AUTHOR AND TITLE:
Allan Johnson - What can we do?

ARGUMENT:
The author argues that we need to face the issues that lie infront of us and find a way for change. We can't sweep problems under the rug because no one will take care of it for us if we don't do it ourselves.


QUOTES:

"We can't just stop using words like racism, sexism, and privilege, however, because these are tools that focus our awareness on the problem and all the forms it takes. Once we can see and talk about what's going on, we can analyze how it works as a system. We can identify points of leverage where change can begin."

-Not saying what should be said can cause a bigger problem rather than help change it. Not saying the words is no help. Say what you need to say. Put yourself out there. Be the cause of debate, at least this way you know you got somewhere. Just sitting around waiting for others to say the words is not going to change what you feel about the issues at hand. In order to begin the process of change you must be confident in yourself to be able to say the words no one else dares to say and talk about what you want to happen.



"The greatest barrier to change is that dominant groups don't see the trouble as their trouble, which means they don't feel obliged to do something about it. This happens for a variety of reasons: because they don't know the trouble exists in the first place, because they don't have to see it as their trouble, because they see it as a personal rather than a systemic problem, because they're reluctant to give up their privilege, because they feel angry and deprived and closed to the idea that they belong to privileged groups, because they're blinded by prejudice, because they're afraid of what will happen if they acknowledge the reality of privilege."

- People who think they aren't part of the problems we face are blind. It shows what kind of people they truely are. EVERYONE is part of the problems we see today. People reluctant to give up their privilege prove to be shelfish. There is no reason that any one person should feel as though they are too good to help people who are less privileged than they are. This quote really bothers me because when people are blind to what is going on around them or pretend that they don't see the problems of the world, they look fake and it shows their true colors. I am 19 and know more problems facing the world than some privileged people pretend not to see.


"As they work for change, it's easy for members of privileged groupS to lose sight of the reality of privilege and its consequences
and the truth that the trouble around privilege is
their trouble as much as anyone else's."



"There are no easy answers to the question of what can we do
about the problem of privilege. There is no twelve-step program,
no neat set of instructions. Most important, there is no
way around or over it: the only way out is through it. We won't
end OppreSSion by pretending it isn't there Or that We don't
have to deal with it."



"Dare to make people feel uncomfortable, beginning withyourself At the next local school board meeting, for example, you can ask why principals and other administrators are almost alwayswhite and male (unless your system is an exception that proves the rule), while the teachers they supervise are mostly women and people of color. Or look at the names and mascots used bylocal sports teams and see if they exploit the heritage and identity of Native Americans; if that's the case, ask principals and coaches and owners about it.6 Consider asking similar kinds ofquestions about privilege and difference in your place of worship, workplace,
and local government."

-There are way too many times when people hold themselves back instead of bringing up the real issues. Why feel ashamed or not welcome to speak your mind. It is okay to bring up a topic in which others are afraid of doing themselves. Matters will not begin to change on their own, nevermind if you are too afraid to talk about it because you might make people uncomfortable.


COMMENTS:
- This was a really long read and VERY repetative. I almost fell asleep. Some parts caught my attention. I basically felt overwhelmed with reading so much. It was good overall.


Title and Author:
Citizenship in School: Reconceptualizing Down Syndrome- Christopher Kliewer

Argument:
Kliewer argues that children with down syndrome should not be "segragated from the opportunities afforded [to] nondisabled peers." That everyone in your community should be included and feel well represented, seen for who they are, instead of not involving them. This web of community can not happen if people aren't open and accepting of others.

Quotes:
"How absurd to be judged by others at all, especially by those who have never experienced a disability or who are unwillingly providing us with support or who don't listen to the voices we have."
This quote popped out to me because 1- it explains, first hand, how a child with disabilities really feels, and 2- it makes all of those people who have unwillingly provided their support and judged them realize that these children do know whats fake and whats not and what is going on around them. Having a disability does not mean you don't/ can't comprehend what is taking place around you. These children still have emotions and opinions. I will admit that when I was younger I would joke about children with disabilities to my friends. I figured if they were doing it I should too. I was so wrong.....doing what I did not only made me feel like a jerk, but proved that who I hung out with was not the people I wanted to be friends with anymore. How could I judge or make fun of someone when I had no idea what they were going through...what their day-to-day stuggles were when I had not one.This was a turning point for me because I knew from way back that I wanted to teach children with disabilities, so what kind of teacher would I be, really, if I made fun of my peers with them? Durning middle school one of my close friends had Down Syndrome and she did not need people unwillingly helping her. She was one of the smartest people I have ever met in my life. I now look up to people with disabilities because they are some of the strongest people you will ever meet.

