Michaelson, "Inclusion and Social Justice for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Members of the Learning Community in Queensland State Schools."
Extended Comments
I really liked how Michaelson starts off with how schools are supposed to be this safe and secure learning environment where teachers are supposed to implement inclusive practices and social children for GLBT. I also enjoyed how he defined homophobia and what it leads to and creates. He also lists the keywords which are related to homophobia. After reading this article I never realized how many teachers don't confront the problem when a problem arises. It didn't shock me by how often children use slander in reference to something being weird, not actually gay. Like I said in class, children don't know the meaning of "gay" they learned the saying from immature, older kids, and media. They are saying it with empty meaning. It makes me sad and angry that these children have grown accustomed to using this word when something is off, weird, or not normal.
I'm going to be using my blog as extended comments to Nate's blog. Nate provides great examples of children using their words to mean harm on GLBT children. Nate said it best when he stated, "If they use the word “gay” is used synonymously with “bad” as in “that is gay” meaning “that is bad” then it automatically makes a derogatory statement on someone’s sexual preference. The children don't know the actual meaning but they have learned that it's the new word to use meaning as weird. I agree when Nate states, "Homosexuals should have every right that heterosexuals do. A person should be judged on the content of their character and not on their sexual preferences." GLBT's are just as much human as heterosexuals. Everybody should be experiencing equality in today's society. It makes me sick that this "homophobia" has created even more bullying and violence. Nate had a great statement when he said, "Kids will be kids, and it seems that what people fear the most are what they do not understand. We need to educate the teenagers and let them understand that you can be homosexual and be a great person to, you don’t need to be afraid or lash out against them." It only takes one kid to act out ignorant towards GLBT and eventually he or she have twenty or so followers. This hatred gets spread so easily and quickly, we need to start educating not only the children, but who they are imitating, the teenagers.
We need to put an end to this "homophobia" and start educating as soon as possible. Education is the key to rid of this evil. I hate to see all of this hatred happening where our future educators are learning in an uneasy, violent environment.
Some questions and comments I would like to bring up are what is your stand on this issue? What preparations and suggestions would you give yourself, peers, and/or a first year teacher? I never realized how some mathematical questions assumed heterosexuality relationships. I never realized that we as educators need to make questions into neutral-gender names. How do we teach GLBT?
Homophobia in U.K.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Alarming News!
News relating to Scooling in a Democratic Society.
Over the past week I have noticed several articles about children and teachers. Some of these teachers are held responsible for teaching and engaging students to their full potential. In one of these articles the mom is arrested for injecting her teenagers with heroin before school. Are you serious? And this is a prime example of why it's hard to engage students in school when their parental influence is the defeating team. They are the ones who are supposed to be supporting the children in the best way possible, not by injecting and condoning drug use. But what happens when students accuse their teacher of doing something wrong for example, sexual harassment to drug abuse? I did not know this but they are sent to a "rubber room" where they sit and collect paychecks. It's somewhere they have to go and wait until the investigation or court proceedings are over. I also wanted to comment about the school shooting of a student directed at their classmate. What parents have a gun just laying around for their child to pick up and bring to school? I mean come on now! Just some news I thought was interesting and that I thought related to our topics and lectures covered in class. Also in the news was a teacher who was accused of sleeping with fellow students of hers. Quite interesting this is coming after a year of silence. But still it's an important issue.
Over the past week I have noticed several articles about children and teachers. Some of these teachers are held responsible for teaching and engaging students to their full potential. In one of these articles the mom is arrested for injecting her teenagers with heroin before school. Are you serious? And this is a prime example of why it's hard to engage students in school when their parental influence is the defeating team. They are the ones who are supposed to be supporting the children in the best way possible, not by injecting and condoning drug use. But what happens when students accuse their teacher of doing something wrong for example, sexual harassment to drug abuse? I did not know this but they are sent to a "rubber room" where they sit and collect paychecks. It's somewhere they have to go and wait until the investigation or court proceedings are over. I also wanted to comment about the school shooting of a student directed at their classmate. What parents have a gun just laying around for their child to pick up and bring to school? I mean come on now! Just some news I thought was interesting and that I thought related to our topics and lectures covered in class. Also in the news was a teacher who was accused of sleeping with fellow students of hers. Quite interesting this is coming after a year of silence. But still it's an important issue.
Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us
1) Linda Christenson, "Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us"
Extended Comments
I will be using Tess' blog to center my own on the cartoon and Disney movie depictions. I also had taken a Women's studies course last semester where we looked at the images and their underlying meanings. I grew up watching Disney movies with my brother and sisters and watched them with an innocent and clear lens. You can say what I was watching did shape some or all of my thoughts and behaviors. It was basically cartoon reality to me at this age. As Tess had stated the women are always the "damsel in distress." There is always some poor living condition and/or poor catastrophe. She always seems to find help in some shape or form of a spirit, godmother or animal to help her. Where soon after some party, gala or ball she is swept up by some magnificent prince and lives happily after. This portrayal is far from the truth and shows children that everything ends in a happy ending. Well I hate to burst your bubble, but there is so much sexism, racism, etc.. that it affects society more negatively than positive. I think Tess made a great reference to Christenson's statement about how minorities are always classified as lower class in not only cartoons, and Disney movies but also T.V in general. They are always shown as servants or idiots. They never seem to have roles where like Cinderella, they become an overnight success. They are usually catering to the pompous characters, always the males who are always big and have some egotistical problem. They tend to denature the poor and feel no pity for the less fortunate. These minorities do cater to the princes of the kingdoms and don't have any real substance in roles in these parts either. All in all they are viewed as lower class with no "privileges" as the whites. Except for movies like Mulan, Aladdin and Pocahontas were the only movies where the main character consisted of a minority. Tess also brings up the reference to when Popeye places a dog collar on Olive Oil and drags her back home. That was absolutely ridiculous to hear because I liked Popeye and it upsets me also, why would the producers show a scene like that. It is sending the wrong message to the entire audience of vulnerable children. Like I have said before and I bet Tess would agree, that children's minds are like sponges and when they see this they think this is alright. Then that leads to behavior, not only this but other sorts of behaviors degrading the female. Cartoons and Disney movies are very relatable but yet dangerous to children, yet we as adults know right from wrong. It's like these shows and movies are a template for these children to perceive how the world actually works. You degrade women and you put down minorities. The place values on whites are significantly different from those of minorities. I know a lot of people use Disney movies as a "babysitter". Is this right no for the reason which Disney and cartoons relay the wrong message to these children who spend COUNTLESS hours in front of the TV. Use some of the hours for educational times with your children. Disney movies allows for creativity and imagination but too much of it can be very detrimental to your child's well-being. Gender and Disney.. Advice from a Princess. Barbie.
Questions/Comments/Points To Share:
I would like to know where everybody stands on Disney movies? Do you believe too much of a good thing is bad? I bet alot of us will look at Disney differently because of the messages they show. But you have to give credit to Disney because mass media is the best outlet to portray subliminal and hidden messages. I believe they are doing more harm than good. Also if you have time, there is some really good stuff on the Dark Disney. How much Disney did you watch when you were younger? What do you make of Disney and will you show it to your kids as much as your parents showed it to you?
