Education is Politics

By: Ira Shor

Reflection:

Shor started the essay by asking a few questions: What is education like today? and What should education be? These are two very good questions that, to me, have two very different answers. today, education is based on molding the children into what school systems across the country think children need to learn. It doesn't matter how the children learn, their different needs and their different interests, all that matters is that they pass their tests.

Some children are audio learners, while others are visual. Some love to participate, as they are extroverts, while others do better listening, as they are introverted (shor also talks about this in the reading). Some children are interested in baking, cooking and sewing, while others are interested in sports, and cars - yet these interests don't matter because the children need to focus on reading, writing and math.

Uniqueness and individualism is really decreasing in classrooms, as each child is expected to know the same things and get the same good grades on class assignments.  This is becoming more obvious to people, and i know a lot of students that are looking forward to teaching, but also dreading it because of the format they need to follow to teach their children. It is all based on the common core and what society thinks children need to know in order to achieve in life. Whether or not the child wants to be an astronaut or a stay at home mom - every child is forced to learn things that does not pertain to what they are interested in.

I love this picture! It shows a teacher on strike against the testing that is needed to take place. I know the reading wasn't based on kindergarteners, but all students shouldn't be forced to take standardized tests, as everyone has their own individual interests and needs. 

http://partnershipforsmarterschools.org/Case%20Against%20Testing%20Kohn.pdf

The link above is an awesome article related to the cons of standardized testing. Its a very good read that definitely pertains to the article we read.

Belly Dancers and Burqas

All humans are guilty of stereotyping, as it is very easy to do. When i first entered the seminar, i thought it was going to be very boring. I was wrong. The lady that did the talking had a lot to say that opened up my eyes to new information.

Early Muslims were known for being scandalous and were often stereotyped as being belly dancers. They wore little skimpy clothing and danced around promiscuously - this is what American's think, anyways. The speaker talked a lot about Jasmine and her role in the movie Aladdin. She didn't wear much clothing and always looked "sexy".

Muslims today are depicted as being very conservative. We think they are forced to wear burqas, cover themselves up completely, and not say much. This is not necessarily the case. They chose to do this. The speaker showed a picture of an american lady wearing a skimpy little bathing suit, huge sunglasses and high heels. In the background of the picture, a Muslim lady was thinking it was sad that this is how American women have to dress. They leave everything exposed basically except for their eyes. In the same picture, the Muslim lady is completely covered up except for her eyes. The American lady was thinking how sad it is that they need to be completely covered. In reality, both of these ethnic groups have it all wrong.  Both of these females choose to dress this way, it has nothing to do with their power.  

Here is the picture.It is very interesting how cultures misinterpret each other.

This seminar reminded me a lot of the reading "Indian Father's Plea". The reading was about a man's son and how he was very misunderstood in the classroom. Many of the students were white and only understood their own cultures. Same goes for Muslims. Unless you know much about them, people have a hard time understanding why they act and dress the way that they do. We are so quick to judge and assume - and everyone knows that the definition of ASSUME is: make an ASS out of U and ME. I was made an ass out of when I listened to the Muslim lady at the seminar. She is obviously very educated on her own culture. When I found out Muslim women wear burqas simply because it is a part of their culture, not because they are forced to, I was suprised. I thought they lived in a male dominated world (like the picture above) and were told this is what they had to wear.

People all over the world make assumptions and stereotype. The seminar also related to the article "Unlearning the Myths that Bind Us". That article had to do with the different stereotypes children are taught at such a young age. http://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/14/opinion/it-s-racist-but-hey-it-s-disney.html this is an article about Disney. He was, obviously, racist against many different cultures. Disney created so many movies for young children. The movies depict stereotypes and judgement of all races. "Its Racist, but Hey, Its Disney" is a good read about the stereotypes taking place in society.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8q11sAg2zg <-- a video from the movie Aladdin which depicts the racism and sexism in the movie.

In order to stop stereotyping from spreading, people must be aware of different cultures- especially teachers! We will all have a better understanding of the people around us, if we have a little background knowledge of who they are, how they were raised, and what their beliefs are. Everyone is different, as everyone was raised a different way. It is important to try our best to not make assumptions on different cultures, and be open-minded. 

The seminar began with everyone writing on a piece of paper what comes to mind when they think of Muslim women. Most people that attended wrote things like "conservative" and "dedicated". By the end of the seminar, i think everyone left with the understanding that we all misunderstood Muslim women and were all so quick to make assumptions of them, as not many of us had any background knowledge of them. 

Citizenship in School: Reconceptualizing Down Syndrome

By:

Christopher Kliewer

Quotes:

"In establishing a representation of citizenship for all, Shayne recognizes the transnational relationship of human reciprocity:community acceptance requires opportunity for individual participation in the group, but opportunity can not exist outside community acceptance."

In order for everyone to be accepted, they need to be treated equal. Being treated equal means having the same opportunities as others in the group or community. This goes for everyone, whether its dealing with gender, race, age and/or special needs. 

"if you came into the room and were told there was a retarded child in the room, a child with special needs, i don't think you would pick Lee out. The kids really agree he is as capable as they are".

A lot of times people think that is someone has a learning disorder, it is very obvious to others. This is not the case. They just learn differently, but they are just as capable of learning. 

"We will not recognize the diverse contributions of those who wear obscuring labels until we move our focus from the disability and look for the complexity and individuality we take for granted in ourselves."