"'It's not like they come here to be labeled, or to believe the label. We're all here--kids, teachers, parents, whoever--it's about all of us working together, playinmg together, being together, and that's what learning is. Don't tell me any of these kids are being set up to fail.'"
This quote really amazed me. Not only did it send a good message, but this teacher is speaking from her heart. She understands what she has to do in her classroom to ensure that everyone is learning and will not have people tell her otherwise. This quote reminds me of my service learning because the teacher I am with had a classroom that had what she called "typicals" mixed with children with disabilities. She had told me that it was her best class in a long time. She had said that the autistic children who had begun the year with few words were ending the year reading stories to her and this was because the "typicals" would help them as well. She told me that the autistic children would mimic what the others were doing, which helped with their fine motor skills as well as their language. This year, her classroom is not separated and it is harder for the children to latch on to what she is doing because there are no examples. I believe all children have the ability to learn and teachers should not be put down or told that what they are attempting is far out of reach. Anything is possible. Children are children no matter what they can and can not do.


"Along with recognizing an individual's ability to think, Bogdan and Tatlor (1989) suggest that respect and citizenship require a realization of the person's indviduality. This is as true in school relationships asit is in our community relationships."

"School citizenship requires that students not be categorized and separated based on presumed defect. The phenomenon of categorization at the expense of individual value has been described as a "disibility spread" in which we 'extrapolate the characteristics we associate with the notion of disability to the particular individuals we meet. These perceptions are often based on stereotypes and what we think we know about a particular disibility. They are expressed in predictable ways. For example, 'All people with Down Syndrome are happy." (Van Der Klift & Kunc, 1994,p. 398.)"
It is soooo common to have stereotypes such as the one in the quote. People don't understand that whether it is a nice stereotype or a mean stereotype it's still a stereotype and it may not be true at all. This quote got me fired up, so I researched some stereotypes:
MYTH: A person with a disability is sick, or has something wrong with them.

FACT: Disability is a natural part of the human experience, and it is not the same as being sick. Individuals with disabilities have varying degrees of need, and are sometimes sick, just as non-disabled are sometimes sick. Mistaking a disability for sickness not only fails to sometimes sick. Mistaking a disability for sickness not only fails to respond to a person's needs, it perpetuates a negative stereotype and an assumption that the person can and should be cured.

MYTH: People with disabilities have a poor quality of life.

FACT: This is one of the most common and damaging stereotypes, because it discourages social interactions and the development of mature relationships. People with disabilities have needs just like those who are non-disabled, and they strive for a high degree of quality of life as other individuals. Society handicaps individuals by building inaccessible schools, theaters, homes, buses, etc. The attitude that disability is a bad thing and that disability means a poor quality of life is often viewed as more disabling than the disability itself.

MYTH: People with disabilities are inspirational, brave, and courageous for living successfully with their disability.

FACT: A person with a disability a simply carrying out normal activities of living when they drive to work, go shopping, pay their bills, or compete in athletic events. Access to community based, long term service such as attendant care, access to buildings, public transportation, sidewalks, etc, access to quality health care, and necessary equipment enables them to carry on the same as non-disabled necessary equipment enables them to carry on the same as non-disabled people.

MYTH: People with disability always need expensive and high-tech assistive devices or services.

FACT: Simple inexpensive devices are often the most critical in helping people with a disability live independently. Assistive devices can be as affordable as an eating utensil or Velcro strap.

MYTH: People with severe disabilities need to live in nursing home or rehabilitation hospitals or under constant supervision so that they do not hurt themselves.

FACT: Unfortunately, this myth has created a system of long term care in our nation that relies on institutions such as nursing homes and other facilities. Even those with the most severe disabilities could live in their own home given adequate community based service, and at the very least, they should be given that choice.
(The Access Center)

Others say Autism coincides with being a genius.