Extended Comments
I will be using Tess' blog to center my own on the cartoon and Disney movie depictions. I also had taken a Women's studies course last semester where we looked at the images and their underlying meanings. I grew up watching Disney movies with my brother and sisters and watched them with an innocent and clear lens. You can say what I was watching did shape some or all of my thoughts and behaviors. It was basically cartoon reality to me at this age. As Tess had stated the women are always the "damsel in distress." There is always some poor living condition and/or poor catastrophe. She always seems to find help in some shape or form of a spirit, godmother or animal to help her. Where soon after some party, gala or ball she is swept up by some magnificent prince and lives happily after. This portrayal is far from the truth and shows children that everything ends in a happy ending. Well I hate to burst your bubble, but there is so much sexism, racism, etc.. that it affects society more negatively than positive. I think Tess made a great reference to Christenson's statement about how minorities are always classified as lower class in not only cartoons, and Disney movies but also T.V in general. They are always shown as servants or idiots. They never seem to have roles where like Cinderella, they become an overnight success. They are usually catering to the pompous characters, always the males who are always big and have some egotistical problem. They tend to denature the poor and feel no pity for the less fortunate. These minorities do cater to the princes of the kingdoms and don't have any real substance in roles in these parts either. All in all they are viewed as lower class with no "privileges" as the whites. Except for movies like Mulan, Aladdin and Pocahontas were the only movies where the main character consisted of a minority. Tess also brings up the reference to when Popeye places a dog collar on Olive Oil and drags her back home. That was absolutely ridiculous to hear because I liked Popeye and it upsets me also, why would the producers show a scene like that. It is sending the wrong message to the entire audience of vulnerable children. Like I have said before and I bet Tess would agree, that children's minds are like sponges and when they see this they think this is alright. Then that leads to behavior, not only this but other sorts of behaviors degrading the female. Cartoons and Disney movies are very relatable but yet dangerous to children, yet we as adults know right from wrong. It's like these shows and movies are a template for these children to perceive how the world actually works. You degrade women and you put down minorities. The place values on whites are significantly different from those of minorities. I know a lot of people use Disney movies as a "babysitter". Is this right no for the reason which Disney and cartoons relay the wrong message to these children who spend COUNTLESS hours in front of the TV. Use some of the hours for educational times with your children. Disney movies allows for creativity and imagination but too much of it can be very detrimental to your child's well-being. Gender and Disney.. Advice from a Princess. Barbie.
Questions/Comments/Points To Share:
I would like to know where everybody stands on Disney movies? Do you believe too much of a good thing is bad? I bet alot of us will look at Disney differently because of the messages they show. But you have to give credit to Disney because mass media is the best outlet to portray subliminal and hidden messages. I believe they are doing more harm than good. Also if you have time, there is some really good stuff on the Dark Disney. How much Disney did you watch when you were younger? What do you make of Disney and will you show it to your kids as much as your parents showed it to you?
Friday, February 17, 2012
Terry Meier, "Why can't she remember that?"
Quotes
While reading Meier's ideas for engaging children in storybook reading I took into account my days as an elementary student. Story time was one of my favorite and now looking back most meaningful times at school at this age. That along with engaging with my fellow classmates. Several quotes stuck out to me during this reading and really decipher as to how children understand and see things from a student's perspective. Meier suggests that children learn to use language in culturally specific ways. She presents three ways in which to connect children to books: she chooses books that relate to children's lives; teaching book reading behaviors explicitly; and making books come alive.
