"In the Service of What?" by Joseph Kahne and Joel Westheimer

REFLECTION

I think that Service Learning is very important and I am pleased that there are so many advocates of Service Learning. In the beginning of the article a very important statement is made and that is the statement about the true goal of Service Learning. It talks about the goals to find a common ground between Democratic and Republican parties. The main point of Service Learning is to get people involved in the community and more aware of their surroundings and what they can do to help! My favorite quote was when Mr. Johnson said "...learning while using the community as a classroom". That is such a great way to look at it and that is how it should be looked at. If children work with others that are less fortunate than they are, it opens their eyes to the world and shows them that not everyone has the same privileges that they have!

I made a connection to Ms. Adams story right away. In one of my other classes we talk about children in poverty and we recently watched a documentary on America's homeless children. Watching that documentary made me want to reach out to the homeless, so reading about what Ms. Adams and her class did made me very happy. As the article says the project stresses the importance of compassion. As I was reading this part of the article I kept thinking back to the documentary I watched and if those families had the community reach out to them it could have helped them a great deal! Especially the children of these families, they were born into that life, they are helpless in the situation of homelessness, so I feel that it would be very important to reach out to those homeless children. 

When it comes to the difference between Mr. Johnson and Ms. Adams approach to Service Learning, I personally like Ms. Adams approach a little bit more. I think it is very smart for the students to get educated. By the students gaining all of this background information on homelessness I think it makes it a lot easier for them to empathize and understand the Service Learning! I think if children are given the opportunity to do Service Learning they will be more likely to volunteer and help in their community! I think by having children participate in Service Learning we are improving our schools, students and communities.

Comments: I think that schools should require Service Learning for students. When I was in high school I volunteered in a soup kitchen for community service. My friend that had done it before told me that the people were very mean, so at first I was a little nervous for it. But when I did it the people didn't seem mean at all. Some of them kept to themselves, but that didn't mean they were mean. I think if my friend had a background on homelessness she might have known some homeless don't like having to get food at shelters, so they may come off as abrasive or unappreciative when in reality they are very appreciative.

Hyperlink: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK4PvcVAbes

About a family that was facing getting split up, started living in a van and now live in a motel. People should be educated and aware that this happens to people and families everyday. 

I chose this cartoon to give a glimpse of some of the ignorance today's children face. They are growing up in such a disconnect world with so much technology and distractions I feel that it is extra important to get them into Service Learning and connected to the community!

"Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us" by Linda Christensen

ARGUMENT

In this article Christensen argues that cartoons and the media play a major role in teaching children how to act, live and dream. 

This article has a big impact because Christensen uses students to show a true understanding of the subject matters that are discussed. In the beginning of the article he uses a students actual writing sample to show her frustration. She didn't want to believe that her thoughts and views had been molded by the media and other influences. I think it was important to use this example. But even this student realizes it is something she needs to acknowledge. She referred to these cartoons and other influences "secret education". Her main goal was to make her students really listen and watch cartoons and make notes of certain influences. She specifically states in the end of the article "I look for opportunities for students to act on their knowledge." And by giving them assignments that make them think about what they are seeing and hearing they really can act on their knowledge. If they continuously know how to identify specific signs in media. She would really have her students break it down and it was a great way for them to get a deep understanding. 

Comments: I think Christensen gave great examples of cartoons like "Looney Tunes" and others that would portray stereotypes. I think Christensen's students were able to get deep insight on what they had been exposed to for their entire lives. I was also very happy to hear that his students enjoyed sharing with the world the effect that the cartoons and media can have on children. It also makes me think of how media has influenced my life. I own UGGs and a Northface, but when I was purchasing these items, not once did i think to myself "I'm buying this because I have been influenced to buy it" but thinking about it, that's just what it is, people don't normally know that they are being influenced even when they clearly are!

Hyperlink: http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/jokes-you-never-got-as-a-kid#45m9jt6

These are 19 inappropriate messages that were in the shows I would watch as a kid, not that they influenced me, but it goes to show how many things are in the media that we might not even notice.

Great picture to depict how the medias feeds us ideas and I notice that the guy in the chair looks unhappy and just not alive! I think sometimes the media can make us somewhat zombie-like. Sometimes changing who we are as an individual.