This is something I found really interesting from the http://whatsortsofpeople.wordpress.com/2008/10/15/saturday-night-live-snl-parody-of-lennon-sisters-mocking-disabled-people/ website. Check it out.
Saturday Night Live (SNL) parody of Lennon sisters mocking disabled people
October 15, 2008 — stremain
A discussion on the Disability Studies in the Humanities listserv has centred around a skit recently performed on this American-produced late-night variety show. While SNL prides itself on being an alternative to mainstream television which pushes the limits of conventional cultural attitudes and mores, the skit serves to bolster deeply-entrenched biases, stereotypes, and ideas about disabled people (and disabled women in particular) as revolting, sexually disqualified, and so on. Check it out at the link below (uncaptioned of course):

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/the-lawrence-welk-show/727501/



Questions, Comments:

I'vesaid way too much already, for me to talk here would be babbling. =]


Title and Author:
Charles Lawrence- "One More River to Cross" - Recognizing the Real Injury in Brown: A Prerequisite to Shaping New Remedies

Author's Argument:

Lawrence argues that basically the Court failed to recognize the real nature of segregation in Brown. He says that all we are doing is taking steps, but in reality if something huge is not done to change all that has been going on for years, then our nation will never be one.

Quotes:

"Each step foward was just that, a step. There would always be "one more river to cross".
This quote was the first thing that stuck in my head that I just had to write down. This was the perfect way to start because it caught my attention. This makes me think back to high school. Learning about the Civil Rights and how things are going to change and black history month and all that jazz. I just remember everything blacks faught for not being enough. Blacks have made some of the most honorable, memorable and moving speeches and movements ever in history and it seems like although they made a great impact, it was not enough to change the world. They kept fighting and keep fighting to this day....just one more river to cross.....but how many "one more rivers" will there have to be?

Jim Crow laws- ""public symbols and constant reminder" of the inferior position of blacks."

"The Court said: "to separate [negro children] from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community in ways unlikely ever to be undone."
Separating children because of their race is a terrible thing to do. This can result in many different ways of handling such separation. Some kids can end up disgusted with their race and color because they feel like white is superior and in order to get anywhere in life you need to be white. This can cause depression in children of color because they may not get the proper education or best materials to work with. Their school may be far from home resulting in that child dropping out due to lack of money to bus them to school. This feeling may or may not change over time and blacks may hold grudges against whites for making them feel inferior.

"The Court then went on to quote the federal district court in Kansas the found "a sense of inferiority" engendered by segregated schools "has a tendency to [retard] the educational and mental development of negro children."


"In Keyes v. School District No.1 the Court found that there must be evidence that the racial imbalance in the schools was brought about by discriminatory actions of state authorities."

"They argue that blacks should not be granted so-called "preferential" treatment at the expense of whites who have played no part in denying them their rights."
This quote seriously made me laugh. For whites to say that they did not deny blacks from their rights is a joke. If whites didn't deny them do you think there would be separate schools, neighborhoods, restaraunts, buses etc.? And if blacks were granted equal rights it wouldn't be preferentail treatment. So what this is saying is that whites get preferential treatment and don't want to share their rights and wealth with people who are just as worthy as they are to have it.


Questions, Comments:
This piece was alright. I mean it was very long, but the content was incredible. I learned more about cases that I hadn't even heard of before. This piece really got me thinking about life and the struggle that so many have gone through that I will never have to experience. I guess its just one of those white privileges that are not asked for....the ability to not have to fight for rights and equality.....oh that Peggy McIntosh.....


Author and Title:
JEANNIE OAKES- TRACKING: WHY SCHOOLS NEED TO TAKE ANOTHER ROUTE

Argument:
This author argues that dividing students into groups based on their learning ability should not be done. This does not help the students who need the extra attention, but hurts their educational experience. Tracking does not have a place in the school system and is not logicalical.

Quotes:
"One fact about tracking is unequivocal: tracking leads to substantial differences in day-to-day learning experiences students have at school."

This quote means that separating students effects how they learn. By putting the "smart" students with the "smart" students what is that saying to the other group of students? That they are dumb? Now if I were in a classroom where I was shunned from sitting with the "smart" group I wouldn't want to learn. Tracking leads to certain groups feeling superior and as though they have the upper hand. But this can also be a problem because more is expected out of them which can "dumb-down" a once "smart" student. The bottom line is tracking should not be done.

"Start by providing the best teachers, a concentration of the most successful students and sometimes even the lowest class size. Add special resources, a sense of superior academic "mission," perhaps a parent support group, and these students will get the best education in town."