As Meier states in Choosing books that relate to children's lives, "Books are not meaningful to children who do not see themselves represented in them." Especially for very young children, learning occurs most productively and profoundly in a context of familiarity." This a very true and powerful quote because we can all remember our favorite books and I bet in some way, shape or form we have pictured ourselves being in that situation or character. It's based on the diversity of the characters in the book that help children want to know more. This helps children want to focus and wonder what happens next. It engages children to communicate, pay attention to specific details and read more. This in turn also helps those who do relate to these characters to repeat certain phrases and words and eventually learn the true meaning behind these words. It builds vocabulary and communication where certain nouns and verbs weren't present. This method is very meaningful and productive. In response to Meier's "question game" being silly, she states "this is critical because it is especially important in multilingual, multicultural classrooms for children to feel (a) that their teacher's comments and responses "make sense" and (b) that these either fit with, or differ from in understandable ways, the assumptions about language that they bring home." Children learn different values at home than that of school, so teachers laying a foundation of the types of questions she's going to ask alleviates pressures for students who might think otherwise. When teachers notify students of what types of answers she's looking for she rids out a lot of fear and sets an even playing field for everybody. This allows children to participate more without creating a sense of awkwardness and silence. Students tend to engage more when they know what types of answers or questions the teacher is asking for. This tends to create a more social and engaging environment. In Meier's "Make books come alive" section, she states, "These storybook characters can also be used in more structured ways to help children develop deeper understandings of story elements like character and plot." I know from personal experience this definitely engages the students by them creating and becoming more imaginative with the text. When you use props or voice changes, students tend to be fully committed to paying attention. We all know student's attention span is far less than ours so any little extra goes a long way. When I'm reading I tend to do the appropriate voice change when there is a character change. You shouldn't read the text as is, you should add excitement by raising your voice or when there's a time of sadness being voiced, act the part. This goes a long way because not only are the children enjoying it but you have their full attention. While you're doing this you stop and ask questions to the students as to why is Pete sad. If you're a good storybook reader, the student's aren't going to be asking why are you talking like that Mr. S? Story time is one of the best and most meaningful times in a child's life.
Questions/Comments/Points to Share:
I believe effective teachers use all three of these methods Meier uses. In order to reach all of your students especially in today's society where different races and ethnicity's are more present, one needs to be very creative and limitless in resources in order for his/her students to attain deep and meaningful connections.I would like to ask how did your teachers create your story time? What ideas did your teachers use looking back when you were elementary students? Do you see any similarities in Meier's ideas to your past teachers? What were your favorite books or texts growing up?
Friday, February 10, 2012
Amazing Grace
Jonathan Kozol, Amazing Grace
Reflection
While reading this piece by Kozol I couldn't help but get emotional because I was a child who was born in the Bronx who saw some of these sad and depressing scenes. I will touch up on my life history briefly but if you have any questions or comments please feel free to ask or comment on my post. My sister and I were born Puerto Rican parents who we were only with us for the first four years of our life. Then something amazing happened, we were adopted by loving parents who deeply cared for our well being and future. But before we got adopted I remember growing up in the crime and drug infested neighborhood similar to the one Kozol references on in his article. I remember seeing these numerous bright colored caps that Kozol saw while walking with Cliffie. I always compared them to that Dr. Mario game that consisted of all the colorful pill capsules.I remember asking my birth mother what they were and all she would say is don't ever pick them up. But yes they were everywhere.This article portrayed what I was living in when I was a child. Though I don't remember seeing as many needles Kozol saw but I may as well. Those first four years of my life had no structure and stability, at the time I didn't know any better, I just thought that's how life is. Just like Cliffie in the story, although he was older than I was and disturbed by what he sees, it was just another day in the Bronx. While reflecting back on those days, I can't imagine where I'd be if that social worker hadn't come to our apartment. While looking back on that single moment, that was the best day of our lives. As someone who has never been to the Bronx this would be a horrific and scary scene but if you've been there or actually lived there, you tend to agree and say that's the way it is. When my birth mother was home, she would take us out and I remember she would always tell me to never talk to any strangers. I can remember seeing weird looking people sleeping in the hallways or outside back then but now reflecting back, they were probably drunk or high. As a little kid you really don't give it too much thought of why they're doing what they're doing. You tend to think behaviors like that are innocent like maybe he was just tired so he decided to take a nap. Living in the Bronx was completely different from growing up in Raleigh, North Carolina. After getting adopted, we moved from Long Island, NY to Raleigh, NC. These were the best years of my life. I finally had access to an are where I was free to run and play without the worries of WHO and WHAT was around. I had loving parents who cared and treated me like family and I also had my sister.
