I like Tim Wise, he mentions racism 1.0 which is the blatant bigotry, but there is another kind and we can not just accept that okay black people are not being lynched anymore so racism is over. Its not, there still exists some bias, even favoritism, if you want to call it that. I like the way he discusses Obama how jusst because a white person voted for Obama doesn’t mean that person does not hold a bias, they just see Obama as an exception to the rule. Also that if Obama was not all that he is if he was even slightly less, like if a black person crashed 5 airplanes like Tim Wise, he would not have been elected people would not have seen it the same way. Black people can be as mediocre as white people and still be accepted, I absolutely love that he mentioned this because I have never really seen it this way before. I knew that racism still existed, but I mean this is just such a truism, but it is a big elephant in the room squashed behind the tv while commercials featuring white people repeat over and over. I mean that is the truth, in my experience, especially when the issue of opportunity comes up. White people say I will except them but they should just try if they were upstanding citizens like me. But they can not become upstanding middle class citizens because you keep them down with comments like that. How is a person of color, who is poor supposed to make it far in life when everyone looks at them like wow you fucked up somewhere, its your own fault your probably on drugs, or a prositute. When in reality, how are they supposed to become anywhere else when we pigeon hole them like that. Or even when it come to language like Richard Rodiguez was talking about his double life, the private and the public identity, Richard Rodiguez is considered the exception to the rule, but we pigeon hole bi- or multi-lingual people the same way. The exception to the rule should not be oh you are a person of color and you made a “respectable” life for yourself, but it should be you made a “respectable” life for yourself even though we were holding you down with our bias.
Okay so for some reason my computer will not play the second part of the Tim Wise interview, so I will work with what I have now and watch that later on another computer. Anyhow now I have to relate this to the Brown v. the Board of Education.
The Brown v. the Board of Education decision was a monumental step towards equality… on paper. In reality, the Supreme Court can change rulings but not minds. White had been living thinking that blacks were inferior, that is not an easy mind-set to change. Just as it does today, racism is illegal in many terms, however it is still there, white people still see black people as inferior. The context has changed but it is still there. Segregation is still prevalent in many places, the suburbs are spilling over with white people, but people of color are in the majority in the inner-cities. How is this fair, how does represent the repel of the Jim Crowe Laws? Oh wow, we let black people sit in the same waiting rooms now, how very amendable of us. This is passive, too passive white people need to roll up their sleeves and reach into the “ghettos” and the “slums” and help pull out our fellow humans who we pushed into the cracks of society through out the years.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Blog # 5
In the Service of What? By Kahne and Westheimer
1. Our goal is not to replace consensus with conflict, but rather to point out the various ideological, political, and social goals that can be promoted by service learning activities in schools.
This statement to me says, that service learning projects should encapsulate not just a grade. Ideological, as in how do you see the world now that you have worked with others less fortunate than yourself? Political, as in what can you do to change the world in which you live now that you have seen a differing perspective? And social, as in where do you stand as a human among other humans? As for replacing consensus with conflict, I think conflict in this situation is necessary for change, all schools should have some atmosphere of community assistance, but the approach needs to be one of learning and not just of passing.
2. Unfortunately, in many service activities, students view those they serve as clients rather than a resource.
I really like that Kahne and Westheimer included this, this is something, that I believe needed to be addressed. Some students will inevitably turn a service learning experience into a job, just something that needs to get done. Also maybe over time this could happen, like a desensitized kind of situation, where it is a “I have to...” as opposed to “I would like to…”. I don’t know if I am expressing myself clearly, lol. What I mean to say is that service learning should be an expression of self betterment, and community betterment, students should be taught what a valuable service they are providing, and why.
3. They never discuss their experiences as a part of a course. In fact, many legislative proposals have a minimal reflective component - sometimes for fear that such an orientation would diminish the focus on altruism.
