Blog Post #10

 Blog Post #10

“We have to reclaim these lost and discredited words so that we can use them to name and make sense of truth of what’s going on” (Johnson 13). I find this quote important because we have to SAY THE WORDS. Instead of "sweeping" sensitive topics "under the rug, we4 must talk about them. If we discuss these topics we can make positive changes.

Kohn Lenses: As a future teacher, I want to have open communication in my classroom, build positive relationships with my students, make my classroom a fun environment, and have my students engaged.

Class Culture: It is important to remember that everyone when we meet comes from a different circumstance. When teaching in the future, I will keep these ideas we came up with in class. It is important to know that each child is their own individual with their own circumstances. You do not know the crosses that someone may carry on a daily basis. 

Blog Post #9 "Queering Our Schools" By:

Extended Comments 

    After reading the RI Laws and Policies and Queering Our Schools, I decided to look at some of my peers' blogs to gain a better understanding of the readings. In particular, Liv's blogs always stand out to me. As I read her blog, the same question she discussed resonated with me as well. The question was: How do we create classrooms and schools where each child, parent, and staff member’s unique, beautiful self is appreciated and nurtured?” (23)Similar to Liv, there was also a lack of in the schools that I attended growing up. I attended Catholic school for pre-k to 12th grade. During those years, there was little to no discussion of the LGBTQ+ Community and its history. It was something that was almost never brought up in my schools and when it was the children were silenced because of it. I find this to be concerning because everyone has the right to their own individuality. The silencing of this at such a young age can be harmful in my opinion.

As I continued reading Liv's blog, I gained an appreciation for the quotes that she chose to incorporate into it. One quote that she used was “Community is built by working through differences, not sweeping them under the rug” (25). When explaining this quote, Liv emphasized the phrase "swept under the rug". I think that this is something that occurs far too often. Whether it be due to bullying or because the subject is deemed too controversial. When subjects like this come up, people who deem them uncomfortable believe it's best to not talk about them at all. However, in order to spread awareness and end this cruel stereotype, they need to be discussed.

Attached below is a link to a music video. The song discusses that everyone’s sexual preferences matter no matter what they are.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VG1bj4Lj1Q 

Blog Post #8 "Toward Ending Ableism in Education" By: Thomas Hehir

    As I read "Toward Ending Ableism in Education", by Thomas Hehir, I was able to connect it to "Privilege, Power, and Difference" by Alan Johnson.  Hehir defines ableism as "the devaluation of disability". He then goes on to say that this results in societal attitudes. For example, it is better for a child to speak rather than sign. After reading this article, I related it back to a quote from Johnson. "If we feel afraid, it isn't what we don't know that frightens us, it's what we think we do know" (p.16). This quote stood out to me because Johnson explains that we are taught to tiptoe around sensitive subjects. I believe this to be relevant because many people feel as though the discussion of disabilities/ableism is one of those sensitive subjects. However, instead of fearing these uncomfortable situations, we need to reclaim them. 

As I continued reading, I was also able to make a connection between “Defining Racism: Can We Talk?” by Tatum and "Toward Ending Ableism in Education", by Thomas Hehir. One of the main arguments that tatum addresses is that in order for there to be change/end prejudice stereotypes, we must not stay silent. Instead, we must speak up as an advocate for others. “We have to talk about it in order to change it”. These two quotes are similar, but they are both very powerful. They both address that there is still discrimination present within our society. Instead of being prejudiced because of our differences, we should embrace one another’s differences. 

Point for Class: How can we as future educators make sure that ALL of our students are valued.

Despite their race/abelsim how can we be the best teachers for them? 

This is a hyperlink to a video that discusses what ableism is:

https://vimeo.com/492480733 

Examined Life Sentences:

Similar to Hehir's article, I found this video very educational and interesting. I think that one of the things that stood out to me the most was being able to hear about this for a person who is disabled. I think it is one thing for able bodied people to discuss the matter. However, hearing it from someone who lives it is very different. 