We take for granted how easily math, English, or whatever it is one is good at until we see someone going through the struggle. Even at that moment it is sometimes hard for people to realize what they are good and and appreciate it. We need to stop labeling others, and in order to do that we need to decrease expectations and standards, as everyone is different; therefore we learn differently. 

I love this picture. It shows that given equal opportunities, children can accomplish the same goals, no matter if they are a different race, or even have disabilities. 

http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/06/25/special-needs-inclusion-good-idea

This article explains why mixing special education students with the rest is a good idea. 

Literacy with an Attitude

Patrick J. Finn

Quotes:

"The beliefs attitudes, and behaviors of the poor have contributed as much to the present state of affairs as those of the elite"

Poor people have just the same ability of learning as wealthy people. They also have the same ability to teach. Their opportunities may not always be equivalent but the potential is definitely equal! 

"I think Mrs. Kennedy might have been doing a better job of teaching than I, but not a whole lot better. All of us-teachers and students-were locked into a system of rules and roles that none

of us understood and that did not allow for much in the way of education."

This quote right here reminded me of the reading "Will it Help the Sheep". this teacher is coming out and saying he is following a role of what teaching is expected to be, although he knew he was not teaching his students to their full potential.

"By now Freire hoped that people would see literacy in a new light, not eclusively as part of the culture of the rich, but as something that might be a part of their culture.

Literature should, and needs to be for everyone! 

This picture is awesome as it depicts literature should relate to everyone's life. 

http://oneotareadingjournal.com/2012/value-of-childrens-literature/

interesting article!

The 3 R's: Race, Rights and Reform 

Connection:

I am a white person living in America. Even though i do not realize it I am still more privileged than other races are. This video made me realize this even more. There are many jobs out there that I can think of that I've never seen a colored person occupy, such as teaching, lawyers, etc. I am going to school to be a teacher, so I an relate to this video, just as many other students in the class probably can. I went to a school with mostly white students. There were two black kids in my graduating class. Before i mover to Griswold, CT when I was 9, I went to school in Norwich CT. The elementary school i went to would be considered "ghetto" in a lot of peoples eyes. It consisted of mostly Hispanic and black children, yet I do not remember having one colored teacher. They were all white! And its weird that I've never even thought of this before watching the video. If i did have a colored teacher, it would not affect my education in a negative way, if anything it would effect it in a positive way because it would open my eyes up to different cultures and races. White people have it easy. They are quicker to get the jobs. If this wasn't true, and jobs didn't care about skin color, there wouldn't be a place on job applications to check off your ethnicity. Its crazy. This world we are living says we don't care about race and gender, but when you look deeper into the topic, it still seems as if we do.


I found this picture true. I am white, and its true, not only is it difficult to see the privileges and advantages I have being white, its hard to see the racism happening around me, because it doesn't affect me.

This is an interesting article that will open up your eyes!
http://www.tolerance.org/article/racism-and-white-privilege

In the Service of What?

By Joseph Kahne and Joel Westheimer

Quotes:

"service learning can improve the community and invigorate the classroom, providing rich educational experiences for students at all levels of schooling."

No matter what, someone in the world always has it worse than you. I think it is a great idea for students to do service learning! it gives them an insight of what is going on in the world outside of just their own homes.

"there are numerous ways in which a curriculum focused on giving provides opportunities for students to develop caring relationships, especially when compared to a traditional academic curriculum"

Students participating in service learning are getting hands on experience they need to realize that everyone has a different story. Whether they are money deprived, or family deprived, everyone is fighting a different battle.

"tudents tutor, coach softball, paint playgrounds, and read to the elderly because they are interested in people, or because they want to learn a little about poverty and racism before they head out into the waiting corporate world "

I think it is great that students are participating in service learning. Not only are they doing a good deed for someone in need, but they are learning about themselves and others while doing it!

I really like this picture because it shows how something as simple as children visiting with the elderly can make their day!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/education/edlife/03service-t.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Unlearning the Myths that Bind Us

Linda Christensen

Quotes:

"The impact of Racism begins early. Even in our preschool years we are exposed to misinformation about people that are different from us"

This is unfortunately the sad truth. At a young age we are misguided by media, movies, and even teachers, about "facts" of other races and cultures. We have different expectations about how people that are different of us act and should be. 

when Christensen starts her project with the students she explains "I start by showing students old cartoons because the stereotypes are so blatant. We look at the roles women, men, people of color and poor people play in the cartoons". 

These stereotypes always seem to be focused most on. Men and women are depicted in a certain way they should act. Poor people and colored people are also often categorized in ways that are far from the truth and reality of who they really are. 

"For some, the lesson doesn't end in the classroom. Many who watched cartoons before say they can no longer enjoy them."

Its crazy, because once our eyes are opened up to a certain topic, its hard to not notice it everywhere. And these students are now noticing that cartoons aren't just rainbows and butterflies, and there are so many stereotypes in them. 

This is a really cool project to do with students. It opens their eyes up to whats going on around them. It is definitely an interesting thing to do with the students as it informs them but also is getting them to see beyond (for example) an innocent, clothed duck running around. 

I never even noticed that before!

http://www.cracked.com/article_15677_the-9-most-racist-disney-characters.html

This article shows and explains 9 different scenes from Disney movies/books that are racist.