I like this statement because it illustrates the picture that forced service learning projects for students, if not done correctly, turn into a grade. If students are participating in community activities simply to obtain a grade they will not be taking all that they possibly can from the experience. Some students will take the experience to heart and others will just do the bare minimum to pass, this is a sad truth. When I was in high school I had a class in which we had to do ten hours to pass, I took nothing from this. I had previous helped out at my softball league so I used that, and I passed the class. We never discussed it, we didn’t even have to write a paper just a signed log of hours. However taking this class, and discussing it and reflecting on me experiences through class discussions and a personal journal, I am now truly taking the experience to heart, and it is effecting my person in a positive way.
1. Our goal is not to replace consensus with conflict, but rather to point out the various ideological, political, and social goals that can be promoted by service learning activities in schools.
This statement to me says, that service learning projects should encapsulate not just a grade. Ideological, as in how do you see the world now that you have worked with others less fortunate than yourself? Political, as in what can you do to change the world in which you live now that you have seen a differing perspective? And social, as in where do you stand as a human among other humans? As for replacing consensus with conflict, I think conflict in this situation is necessary for change, all schools should have some atmosphere of community assistance, but the approach needs to be one of learning and not just of passing.
2. Unfortunately, in many service activities, students view those they serve as clients rather than a resource.
I really like that Kahne and Westheimer included this, this is something, that I believe needed to be addressed. Some students will inevitably turn a service learning experience into a job, just something that needs to get done. Also maybe over time this could happen, like a desensitized kind of situation, where it is a “I have to...” as opposed to “I would like to…”. I don’t know if I am expressing myself clearly, lol. What I mean to say is that service learning should be an expression of self betterment, and community betterment, students should be taught what a valuable service they are providing, and why.
3. They never discuss their experiences as a part of a course. In fact, many legislative proposals have a minimal reflective component - sometimes for fear that such an orientation would diminish the focus on altruism.
I like this statement because it illustrates the picture that forced service learning projects for students, if not done correctly, turn into a grade. If students are participating in community activities simply to obtain a grade they will not be taking all that they possibly can from the experience. Some students will take the experience to heart and others will just do the bare minimum to pass, this is a sad truth. When I was in high school I had a class in which we had to do ten hours to pass, I took nothing from this. I had previous helped out at my softball league so I used that, and I passed the class. We never discussed it, we didn’t even have to write a paper just a signed log of hours. However taking this class, and discussing it and reflecting on me experiences through class discussions and a personal journal, I am now truly taking the experience to heart, and it is effecting my person in a positive way.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Blog #4
Unlearning the Myths that Bind Us
Christensen and Karp
1. "As Tatum's research suggests, the stereotypes and worldview embedded in the stories become accepted knowledge."
These little cute cartoons we watched as kid incorporate serious stereotypes. This has been brought to my attention before this, but this article opens my eyes to how intense the issue is. Children are so suseptible to information, if a child watches tv featuring a white hero and black vilian over and over again, they will start to associate white with good and balck with bad. This makes sense to me, I mean it is pretty much pyschology 101.
2. "The students start to notice patterns -- Like the absense of female characters in many old cartoons."
These patterns reinforce ideas that were already in effect in society. During the time when women were absent was probably the time when women were kept in the kitchen, they were deemed useless within the whole of society. These cartoons probably helped to reinforce dangerous ideas that were already in place at the time of original airing. Adding to the vicious cycle of women being silence, whether by absence or by showcasing them as simply sex symbols, as if was all women were used for, all they were good for. " Happiness means getting a man, and transformation from wretched conditions can be achieved through consumption..." This was already the mood of the day, and helped facilitate little girls into feeling useless.
3. "Turning off cartoons doesn't stop the sexism and racism."
These ideas, sadly, are a huge factor in our society, he is right its not just cartoons its everywhere. These images are all over our tvs, radios, and magazines, the whole of the media. Probably because we have been so brainwashed as a society that we now find these things funny, when they are not they are harmful to us as people and as a community. These ideas teach our children to see the world of people as unequal. As a young girl you better be pretty, boys better like sports, or your in for trouble. making jokes in the media in regards to stereotypes these problems are never going to end.