"Speaking the unspeakable in forbidden places: addressing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in the primary school" by Alexandra Allan

QUOTES

This article raises some great point about addressing LGBT education at an early age in the schools. The introduction starts off with the production of school as a heterosexual place and that is a very important statement to consider. To clarify that statement about the schools the article states "... a place where childhood is both nurtured and sheltered, and attempts to address what are seen as 'adult' issues are sometimes seen as intrusions into or threats to this safety zone." Our society had become so accustom to hiding what might make people "different" from the norm. I think many people are afraid if this subject is introduced at an early age maybe their children will become gay. It is a somewhat ridiculous thought but I think people and especially parents are afraid of the change. Society looks at childhood as a time of innocence and there are some thoughts that introducing this material may be too adult for them. When in reality introducing this subject matter to them at this young age might make them more accepting of others!

I think that the No Outsiders program is a great idea that they have been putting in place in some schools. Laura, a lesbian elementary school teacher, seemed very nervous about introducing the idea of a woman with another woman. Her students seemed to understand the concept of a man with another man, but how would they react to this? After reading about a prince with another prince " Laura observed that most pupils did not react negatively to the outcome, although mention of lesbians evoked laughter and cries of 'yuk'." There are positive and negative aspects about this quote. The positive is that children seem to be more increasingly accepting of the thought of a man with another man. The downside is that there still seems to be hesitation by students when it comes to a woman with another woman. But I think by being introduced to role models that are lesbians such as their teacher, they will quickly become accepting and have a better understanding of lesbians as well as gays. I think Laura sets a great example for her students!

Towards the end of the article Kate talks to the class about certain words that could be offensive to. It is not uncommon, even today, to hear someone use the term 'gay' with a negative connotation. People will use it as an insult to someone that isn't even gay. So are we implying that being gay is bad if we are using it as an insult? I sure think so, which is why I think it is very important to inform children that it is not okay to say that! This teacher talked with her students "asking the class how she might feel if she were called gay, informing the children that she was gay" This was a very important step for the teacher and her students.

Comments: I think that this was a great article! I think that the No Outsiders project is a great way to introduce LGBT into the classroom. Books are a great way to introduce new subjects to children. In the beginning of the article I wasn't surprised to read that Laura's co-worker, who is also a Jehovah's witness, hid the books behind shelves. I think that is reprehensible considering those books are to educate children. Even if her personal values were against it, I think the children still had a right to be educated on the subject!

Hyperlink: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJw3s85EcxM
About 11 Year Jazz who was born a boy but lives as a girl. She talks about being called a freak and how people treat her differently after they know. But despite how some people react i've never seen such a happy little girl! She's inspiring!

"The Silenced Dialogue" by Lisa Delpit

REFLECTION

I think it was great that Delpit chose to use the title "Silenced Dialogue" for this particular piece of writing. I had an idea of what the title could mean but it was clarified a few pages into the reading. She gave great examples of a teacher trying to talk about her experiences and just getting nods. The teacher was saying that they just nod. People don't want to hear what she has to say, they just want to go off of what research written by white people tells them. Delpit found a connecting theme of the silenced dialogue and it was "The culture of Power".

The culture of power is in our every day lives and I could see how it would easily connect to the silenced dialogues. There are certain people, especially whites, that have an entitled sense of power which can also relate back to SCWAMP. There is no doubt that some still view whiteness as superior or "Privileged". Which in many cases is still true. I remember a few classes ago one of my classmates was telling me a story about one of her relatives named Jose. I believe he was Mexican and he had been applying for jobs and been unsuccessful. So on his application he changed his name to Joe and got the job. There are still those who view whiteness as superior which is how some whites may have this "Culture of power" that Delpit is referring to. Another great point that was raised in the reading was that people with power, often, don't acknowledge their power. They may find it uncomfortable.

Towards the end of the reading Delpit used a great example of a Native American girl that submitted a paper that had no technical structure.  She was suggesting in a meeting with the other teachers that they should make sure the students have technical writing skills before they reach the senior level. The responses were shocking with some teachers suggesting that those students shouldn't have been allowed into the teacher education program! I think it is absolutely ridiculous that these so-called "educators" are not putting an effort in to do their job correctly and for the benefit of the student. Delpit stated something that stuck with me, saying "To deny her entry under the notion of upholding standards is to blame the victim for the crime." This is very true, how can you blame a student for doing something wrong, when you didn't teach them how to do it correctly? The answer is simple. You can't, because that's ridiculous.

Comments: I think that Delpit used multiple great examples throughout the reading to really get her point across. Using the real life scenarios and examples is a great way to make the information stick with you! A lot of the material that was talked about and covered in this reading had many connections with in class discussions and other readings we have don this semester!