This quote really gets to me. So basically this quote says that only if you are smart do you get SPECIAL resorces to work with, and only if you are smart do you get the BEST education. Well I think that no matter how smart or how stupid some teachers may think a student is, they should get an equal education. What student is going to want to work hard if they have crappy old books while the "gifted" kids get brandnew books and computers to use in class? Not one. Oh and what makes me laugh is that these smart kids need a parent support group? Is this an AA meeting or school? I'm not quite sure....I just remember in my middle school being in regular classes while all of my cousins and friends were in the "gifted" program. It got me angry because I always felt inferior to them and that is how any other kid is going to feel if they see "smarter" kids getting special attention. In this quote they even add a "superior academic 'mission'" as though these students are secret agents and have a secret agenda that they live by. I don't know....maybe I'm just frustrated because I have walked in the shoes of the "not so smart" group.

"In classrooms where the curriculum consists of a sequence of topics and skills that require prerequisite knowledge and skill mastery, mixing students who have different skills is difficult."

I can clearly see where this would be difficult. All students learn at different pases and some hardly remember what they did 3 hours ago (like me) nevermind prior knowledge from years ago. In order for me to remember something for a long time it needs to be drilled into my brain with pictures and words and examples. Math is not one of my strong points so coming to college and being expected to remember algebra when I did that in the 9th grade was a joke. I worked hard for the B+ I received because I had to get retaught all of the information. It would be tough to split up students based on prior knowledge because you don't know what they do and don't know.




Questions, Comments?:
I pretty much said how I felt in response to the quote I mean I was one of those kids who would just stop caring. I had writings in my books, they were ripped and bent and old, while all these "smarter" kids walked around with the best of the best. Its hard getting split up because how you are in class could effect your friendships outside of the classroom. Tracking is bad........bad bad bad!


Name Of Author And Text
Joseph Kahne and Joel Westheimer - In Service of What? The Politics of Service Learning

Author's Arguement:
The authors argue that along with an experiment there has to be background information as well as a follow up. Service Learning is and should be supported, but there should be more to just going out and doing something for the community and calling it a day. There are standards and goals that should be met.

Quotes:
1) "The ability of a service learning curriculum to foster authentic, experience-based learning opportunities, to motivate students, to help students engage in higher order thinking in contextually varied environments, and to promote interdisciplinary studies has led some, such as John Brisco, a leader in the field,to label service learning 'the Trojan horse of school reform.'"
-When I think of the term Trojan Horse 2 things come to mind. One being bad- destruction, and the other being good- team work and togetherness. I believe service learning is a way to allow students to test the waters. Going into a career without having tried it first could be surprising or devistating, but when getting to work with others in your community and being able to not only help yourself, but others as well is a great thing. Service learning allows you to teach yourself while helping/teaching someone else. It is a nice feeling to know that you were the one who taught someone their ABC's or numbers.


2) "Our participation in acts of national service, he [Benjamin Barber] believes, is a 'prerequisite of citizenship' and essentional for democratic institutions.'"
- As much as I believe that service learning is an amazing program that people should take advantage of, I do not believe that a person should be forced to do so. I believe that people should have the choice of what they want to do with their time, and if SL is it then great, but if not than there is nothing really to do. I do not believe that acts of national service should be a prerequisite of citizenship because it is an unfair deal. What if you have children and a full time job, where is there time for SL? Whether the person wants to be a part of it or not there are things in life some people have to do for themselves and their families before they can reach out to others.

3) "Students tutor, coach softball, paint playgrounds, and read to the elderly because they are interested in people,or because they want to learn a little about poverty and racism before they head out into the waiting corporate world....We do not volunteer 'to make a statement,' or to use the people we work with to protest something. We try to se the homeless man, the hungry child, and the dying woman as the people they are, not the means to some political end."
- I really liked this quote because it is true. Some people volunteer to say they volunteered and did some community service, but others who are really passionate do not like others to look at them and think that they feel the same as those people. There are people who really do want to help and who devote all of there spare time to different organizations and such. Not just for how good it looks on a resume or college application, but they care...they actually care.

Comments:
I believe service learning is a great thing and everyone should WANT to do it. I love where I'm at. It is right across the street from my house and I can see the kids whenever they are out for recess when I am home. I love watching these children progress, sing, dance, count, and interact with one another all of which they hadn't done before. This article was long and boring most of the time, but there was plenty of quotes in this article that could fire up a well-planned conversation! :)


Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us - Christensen
Arguement:
Christensen argues that the media has corrupted the minds of children sending them false messages about life, people, and themselves. The media shows children the "right" way of life, but not reality.