I enjoyed reading this article. He kept my interest, I really liked that he included his students thoughts and reactions into this piece, he actually cared you know, what his students took from his lesson matted to him. It was legitimate enough for him to include in his analyses, i know that its not what this article was about but it made me think about other ways to be a good teacher. Never forget to pat your students on the back remind them that they are intelligent creatures, not to just tell them when they are incorrect. This man saw his students as allies, as associates.
Christensen and Karp
1. "As Tatum's research suggests, the stereotypes and worldview embedded in the stories become accepted knowledge."
These little cute cartoons we watched as kid incorporate serious stereotypes. This has been brought to my attention before this, but this article opens my eyes to how intense the issue is. Children are so suseptible to information, if a child watches tv featuring a white hero and black vilian over and over again, they will start to associate white with good and balck with bad. This makes sense to me, I mean it is pretty much pyschology 101.
2. "The students start to notice patterns -- Like the absense of female characters in many old cartoons."
These patterns reinforce ideas that were already in effect in society. During the time when women were absent was probably the time when women were kept in the kitchen, they were deemed useless within the whole of society. These cartoons probably helped to reinforce dangerous ideas that were already in place at the time of original airing. Adding to the vicious cycle of women being silence, whether by absence or by showcasing them as simply sex symbols, as if was all women were used for, all they were good for. " Happiness means getting a man, and transformation from wretched conditions can be achieved through consumption..." This was already the mood of the day, and helped facilitate little girls into feeling useless.
3. "Turning off cartoons doesn't stop the sexism and racism."
These ideas, sadly, are a huge factor in our society, he is right its not just cartoons its everywhere. These images are all over our tvs, radios, and magazines, the whole of the media. Probably because we have been so brainwashed as a society that we now find these things funny, when they are not they are harmful to us as people and as a community. These ideas teach our children to see the world of people as unequal. As a young girl you better be pretty, boys better like sports, or your in for trouble. making jokes in the media in regards to stereotypes these problems are never going to end.
I enjoyed reading this article. He kept my interest, I really liked that he included his students thoughts and reactions into this piece, he actually cared you know, what his students took from his lesson matted to him. It was legitimate enough for him to include in his analyses, i know that its not what this article was about but it made me think about other ways to be a good teacher. Never forget to pat your students on the back remind them that they are intelligent creatures, not to just tell them when they are incorrect. This man saw his students as allies, as associates.
Monday, October 5, 2009
blog #3
Dennis Carlson
1. "We get much farther if we pay attention to ... the 'silent spaces' or the 'not said' of the text, ... others have called the 'structuring silences' within texts."
I was really hoping that this would be mentioned in this article. It's not always what we were taught in high school about the gay community but its also everything we weren't taught. I took a sociology class in high school and thank god my teacher was gay, because really up until that class in my senior year, the only thing I knew about homosexuals was the perverted information I heard on tv. I remember mentioning, very briefly the gay community during my U.S. history course, but that lesson consisted of ' oh yeah and there was gay people too, okay see you next class.' lol Honestly, I don't ever remember hearing anything constructive in my classes about this subject. It was like we were being sheltered from something "bad", its out there but it would never touch us. And I think that that's how high schoolers end up seeing it, I don't remember anyone "coming out" when I was in high school but I have heard of a few since. High school kids are being silenced... with more silence.
2. "Straight teachers often participant in silencing practices because they are fearful of raising a controversial issue that might provoke conflict in the classroom."
He also mentions that gay teachers do not want to bring up the subject, just in case they might be outed. As sad as it is, they are completely right to feel scared and protective of their jobs and their way of life. It is always easier to just play it safe and remain quiet than involve any risk, especailly when you are dealing with kids that might not be mature enough to handle it. When something unfamiliar crosses our path our first instinct is to take step back, and if there is no one in these schools explaining exactly what gayness is, that step back can be fatal. For both parties, the teacher and the student. The teacher will now have to fear for their job and their popularity among students, and the students are losing out on a wonderful learning experience.
3. "Interestingly, other language in the curriculum was also modified to appeal to traditionalist and religious fundamentalist groups."