Hyperlink: Cultural Conflict in the Classroom - http://hepg.org/her-home/issues/harvard-educational-review-volume-65-issue-3/herbooknote/other-people-s-children_293

I thought this cartoon was a good example of culture of power because it shows the people that have power saying "Oh everything is just, and fine in the world" because they don't have to experience the bad and the people that don't have power saying how unfair things are because they are the ones living it.

"Why Can't She Remember That?" by Terry Meier

QUOTES

I think it only makes sense to start with the quote that is used as the title of the reading. It is also one of the most important quotes in the reading. Before I started the reading I assumed that the quote was an adult saying "Why can't she remember that?", but once I got further into the reading I found out that it was said by a bilingual Puerto Rican girl named Gabriela. This is an important quote because it was the little girl asking why her teacher couldn't remember the answer from the book they were reading. When the teacher asked "How many mittens are there?" Gabriela didn't understand that her teacher knew the answer and was just trying to engage the children in the classroom! Children from multicultural classrooms are not accustomed to the teacher asking questions with obvious answers. Before this reading I had not considered that some children may not understand that you know the answer and are asking them to keep them engaged!

The second quote that I chose from the reading was also very important and I believe as a future teacher it has a lot of relevance to me. Meier states "There is no more essential task for teachers in preschool and kindergarten classrooms than to help make books meaningful in children's lives." As teachers we must realize that not all children have the same privileges. Some children may come to preschool never having been read to before. As teachers we must be prepared to teach children about books and teach them to appreciate them as well. If you get little children interested in something chances are it is going to stick with them, which is the ultimate goal! If we read children books that have connections to their own lives they are more likely to take an interest in them. As educators this is an extremely important role and I was very glad Meier brought up this point.

The last quote I chose was towards the end of the reading when children were referred to as "information givers". It was brought up that we use a reward system in school and praise the children that give the right answers to questions. The reading goes on to talk about how children are just talk to spit back an answer. With all the standardized testing it only gets worse as kids move up to the higher grades. Children need to not always be robotic and spit out answers that they have been told are correct. Children should be using their creative minds to especially at younger ages. They should be engaged in their learning and interested, not just sitting there taking in the information.

Comments: I really enjoyed the end of the reading when Meier gave the three keys to get kids to enjoy books and literacy. The earlier children develop a deep connection with the books, there is a higher likelihood that they will do well in school. The three ways to get children into literacy were
1. Choose books that relate to children's lives
2. Teach book reading behaviors explicitly
3. Make books come alive

Hyperlink: Early Literacy- http://www.kindercare.com/for-parents/early-literacy/

This meme shows how important literacy can be in life and that is why it's so important to make sure children take an interest in literacy at a young age!

 

"Amazing Grace" by Jonathan Kozol

ARGUMENT

This author, Kozol, argues about the desolate conditions in the South Bronx area. He really attempts to open the readers eyes to the poverty conditions that these people are living in.

He tells his own personal story about his long walk with a 7 year-old boy named Cliffie, that goes to the St. Ann's Church. When the boy is walking him down all different streets around the church he would stop and tell him what certain places are. At one point they pass a building and Cliffie says "they burn bodies there.". Kozol expresses that the boy did not seem sad when he told him this. That really showed how even children have become so used the terror, and poverty that they live in. Kozol gave gruesome examples of murders that had taken place around that area and on guy was found in a bathtub and his had had been decapitated. He gets his message across in a very powerful way. When you bring children into the situation it automatically makes people listen more carefully because children don't chose to be living in those conditions, they are just born into that life. It really gets the message across. I really enjoyed this reading.

Comments: I think it was really great how Kozol described the church as the communities safe haven. A place that children and families can go to escape the violence that they live in. He used a great example of the pastor Martha Overall carrying a new baby. He referred the the church as a "gentle sanctuary" and the way he described it made it sound like that. As a reader it sort of gave me a glimpse of hope for the community and the people in it. There was clearly still good in this community and it gives hope that maybe they can spread that good and make their city a better and safer community.


http://ceadserv1.nku.edu/longa//public_html/heros/kozol.gif

Hello Friends,
My name is Jackie and I am a sophomore at RIC! I'm majoring in Early Childhood Education because I love working with kids! I've been coaching preschool gymnastics for 5 year and I absolutely love it :) I am also on the gymnastics team here at RIC and a short fun fact is that out of the 19 girls on the team I am the only education major! If I have any extra time in my schedule I enjoy watching t.v, most likely Law and Order: SVU. Other than that I like to hangout with my friends like many other college students! I look forward to getting to know everyone this semester!