Quotes:
1) "When we read children's books, we aren't just reading cute little stories, we are discovering the tools with which a young society is manipulated."
- When I was little (and still to this day) my favorite princess was Belle from Beauty and the Beast. I remember not caring about the words so much, but the pictures drilled themelves into my head. I loved how pretty she was, how well she could sing, her hair and makeup perfect. Not an ounce of fat on her perfect little body. She was white with brown hair and I used to think I was her....(that was until I fell inlove with Pocahontas). Then there was the beast, dark fur, ugly face, lived alone.....up until he found love did he turn into a handsome white man. Belle meaning beauty was a white female kidnapped by this beast, who was very dark (reminding me of African American) locked in a dungeon until she found the good in him. This portrays a lot of things that maybe children can not put together, but will learn to see. And it is not only in princess stories or cartoons, but chapter books as well. As a child I read the story Oliver Twist which portrayed all homeless people to be theives. Although this is not true it was what was instilled in my mind until my Uncle Jack became homeless. He did not steal a dime off of anyone, but I was afraid of him because I was afraid of the characters in the book. I had it in my head that my own uncle would steal from me.

2) "Brazilian educator Paulo Freire wrote that instead of wrestling with words and ideas, too often students 'walk on the words.'"
- People don't take the time to "dissect" what they allow their children to watch. Some parents let they're kids watch whatever they want just to keep them quiet and out of their hair. What they don't know is that their children are thinking ok if mommy lets me watch this then it must be ok, so they mimmic what they see. My nephew Jason watches horrible cartoons that are given on cartoon network, and he loves hitting people because that is what he sees. One night I was kneeling down outside killing a slug with salt...haha....and he came and punched my right in the middle of my back screaming somethinghe heard on a cartoon. This was no light punch it left a bruise on my back! Parents don't pay close enough attention to certain things that should matter to them because their child is slowly, but surely being affected by it.

3) "No one wants to admit they've been 'handled' by the media."
- Speaks for itself.

4) "Happiness means getting a man, and transformation from wretched conditions can be achieved though consumption - in their case, through new clothes and new hairstyle."
- Every fairytale ends with the girl getting the guy. Is that the only source of happiness in ones life? This means every girl needs a man to be happy....which is not true. And for those girls who are bisexual, or lesbian this is a slap in the face. Are they wrong for not wanting that PRINCE charming as their happy ending? Just like that book King and King they took it out of schools for the last page of them kissing.....for a boy who is gay,that shows that it is frowned upon to show affection to the one you love. Not everyone's happy ending is going to be the same. These stories also show that you need to be pretty in order to be loved. You must change your clothes and put on an act to get someone to fall inlove with you. These are things being thrown at children secretly. These subliminal messages that make our kids self concious and insane about looking good to take a walk down the street.

Comments:
- Reading this article made me think back to the essay I wrote on subliminal messages in Disney movies. All of the inappropriate drawings that flash too quickly through a film for you to see. You can actually You Tube the words "Subliminal Messages" and a bunch of results will come up. I believe that the media has a tremendous influence on the way children grow up to act, but it is everywhere and it's not going to stop. As much as I would like to put on a cartoon and not see a race being made fun of just to boost ratings or practically anorexic pricesses hobbling around acting helpless and in need of a man to save them, it's not going to happen. Disney Princess are classics and no matter what messages are in them who doesn't love to sit and watch a disney classic? You can stop your child from watching cartoons, but its not like they won't be influenced by the outside world. You can't keep your child in a shell. They are going to make decisions on their own and find out about life whether it be superficial or something else. You can teach your child what you see and what you know, but ultimately they will decide what they want for themselves. Whether they want to spend all of their money on designer clothes, shoes, and makeup. Whether they want to wear something that will most likely get them the guy they want. No matter what we think, children have a mind of their own and their isn't much we can do to change them.
My little sister Marrina is COMPLETELY not what I expected her to be, and in a way I'm glad. I mean she gets on my nerves a lot and I can't stand talking to her at times, but she's her own person. She was born prematurely at 1lb 4oz and had plenty of complications but as she got older she was so cute! We dressed her in doll clothes and pink bows. Well we knew she was different the day she started playing with watches. She never liked Barbies. She would only play with watches and duck tape. She would run around on all fours like a wacko (she thought she was a Pokemon). She grew out of watches and resulted in paper. Now she makes "paper friends" and draws all day long. She comes up with the weirdest stories....but she's herself. She doesn't wear pink, she likes rock music, she could care less about what people think of her, she's bisexual and happy and would like to grow up to be an Animator. People at school make fun of her for not wearing Abercrombie and Hollister (the brands I like), but she brushes it off because she likes who she is.