Questions/Comments/Points to Share:
While looking back as I have said, I don't think I'd be where I am today if it weren't for the fact that I was taken away from my birth parents because they were unfit parents or for whatever reason I don't know. But I wouldn't be the man I am today if it weren't for my parents who provided me another chance on life. It's hard to become successful in school if you have to worry about when are you going to eat next or the fear of when the city is going to turn off your electricity. Not only are parents under pressure but so are the children. Walking around in a poverty stricken and drug infested environment. How are children supposed to succeed in school with so many worries and a city where crime and diseases fill the streets they walk in? Where you have incinerators next door burning amputated body parts and bloodied linens and bandages. Children have minds like sponges so they soak all of these visuals and behaviors and they just assume this is reality. This is how it's supposed to be because everybody is participating in these negative behaviors. This article meant a lot to me and I loved Kozol's quote "you hear the dealers call it out. It's like they're saying, Come on over here. I'll show you how to end your life." How would you propose to rid your neighborhood of drug dealers?
Check this out. South Bronx. Another clip
Reflection
While reading this piece by Kozol I couldn't help but get emotional because I was a child who was born in the Bronx who saw some of these sad and depressing scenes. I will touch up on my life history briefly but if you have any questions or comments please feel free to ask or comment on my post. My sister and I were born Puerto Rican parents who we were only with us for the first four years of our life. Then something amazing happened, we were adopted by loving parents who deeply cared for our well being and future. But before we got adopted I remember growing up in the crime and drug infested neighborhood similar to the one Kozol references on in his article. I remember seeing these numerous bright colored caps that Kozol saw while walking with Cliffie. I always compared them to that Dr. Mario game that consisted of all the colorful pill capsules.I remember asking my birth mother what they were and all she would say is don't ever pick them up. But yes they were everywhere.This article portrayed what I was living in when I was a child. Though I don't remember seeing as many needles Kozol saw but I may as well. Those first four years of my life had no structure and stability, at the time I didn't know any better, I just thought that's how life is. Just like Cliffie in the story, although he was older than I was and disturbed by what he sees, it was just another day in the Bronx. While reflecting back on those days, I can't imagine where I'd be if that social worker hadn't come to our apartment. While looking back on that single moment, that was the best day of our lives. As someone who has never been to the Bronx this would be a horrific and scary scene but if you've been there or actually lived there, you tend to agree and say that's the way it is. When my birth mother was home, she would take us out and I remember she would always tell me to never talk to any strangers. I can remember seeing weird looking people sleeping in the hallways or outside back then but now reflecting back, they were probably drunk or high. As a little kid you really don't give it too much thought of why they're doing what they're doing. You tend to think behaviors like that are innocent like maybe he was just tired so he decided to take a nap. Living in the Bronx was completely different from growing up in Raleigh, North Carolina. After getting adopted, we moved from Long Island, NY to Raleigh, NC. These were the best years of my life. I finally had access to an are where I was free to run and play without the worries of WHO and WHAT was around. I had loving parents who cared and treated me like family and I also had my sister.
Questions/Comments/Points to Share:
While looking back as I have said, I don't think I'd be where I am today if it weren't for the fact that I was taken away from my birth parents because they were unfit parents or for whatever reason I don't know. But I wouldn't be the man I am today if it weren't for my parents who provided me another chance on life. It's hard to become successful in school if you have to worry about when are you going to eat next or the fear of when the city is going to turn off your electricity. Not only are parents under pressure but so are the children. Walking around in a poverty stricken and drug infested environment. How are children supposed to succeed in school with so many worries and a city where crime and diseases fill the streets they walk in? Where you have incinerators next door burning amputated body parts and bloodied linens and bandages. Children have minds like sponges so they soak all of these visuals and behaviors and they just assume this is reality. This is how it's supposed to be because everybody is participating in these negative behaviors. This article meant a lot to me and I loved Kozol's quote "you hear the dealers call it out. It's like they're saying, Come on over here. I'll show you how to end your life." How would you propose to rid your neighborhood of drug dealers?
Check this out. South Bronx. Another clip
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)