This semester hasn't been as intense as I thought. Maybe because I didn't have to really write a thesis (which I will later regret). I think this class in particular has pushed me to examine my writing vs. the writing I'll be expecting from my students. I was a strong writer in high school and then I came to college where it all turned to mush. I hope that some of the strategies I learned in this class, I will apply with my future students.
Blogging has been common this semester with this class and another. I have to say, I really enjoy it because it's convenient, I can write what I want, and people actually read it. I would definitely apply this to my future class because I think a common thing with high school students is that they always have something to say and blogging is a great place for them to say it!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Argument Paper
The American educational system is about competition and success of the individual. Majority of the content students learn in school is geared towards an exam that represents each student as a numerical value, which in turn creates competition. Another reason why the American educational system is about competition and success of the individual is because learning is individual based and not group based. Lastly, because the system focuses on individual success, it has caused more students to fall through the cracks while a few succeed.
If the American educational system must have students learn one thing, it is that they must be the best. Relatively, they must learn to compete with their neighbor, their friend, and with China, Japan, and Finland. President Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Duncan passed a bill in 2009 entitled, “Race to the Top.” By examining the title of the bill alone, one can see that the words “race” and “top” have a direct correlation to the idea of competition. In fact, the bill is described as a competition, “… states that outperform the rest will be rewarded with a grant”, said President Obama (www.ed.gov/pressrelease). What does this mean for students? They are trained to “outperform” their peers that will in term “outperform” schools; schools will “outperform” districts, and so on, leading to “outperforming” states. The quality of learning is not mentioned anywhere in this bill unless one counts setting benchmarks for standards and assessments. The educational system is teaching students that in order to be successful, you must out-beat the rest. Meaningful learning is negated when administration and teachers are pressured to educate students through the idea that they must receive a grade. If children are raised to believe that being unique is just as important as being number one, than we might as well raise them all to be the same.
Diverging from the fact that the educational system is about competition rather than quality learning, competition can be likened to an innate instinct, which in turn makes it an uncontrollable part of human nature. Take “Darwinism” for example, survival of the fittest. People will always do better than others in a various things in life. Competition creates people who can achieve what they want and hence help a society foster the things they need in order to survive. Therefore, education must be competitive because it weeds out those who are inept to performing certain tasks for society’s needs and wants. Success of the individual to “outperform” will create many successful individuals who can then group together to attain a common goal.
Jobs are now seeking for future employees that can work collaboratively, think critically and creatively. How are we preparing students to attain these jobs? Individualized learning is about individual success. Yes, it is important for each person in society to be as successful as they hoped to be, but if success means only caring about the wellbeing of the self, then we cannot see that we need to support the wellbeing of others. In the book, Waiting for Superman, Lesley Chilcott explains her observations of a group of kindergarteners. Each student had to draw a picture of what their father looked like. She compares this activity with a similar one in Japan. Contrastingly, in Japan, the teacher would have students create one image together of how a father would look. There are many reactions that people had about both approaches. The American classroom may be emphasizing difference and uniqueness but the Japanese classroom is emphasizing the fact that “all the kids in the class are learning together, with no one left out” (Chilcott pg. 49). Japan bases most of their facets on collaborative learning and it shows in their ranking world-wide. Ranking seems to be the most important aspect of education not only in America but around the world. With all this ranking and competition to get to the top, what do people or countries receive when they get there? Prestige, honor, and gloating rights may feel like success has been achieved but students are not influenced that learning is a lifelong process or that they must share what they learn with others.
With those students who do reach to the top, there are many who are left behind to fall through the cracks. The educational system promotes that every child can and will be successful but we made this idea an empty promise. A perfect example of this is “No Child Left Behind Act” (NCLB). Raising standards does not necessarily mean that every student can reach it. Standards were not met before with the same approach of learning, therefore raising standards while keeping the same approach will only result in more student failure. The ideas “NCLB” and “Race to the Top” are completely the same; both strive on competition and individual student- state success. Students are unable to process the benefits of working together towards one goal if even those who create laws seem to want to out rank one another. The educational system is forgetting the ideals that it was based on and the ideals it teaches its students every day in history class. America’s revolutions were formed on the idea that many people got together in a group and decided to produce change. Yet, students today are growing up in a world that is more importantly about themselves than the affect they have on the world.