Blog Post #7 Aria By: Richard Rodriguez

 Aria

By: Richard Rodriguez 

Argument

 In the article, Aria, Rodriguez discusses his stance on bilingual education. The term bilingual education is defined as the teaching of academic content in two languages, in a native and second language. As the article continues, Rodriguez argues that the education system is wrong. He believes that all students should be taught in a language that everyone is able to use. His argument stems from his belief that "language gets learned as it gets used". Throughout the article, Rodriguez explains the struggles that bilingual children face when they are in an environment where English is the primary language of communication. He gives specific details from his childhood and how the English language changed his childhood/life. During the entirety of his childhood, Rodriguez fought to understand English. He argues that growing up, he had to learn how to speak English clearly in order to fit into society. His article brings attention to the struggle that children face by attending a school in a language that they do not regularly speak at home. 

    I can relate Rodriguez's story to my volunteer hours that I do with inspiring minds. For example, growing up Rodriguez spoke two languages. He spoke Spanish at home and English when he was in school. His story is similar to the children that I work with every week. For many of them, Spanish is their first language. However, when they come to school they are taught in English. At times it can be difficult for them to keep up with their classmates. Not only are they learning new material, but they have to learn it in English. Then they must translate it and do the work in Spanish. Finally, they then have to convert it back into English. However, during this whole process their peers just get to do the work because they understand English. 

This is a link to a ted talk that explores the limitations that are imposed on the educational exploration and future professional development of non-native English speakers through the absence of Core Bilingual Education. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19tEtc_vSqQ

 

Blog Post #6 "Literacy with an Attitude" By: Patrick J. Finn

Literacy with an Attitude

By: Patrick J. Finn 

Hyperlinks

    In Literacy with an Attitude, Finn discusses the different socioeconomic levels that exist within the school system. There are four different levels: executive elite, affluent professional, middle class, and working class schools. As the reading continues, Finn dissects the educational practices that are common for each. Of these four different levels, the working class schools are the poorest and the executive schools are the wealthiest. Throughout the reading, Finn discusses the different values that each school is characterized by. Some of these values include individualism and humanitarianism. It discusses the idea that education plays a role in society. 

https://www1.udel.edu/educ/whitson/897s05/files/hiddencurriculum.htm 

    This hyperlink discusses the social class and the hidden curriculum of work. This is relevant to Finn’s article because they both discuss how wealthier communities prepare their students better than poor communities. It comes back to the surrounding area having a major impact on what the school will have for opportunities and materials. 

https://amandafned.wordpress.com/2016/04/11/literacy-with-an-attitude-patrick-finn/

This hyperlink takes you to a video analysis. After watching the video, I can make a better connection to Finn’s writing. During the experiment that Finn writes about, all the students were given the same educational tools even though they were from different backgrounds. However, it would have been more beneficial if they were able to individually learn instead of memorize. This would set the students up to be more successful throughout their lives. 

The image below depicts a son asking his father if he can change his socioeconomic level. As you study the image you can see the concern on all the characters' faces. As your socioeconomic status is not as easy to change as one may think it is. Unlike what the newspaper article says, this is not surprising news. This is the reality that we live in. 

 

Blog Post #5 "Tatum, Defining Racism: Can We Talk?

Defining Racism: Can We Talk?

By: Tatum

"But if you are paying attention, the legacy of racism is not hard to see, and we are all affected by it."

Within this quote, Tatum is asking the reader whether or not they have ever been affected by racism. Whether they say yes or no, the answer is yes, we all have been affected by it. This quote is important because it sheds light on the fact that everyone has been a victim to racism. She then goes on to discuss that the impact of racism started when we were just in elementary school. How even when we were just children, we were segregated into racial groups. 

"We may not have polluted the air, but we need to take responsibility, along with others for cleaning it up."

This quote is important because unfortunately many people are guilty of exactly just that. If no one is prejudiced towards them/if they consider themselves not racist, they believe that the issue of racism has nothing to do with them at all. However, they could not be anymore wrong. This quote stresses that in order to end racism we need to make a collaborative effort. They say that there is one race and it is the human race. Therefore, in order to achieve this one human race we need to speak out and fight for change.

"We have to be able to talk about it in order to change it." 

Personally, I feel that this quote speaks for itself. Although discussions of racism can be difficult, they are discussions that need to be had. There are many times in which people feel uncomfortable discussing these topics and therefore they get swept under the rug. However, instead of dismissing these real world issues, we need to face them head on. Talking about these issues will help us to better educate ourselves about these injustices. This education will help to bring change. 

This is a brief video that addresses how it takes more than one to end racism:

https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/race-discrimination/projects/national-anti-racism-strategy-and-racism-it-stops-me-campaign 

Video Analysis