to take care of there people a lot better than they are.
Through these stories I gathered a lot of information. From Goldberg’s I think in society I do think that many people today don’t have a good sense of American history, and they really don’t support or try to help out. In Kozol’s story I do believe that there are some cities in the United states that are in bad shape and the government isn’t doing much to help. I don’t think they are as bad as he describes in the story I think some of it might have been exaggerated for more effect. Kozol’s article relates to Delpit because race is involved in both of them. Delpit says that people who have power should help those who can’t and in Kozol’s article it shows that the people who do have power aren’t helping those who don’t.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
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