http://ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/07/07242009.html
If the American educational system must have students learn one thing, it is that they must be the best. Relatively, they must learn to compete with their neighbor, their friend, and with China, Japan, and Finland. President Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Duncan passed a bill in 2009 entitled, “Race to the Top.” By examining the title of the bill alone, one can see that the words “race” and “top” have a direct correlation to the idea of competition. In fact, the bill is described as a competition, “… states that outperform the rest will be rewarded with a grant”, said President Obama (www.ed.gov/pressrelease). What does this mean for students? They are trained to “outperform” their peers that will in term “outperform” schools; schools will “outperform” districts, and so on, leading to “outperforming” states. The quality of learning is not mentioned anywhere in this bill unless one counts setting benchmarks for standards and assessments. The educational system is teaching students that in order to be successful, you must out-beat the rest. Meaningful learning is negated when administration and teachers are pressured to educate students through the idea that they must receive a grade. If children are raised to believe that being unique is just as important as being number one, than we might as well raise them all to be the same.
Diverging from the fact that the educational system is about competition rather than quality learning, competition can be likened to an innate instinct, which in turn makes it an uncontrollable part of human nature. Take “Darwinism” for example, survival of the fittest. People will always do better than others in a various things in life. Competition creates people who can achieve what they want and hence help a society foster the things they need in order to survive. Therefore, education must be competitive because it weeds out those who are inept to performing certain tasks for society’s needs and wants. Success of the individual to “outperform” will create many successful individuals who can then group together to attain a common goal.
Jobs are now seeking for future employees that can work collaboratively, think critically and creatively. How are we preparing students to attain these jobs? Individualized learning is about individual success. Yes, it is important for each person in society to be as successful as they hoped to be, but if success means only caring about the wellbeing of the self, then we cannot see that we need to support the wellbeing of others. In the book, Waiting for Superman, Lesley Chilcott explains her observations of a group of kindergarteners. Each student had to draw a picture of what their father looked like. She compares this activity with a similar one in Japan. Contrastingly, in Japan, the teacher would have students create one image together of how a father would look. There are many reactions that people had about both approaches. The American classroom may be emphasizing difference and uniqueness but the Japanese classroom is emphasizing the fact that “all the kids in the class are learning together, with no one left out” (Chilcott pg. 49). Japan bases most of their facets on collaborative learning and it shows in their ranking world-wide. Ranking seems to be the most important aspect of education not only in America but around the world. With all this ranking and competition to get to the top, what do people or countries receive when they get there? Prestige, honor, and gloating rights may feel like success has been achieved but students are not influenced that learning is a lifelong process or that they must share what they learn with others.
With those students who do reach to the top, there are many who are left behind to fall through the cracks. The educational system promotes that every child can and will be successful but we made this idea an empty promise. A perfect example of this is “No Child Left Behind Act” (NCLB). Raising standards does not necessarily mean that every student can reach it. Standards were not met before with the same approach of learning, therefore raising standards while keeping the same approach will only result in more student failure. The ideas “NCLB” and “Race to the Top” are completely the same; both strive on competition and individual student- state success. Students are unable to process the benefits of working together towards one goal if even those who create laws seem to want to out rank one another. The educational system is forgetting the ideals that it was based on and the ideals it teaches its students every day in history class. America’s revolutions were formed on the idea that many people got together in a group and decided to produce change. Yet, students today are growing up in a world that is more importantly about themselves than the affect they have on the world.
http://ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/07/07242009.html
Sunday, November 27, 2011
For a Moment.
This week, Occupy News posted the following picture. What do you see? People bending down as a few men hold hands.
What it is: Tahrir Square, Cairo: Christians protecting Muslims at prayer.
When I first saw this picture and read the caption, I was so moved that my eyes began to tear. I've always believed that our differences in beliefs have caused the most tragedy in this world. When we reject what we don't understand or fear, we lose out in the biggest opportunity to look into a different perspective. Egypt has a history of tension between their Muslim and Christian communities. In this picture, the citizens of Egypt are united in acting against their government and police force. It's the first time in many years that common people have revolted as a mass against their government. What is so moving to me is that people were able to put away their differences and protect one another. For a moment, no one was better than anyone else, no one's belief or religion was stronger. For a moment, people protected people.
