Talking Points #5 on Oakes and Lipton

"Teaching to Change the World" by Jeannie Oakes and Martin Lipton

This article is about:

• how the "traditional" views of schooling and school children have changed
• attempts at keeping the schooling democratic
• schools are trying to teach the students how to be American citizens
• how schools try to recognize talent in minority children so that they can benefit from education
• how some people do not care about students
• how teaching has become feminized
• how students are encouraged to reach for goals that are "out of their reach"

Author's Arguements:

Jeannie Oakes and Martin Lipton are arguing that the world is changing all the time, and teachers, parents, and students need to start adapting to those changes in order to completely benefit from an education. This applies to teachers and parents as well, because they are life-long learners, teachers need to learn the newest and best techniques to educate thier students, and parents need to learn how to help thier kids in any way that they can.

Evidence:

1. "Jefferson reasoned, 'By this means twenty of hte best geniuses will be raked from the rubbish annually, and be instructed, at the public expense.'" (pg. 9)
This quote realllllllly irked me... yes I realize that this was back in the days of the founding fathers, but who in the world would imply that a child or student was "rubbish" just because of their color? Prior to this quote, it is described that Jefferson wished to educate children of color even if the public did not agree. But this quote directly shows how teaching has changed in modern times. EVERY child has the chance to learn, and no student would ever be told they were worthless because of ethnicity, religion, sex, or other factors. Obviously adults are learning something.

2. "As Sarine Gureghian's efforts illustrate, the young continue to learn, in school, the knowledge and habits of citizenship." (pg. 5)
This is obvious, because one of the biggest activities we ever participated in in elementary school was the Junior Achievement program. Fourth and Sixth grade, the program concentrated fully on giving us the understanding of the word "citizen" and what it means to be a citizen in American culture. We also learned a lot about other cultures, and what it means to be a citizen there as well. Through programs like this, students are learning things that they may not encounter until they are older. Getting to get be removed from the standard classroom setting where you're working on math, history, spelling, etc. also gives the students a break so they are interested in learning these new concepts.

3. "For the past 100 years, schools have been asked to "Americanize" immigrant children...Now, in response to our most recent arrivals, several states and communities have sought and some have passed "English only" policies." (pg. 11)
This connects to what Rodriguez is talking about in his article. He felt that he lost his identity the day that those nuns came to talk to his family about having him and his siblings speak English at home. Immigrant children are losing parts of themselves because of the English only policies, but this appears to be the American way. Too bad nobody realizes that at one point we were ALL immigrant... hello... Mayflower? came from Europe guys.... and the Native Americans? They came to the America's long before we did... if anything we should have been given a "Native American only" policy...

Comments:

Besides the fact that this article was really really REALLY long... it basically stated what we have known all along. That our own adult views need to change before we can expect our children to benefit from education. In today's world, our kids are learning what war is like... so many kids have lost their parents, siblings, aunts, uncles because of the War Against Terrorism. Sure, the government may argue that we are not "seeing the good being done in Iraq" because the media only puts forth the bad... but what does 5 year old Johnny know about the democratic policies in Iraq? All he cares about is that his big brother Tim, whom he has idolized all his life, is in danger; he probably watched mom and dad cry when he had to get on that plane... and now his family suffers day to day because of it.
Immigrant children and minority children are also seeing that they are quickly becoming more important in the eyes of educators as well. The Reading Buddies program I think is wonderful for kids who need extra help, but may not get it otherwise. I'm pretty sure that when we were assigned this task, a bunch of us assumed we could go to a nice school in a nice little community where we'd be working with Caucasian children who needed help. But now that we've been out there, we have seen that these kids need help too, and I have to tell you, I love going to the Fortes school. When I tutor, there are maybe 6 of us with our buddies at a time, and we all sit in the hallways and have a great time, and the kids are learning with us. Our reading buddies love seeing us, and my first reading buddy Raspucia told me that she loved when I came to see her because I help her where he teacher could not... "Mrs. Taylor is really busy, she can't help all of us at the same time..."
Teachers themselves are even acknowledging that their work environments sometimes have to be adjusted to meet their needs. One incident told of a teacher who's school bathrooms were flooded for over two months, and nothing was done about it. Kid's can't learn with stuff like this going on about them...

OH AND CAN I JUST POINT OUT... THAT NOW THAT DUMBLEDORE IS GAY A WHOLE BUNCH OF PRIESTS AND SUCH IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS HAVE BANNED THE HARRY POTTER BOOKS AND MOVIES FROM THEIR SCHOOLS???? FREAKIN' HOMOPHOBES... THE BIBLE HAS HOMOSEXUALITY IN IT....... GOD.... ITS LITERATURE.... PEOPLE... GET OVER IT....

Talking Points #5 on Christensen

"Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us" by Linda Christensen

This article is about:

• the prejudices shown in movies and cartoons
• how these prejudices have shaped American culture
• the subtle bits of racism and other things in movies and cartoons
• arguements against such cartoons and movies
• how to find the bad points in modern movies

Author's Arguement:

Linda Christensen argues that old/new movies and cartoons shaped the way that children see their world and the peoples in it.

Evidence:

1. "Many students don't want to believe that they have been manipulated by children's media or advertising." (pg. 128) Using the word manipulated shows that the author believes that there is more to these cartoons and movies and things then meets the eye upon initial viewing.
2. "After viewing a number of cartoons, Kenya scolded parents in an essay, 'A Black Cinderella? Give Me a Break.' She wrote: 'Have you ever seen a black person, an Asian, a Hispanic in a cartoon?'" (pg. 131) The author's subject, Kenya, is clearly upset by this fact that she is pointing out, as well she should be, because it is a very true fact, most of the time...
3. "Catkin wanted to publish her piece in a magazine for young women so they would begin to question the origin of the standards by which they judge themselves." (pg. 137) That would probably help the number of girls suffering from eating disorders and various other problems due to a low self-image.