This quote is talking about the "Rainbow Curriculum" this was an effort to bring homosexuality into the clasroom in a constructive manner. It would show pictures of families being same sex parents and children. This would help tremendously, this would eliminate some of those deep set stereotypes we all have, that a family is a mommy, a daddy, and a baby. Why? Because when we were all little and our teachers, and our parents were teaching us what a family is, that was the model they used. Now that we are older and (hopefully lol) wiser, we understand that there are alot more definitions of what a family really consists of.
I, for one, have always been taught, by various sources, that love is a beautiful thing that should be revered and cherished. That it is something that all people deserve, for the simple fact that they are people. But who exactly set the parameters for what that love can constitute, is love something that I can only feel for the opposite sex. And what if I were to love someone of the same sex, would that alter the definition, would love now be dirty and vile. I think that Carlson was a little dry in this piece, or maybe its just that I am absolutely exhausted, I do not know anymore. However, despite this set back, I enjoyed reading something on homosexuality, I found it informative and interesting. As a "straight" person I found this to be enlightening. I agree with him in many instances that we need to alter our preconcieved notions of what sexuality is, and we need to start young. Let's open up kids minds to new possibilities while they are still young and maybe we can stave off some of that hatred that breeds with such ease.
1. "We get much farther if we pay attention to ... the 'silent spaces' or the 'not said' of the text, ... others have called the 'structuring silences' within texts."
I was really hoping that this would be mentioned in this article. It's not always what we were taught in high school about the gay community but its also everything we weren't taught. I took a sociology class in high school and thank god my teacher was gay, because really up until that class in my senior year, the only thing I knew about homosexuals was the perverted information I heard on tv. I remember mentioning, very briefly the gay community during my U.S. history course, but that lesson consisted of ' oh yeah and there was gay people too, okay see you next class.' lol Honestly, I don't ever remember hearing anything constructive in my classes about this subject. It was like we were being sheltered from something "bad", its out there but it would never touch us. And I think that that's how high schoolers end up seeing it, I don't remember anyone "coming out" when I was in high school but I have heard of a few since. High school kids are being silenced... with more silence.
2. "Straight teachers often participant in silencing practices because they are fearful of raising a controversial issue that might provoke conflict in the classroom."
He also mentions that gay teachers do not want to bring up the subject, just in case they might be outed. As sad as it is, they are completely right to feel scared and protective of their jobs and their way of life. It is always easier to just play it safe and remain quiet than involve any risk, especailly when you are dealing with kids that might not be mature enough to handle it. When something unfamiliar crosses our path our first instinct is to take step back, and if there is no one in these schools explaining exactly what gayness is, that step back can be fatal. For both parties, the teacher and the student. The teacher will now have to fear for their job and their popularity among students, and the students are losing out on a wonderful learning experience.
3. "Interestingly, other language in the curriculum was also modified to appeal to traditionalist and religious fundamentalist groups."
This quote is talking about the "Rainbow Curriculum" this was an effort to bring homosexuality into the clasroom in a constructive manner. It would show pictures of families being same sex parents and children. This would help tremendously, this would eliminate some of those deep set stereotypes we all have, that a family is a mommy, a daddy, and a baby. Why? Because when we were all little and our teachers, and our parents were teaching us what a family is, that was the model they used. Now that we are older and (hopefully lol) wiser, we understand that there are alot more definitions of what a family really consists of.
I, for one, have always been taught, by various sources, that love is a beautiful thing that should be revered and cherished. That it is something that all people deserve, for the simple fact that they are people. But who exactly set the parameters for what that love can constitute, is love something that I can only feel for the opposite sex. And what if I were to love someone of the same sex, would that alter the definition, would love now be dirty and vile. I think that Carlson was a little dry in this piece, or maybe its just that I am absolutely exhausted, I do not know anymore. However, despite this set back, I enjoyed reading something on homosexuality, I found it informative and interesting. As a "straight" person I found this to be enlightening. I agree with him in many instances that we need to alter our preconcieved notions of what sexuality is, and we need to start young. Let's open up kids minds to new possibilities while they are still young and maybe we can stave off some of that hatred that breeds with such ease.
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