Could you imagine the power we'd have if we'd commonly practice respect and appreciation for other human beings? Power. When I think of that word, I think of money, status, and greed. It's rare that I think of "good power.” What does "good power” look like?
It looks like this picture.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
This post is a commentary to: Arielle Hall's post: http://liberatedbythewords.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-much-can-you-or-i-change.html
I think that as a country, we hope to not be controlled by our past, so we record everything, hoping we'd never let history repeat itself. Yet, we are sitting in a continouse black hole in space that looks the same on every angle.
I think that we've become immune to seeing problems and never drawing more than one solution. We go with the only solution that we believe is good enough. War, is a good example of that.
I agree with you, Arielle, when you say "The problem I am still grappling with my relationship with the world." For, I too am grappling with that relationship;especially since we both hope to mark the world with change. It's hard to go about doing it because we're never taught how. I hope that being a teacher will open the most important door for change in the world.
I think that as a country, we hope to not be controlled by our past, so we record everything, hoping we'd never let history repeat itself. Yet, we are sitting in a continouse black hole in space that looks the same on every angle.
I think that we've become immune to seeing problems and never drawing more than one solution. We go with the only solution that we believe is good enough. War, is a good example of that.
I agree with you, Arielle, when you say "The problem I am still grappling with my relationship with the world." For, I too am grappling with that relationship;especially since we both hope to mark the world with change. It's hard to go about doing it because we're never taught how. I hope that being a teacher will open the most important door for change in the world.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Do you have U.D.S?
U.D.S: Ugly Duckling Syndrome. Yeah, I had no idea what this was until I heard it from a comedian. According to Urban Dictionary, it’s:
Ugly Duckling Syndrome:
“A Girl who grew up all her life unattractive until High School or College when she then "Blossomed" into a really hot girl. Unlike naturally pretty girls though, her self-esteem is pretty low (As it'll almost permanently be for life) but, she has a good heart, personality, and soul because that's all she could afford to have when she was unattractive. Also, any girl with UDS, will go out with any guy cause to her "Looks Doesn't Matter. As long as they have a good Sense of Humor." As long as they never realize that they're a Ten, they'll always be humbled and down to earth.
A girl with the Ugly Duckling Syndrome or UDS, is The Perfect Catch! She's a Perfect 10 both in and out and she'll do whatever you want her to do! She'll date anybody and could never do anything wrong to you because to her, she's lucky just to have you!”
–Urbandictionary.com
Based on other websites where I searched for the definition, I noticed that this UDS seems to be common in females than male. This obviously made me think of the story, “The Ugly Duckling”, in fact, in the original story, the duckling was a male. It’s interesting how self-conscious and self-esteem issues are more often portrayed in women when men feel the same way. Men may not display their feeling the same or deal with them in the same way, but they do have their days/moments when they’re not feeling their best.
I’m not sure I even like the term “U.D.S.” because it denounces a transformation that someone makes. In fact, what makes someone feel ugly before they feel beautiful is the fact that everyone else thought they were ugly. They seemed “different” because they did not have similar traits like everyone else. This is where being different as an adolescent is rejected and then accepted as an adult. We can’t seem to win with “difference,” either you’re rejected or admired. It is society that is labeling the word “different” and not the individual person.
If we change in looks or personality, media/society should not have the right to label that too. Our change is our work, our sweat, our time, how dare we “diagnose” that! Mad rude.
To anyone who has transformed in any positive way, congrats to you! No, you don’t have UDS, you’ve always been beautiful. I’m sorry people have made you feel otherwise. I’m sorry you let yourself feel otherwise.
Ugly Duckling Syndrome:
“A Girl who grew up all her life unattractive until High School or College when she then "Blossomed" into a really hot girl. Unlike naturally pretty girls though, her self-esteem is pretty low (As it'll almost permanently be for life) but, she has a good heart, personality, and soul because that's all she could afford to have when she was unattractive. Also, any girl with UDS, will go out with any guy cause to her "Looks Doesn't Matter. As long as they have a good Sense of Humor." As long as they never realize that they're a Ten, they'll always be humbled and down to earth.
A girl with the Ugly Duckling Syndrome or UDS, is The Perfect Catch! She's a Perfect 10 both in and out and she'll do whatever you want her to do! She'll date anybody and could never do anything wrong to you because to her, she's lucky just to have you!”