Comments:
Ok, I can see and agree with many of the points in these paragraphs... however I do have a few bones to pick...

First off, I want to know why Peter Pan is seen as a key teaching tool for little kids? It didn't really say in the article, and I sure as hell haven't seen any little kids throwing dirt on their heads and trying to fly to Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch... so clearly they're not learning how to fly with faith and trust and a little bit of pixie dust...

Second, I totally agree with the fashion thing... I don't wear name brand unless I can help it, although I am very partial to Glo jeans... but its more because they actually fit me without a. falling off or b. having to be hemmed. But seriously, little babies don't need to be wearing Roca Wear... that's just rediculous... paying 50 something dollars for a pair of size .02 Timby's.... which they are going to outgrow ANYWAY

Ok, the next thing about the stereotyping comment in media... the only thing that could come to mind was Charlie Chaplin's film "Modern Times". Charlie Chaplin is the lead character, playing a hobo-ish persona... how can you say that most white men are portrayed as the rich ones? This poor little dude suffers so much in that one film... clearly he isn't subject to the white privilege... so not all media is like that... at least not all older media...

The bit about an African-American Cinderella? It's been done! There was that movie (produced by Disney I believe) that had Brandi as the lead lady... doing exactly what the cartoon Cinderella does. I don't remember precisely what it was called... for some reason Ever After comes to mind but that's the one with Drew Barrymore I think, but it has been done. And what about Aladdin? That Disney cartoon clearly wasn't your average "fair skinned" princess... Jasmine was of a more olive complexion, and she is still one of Disney's six Princesses. Clearly that just makes her the more special one (she's always been one of my favorites... Cinderella is over rated anyway).

The part about the Cinderella with "big hips" and wearing the "dazzling gold sandles" was rather amusing. It brought into mind the movie Phat Girls, which I loved, because it showed that big girls are beautiful too. In that movie, two Nigerian men choose the two larger of the three girls, arguing amongst themselves in Nigerian on who gets the third, the "toothpick" who "is obviously sick". Big girls should love themselves, cuz one of my best friends is a big girl, and she's damn proud!!! Heart you mucho my friend :)

But yes I agree that it is very true that kids learn a lot from what they see in the media. There's even a Disney group on facebook dedicated to it called "Disney gave me unrealistic expectations about love." (which i agree with and am a member of lol) But isn't to find the guy what most girls have dreamt of throughout history? Regardless of the media? Think about it, we didn't even have T.V. in older times where a girls fondest wish was to find the man of her dreams and settle down... yes i'll admit its mine too... even though i haven't exactly found that dream man...

Talking Points #3 on Carlson

"Gayness, Multicultural Education, and Community" by Dennis Carlson

This article is about:

• the creation of the terms associated with Homosexual peoples
• the view that Homosexual peoples are "ill"
• avoidance of using Homosexuality as a reference
• avoidance of asking someone of their sexual preference
• discrimination against Homosexual peoples
• suicide rates among Homosexual individuals

Author's Arguement:
Carlson argues that the world's people have created the image of Homosexuality being "bad" or being an "illness". He is arguing that it is hard enough for people who are Homosexual to live in a world full of discrimination, without the prejudices of close-minded people.

Evidence:

1. "...while other individuals and subject positions (i.e. black, working class, female, homosexual, etc.) are disempowered and represented as deviant, sick, neurotic, criminal, lazy, lacking in intelligence, and in other ways, "abnormal".
   This quote shows that many people are subject to the view that they are "ill" when in fact they have not chosen the way in which they are living. Obviously, African American peoples did not choose their skin color, women their gender, Homosexuals their sexual preference or working class citizens their stations in life. It is simply something we are all born into, and being a female I can personally attest to that. However they are trying to pin these people as being "sick" or "criminal".
2. "In such an environment, it should hardly be surprising that major textbook publishers avoid gayness like the plague. English literature anthologies still go out of their wayt ot avoid acknowledging that certain famous writers were gay, such as Gertrude Stein Walt Whitman, or James Baldwin."
   I think this is a changing thing, but it is true that most teacher's try not to tell people that some of the most esteemed people in their culture are gay. Look at Elton John or Ellen Degeneres? There was a rather large outburst at their coming out of the closet because of their high places in culture, however every one in the world has learned to get over it because they are good people. Homosexual's are all good people, and it's time the world got over it.
3. "For example, it is now estimated that up to one-third of all adolescent suicide victims are gay, approximately one-quarter of all homeless youth in the United States are gay, and dropout and drug abuse rates among gay youth are likewise high."
   Well it's no wonder, when they are put under such disgusting scrutiny. It is an appalling thing to know that most suicides are because people have come out of the closet.

Comments:
This article really opened my eyes, because I have grown up with a cousin who is a Lesbian all of my life. Nobody in my family really cares because we've all known and accepted her for who she is. We all attended her commitment ceremony (except for a few who don't particularly matter in the least anyway) and we all accept her Life Partner as part of our family, partially because she's been around since I was about 6 years old. But it is true that Homosexual couples are alienated. At the commitment ceremony (which was held outside) it was astounding the amount of people who would stop in their cars to see the wedding party, but then drive away at about 80 mph when they saw it was between two women. I honestly think the world needs to grow up, Homosexuality is a fact of life, and I would not give up my Gay or Lesbian, or even my Bi friends for the world. They are awesome people, just like anybody else.