–Urbandictionary.com
Based on other websites where I searched for the definition, I noticed that this UDS seems to be common in females than male. This obviously made me think of the story, “The Ugly Duckling”, in fact, in the original story, the duckling was a male. It’s interesting how self-conscious and self-esteem issues are more often portrayed in women when men feel the same way. Men may not display their feeling the same or deal with them in the same way, but they do have their days/moments when they’re not feeling their best.
I’m not sure I even like the term “U.D.S.” because it denounces a transformation that someone makes. In fact, what makes someone feel ugly before they feel beautiful is the fact that everyone else thought they were ugly. They seemed “different” because they did not have similar traits like everyone else. This is where being different as an adolescent is rejected and then accepted as an adult. We can’t seem to win with “difference,” either you’re rejected or admired. It is society that is labeling the word “different” and not the individual person.
If we change in looks or personality, media/society should not have the right to label that too. Our change is our work, our sweat, our time, how dare we “diagnose” that! Mad rude.
To anyone who has transformed in any positive way, congrats to you! No, you don’t have UDS, you’ve always been beautiful. I’m sorry people have made you feel otherwise. I’m sorry you let yourself feel otherwise.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
"A Place Where Two Rivers Meet..."
“ A Place Where Two Rivers Meet…”
In a small village in Gujarat, India called Kadod, two rivers meet to create a passageway, still enough to still your heart. I was able to see the beauty these two rivers created from the back of Principal Mahida sir’s backyard. A tall, deeply rooted, old-aged tree sat pleasantly before this river as if it was there when the rivers met in matrimony. The tree was their witness.
A man on a boat caressed the water lightly with his fishing net hoping to catch enough fish to sell at the market. He was the only soul in the river that day as the sun set. The river help him afloat to the upmost esteem.
A young girl sat restlessly next to her grandfather wondering why he was staring at the river so wondrously.
“Grandfather,” she said “why are you staring at the river in that way?”
He smirked, letting out a small laugh. “Have I ever told you the story of how this river came into existence?” He watched as his granddaughter perked up in her posture awaiting for him to start his story.
_________
King Raj stood looking out of his balcony as he watched the sun disappear out of the sky, leaving rays of color upon little water that still belonged to the river that once lay greatly amongst his presence. He had great respect for the sun, but once it began to steal from his river, he only awoke every morning with the worry that the sun would take his river from him, and indeed it did. Now, what use to be a great river full of commerce, children splashing at one another carelessly, and women washing clothes vigorously, was a puddle and dry earth.
“Sire?”, King Raj’s thoughts were interrupted by his assistant, Kumar.
“Yes.” King Raj folded his hands behind his back and walked gracefully towards his desk. Sitting down, he lightly massaged his temples and took a sip of his cup of chai. The smell relaxed the folds in his forehead for a moment.
“Sire, your people are wondering what is it they will do for food now that the river is gone. How will our market thrive if our main staple is gone?” Kumar asked nervously, careful not to irritate King Raj even more with his endless questions. King Raj thought for a long moment. Once more, he looked out of his balcony. I cannot let my people starve, I must comfort them with some hope, he thought to himself.
He got up determinedly and exited his palace. Once he saw the crowd of worried mothers holding their crying babies, fathers carrying burdens upon their shoulders as they sat restlessly on the palace step, the determination ran furiously out of him, and he too began to feel the brunt of his people’s pain.
“ My people”, he said greatly “ I know we are at the most troublesome time, for we have no water, no fish, --no river. We must pray that the clouds bless us with the sound of rain in the days to come. I will not let you go hungry. For I too will remain hungry with you until we are all fed.” King Raj watched as his people rose with his words, growing slightly hopeful, then began to cheer. He let out a deep breath and walked back into his palace, Kumar following quickly behind him.
“ Sire, what exactly is your plan?” Kumar asked cleverly.
“ I’m not sure as yet…but I will find one.”
In a small village in Gujarat, India called Kadod, two rivers meet to create a passageway, still enough to still your heart. I was able to see the beauty these two rivers created from the back of Principal Mahida sir’s backyard. A tall, deeply rooted, old-aged tree sat pleasantly before this river as if it was there when the rivers met in matrimony. The tree was their witness.
A man on a boat caressed the water lightly with his fishing net hoping to catch enough fish to sell at the market. He was the only soul in the river that day as the sun set. The river help him afloat to the upmost esteem.
A young girl sat restlessly next to her grandfather wondering why he was staring at the river so wondrously.
“Grandfather,” she said “why are you staring at the river in that way?”
He smirked, letting out a small laugh. “Have I ever told you the story of how this river came into existence?” He watched as his granddaughter perked up in her posture awaiting for him to start his story.
_________
King Raj stood looking out of his balcony as he watched the sun disappear out of the sky, leaving rays of color upon little water that still belonged to the river that once lay greatly amongst his presence. He had great respect for the sun, but once it began to steal from his river, he only awoke every morning with the worry that the sun would take his river from him, and indeed it did. Now, what use to be a great river full of commerce, children splashing at one another carelessly, and women washing clothes vigorously, was a puddle and dry earth.
“Sire?”, King Raj’s thoughts were interrupted by his assistant, Kumar.
“Yes.” King Raj folded his hands behind his back and walked gracefully towards his desk. Sitting down, he lightly massaged his temples and took a sip of his cup of chai. The smell relaxed the folds in his forehead for a moment.
“Sire, your people are wondering what is it they will do for food now that the river is gone. How will our market thrive if our main staple is gone?” Kumar asked nervously, careful not to irritate King Raj even more with his endless questions. King Raj thought for a long moment. Once more, he looked out of his balcony. I cannot let my people starve, I must comfort them with some hope, he thought to himself.
He got up determinedly and exited his palace. Once he saw the crowd of worried mothers holding their crying babies, fathers carrying burdens upon their shoulders as they sat restlessly on the palace step, the determination ran furiously out of him, and he too began to feel the brunt of his people’s pain.
“ My people”, he said greatly “ I know we are at the most troublesome time, for we have no water, no fish, --no river. We must pray that the clouds bless us with the sound of rain in the days to come. I will not let you go hungry. For I too will remain hungry with you until we are all fed.” King Raj watched as his people rose with his words, growing slightly hopeful, then began to cheer. He let out a deep breath and walked back into his palace, Kumar following quickly behind him.
“ Sire, what exactly is your plan?” Kumar asked cleverly.
“ I’m not sure as yet…but I will find one.”
Monday, October 31, 2011
Invictus
Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
William Ernest Henley
I'm not sure what took me so long to ever read this poem. Maybe I have but the meaning wasn't probably the same for me back then or maybe I just didn't read it loud enough. You see, this poem serves great meaning to me today. Why? Because I am in a bit of a pickle. My degree is being tested every Thursday when I sit in the back of classrooms at Mineola H.S. The battle with myself is constantly at the highest peak of war and i ( the doubtful side) is winning against I.
I wish I could say that I have not "winced nor cried aloud" but indeed, i have. You will not find me unafraid, the truth is that i am. I fight everyday just like everyone else who fights every day. We fight because of who we are, because of what we look like, how we smell, what we wear, how we speak...everyone is fighting. Sometimes though,i believe we are mainly fighting ourselves for letting our souls become victims.
The word invisible usually has a negative connotation but right now, to me it means that my soul is so unconquerable that you just can't see it.
You can't see it because I am the captain of my being.
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
William Ernest Henley
I'm not sure what took me so long to ever read this poem. Maybe I have but the meaning wasn't probably the same for me back then or maybe I just didn't read it loud enough. You see, this poem serves great meaning to me today. Why? Because I am in a bit of a pickle. My degree is being tested every Thursday when I sit in the back of classrooms at Mineola H.S. The battle with myself is constantly at the highest peak of war and i ( the doubtful side) is winning against I.
I wish I could say that I have not "winced nor cried aloud" but indeed, i have. You will not find me unafraid, the truth is that i am. I fight everyday just like everyone else who fights every day. We fight because of who we are, because of what we look like, how we smell, what we wear, how we speak...everyone is fighting. Sometimes though,i believe we are mainly fighting ourselves for letting our souls become victims.
The word invisible usually has a negative connotation but right now, to me it means that my soul is so unconquerable that you just can't see it.
You can't see it because I am the captain of my being.
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