Education is Politics

1. "If I were a primary grade teacher, I would devote my time to problems of socialization. The most important thing children learn is not the three R's. It's socialization" Bethelheim

Socializing is so important for children. It builds character, friendships and opinions. In the classroom that I work in, the teacher starts her year with a friendship poster and pictures. This seems to help with opening the lines of communications between her and her students.

2. "You must arouse children's curiosity and make them think about school."

A simple question was asked to me by one of my students. She asked 'does it matter if you get a good grade on your report card in gym?
Now, I teach a reading group and this was not part of my lesson for the day, but I felt it was important to discuss the question with my students. We opened the conversation up to how important gym is. Suggestions came up like good health and fitness as we continue to grow. How many of our parents work-out? All hands went up. I explained that gym/physical fitness will follow you even after you finish college. It's very very important. We had a wonderful conversation that was educational. The students spoke out and voiced their opinions and feelings about physical education.
I felt it was a wonderful lesson, even more important than the Main Idea of our reading in class. Children have many questions that need to be answered. We should try to take the time to answer them. It's important to show how to be verbal as well as socialize.

Education
1. Is to say that education is a contested terrain where people are socialized and the future of society is at stake. 2. On the other hand, it is socializing activity organized, funded and regulated by authorities who set curriculum managed in the classroom by teachers. 3. It is a social experience of students who come to class with dreams and agendas

Lessons - Teach students development to values, power and debates in society.
(FNED 346 - this is what we've been doing all semester!)

Politics in the classroom: Teacher empowering or dis empowering
I have worked with teachers who don't take the time to get to know their students. Telling them to "sit down" and never giving them a chance to talk. This relates to Power and Pedogogy "Delpit"-silence dialogue.

Relating personal growth to public life, develop strong skills academic knowledge, critical curiosity about society, power in equality and change.

Empowerment doesn't mean students can do whatever they want. Student need to develop skills. Therefore, teachers need to teach them the skills they need. If teachers tell students to "sit down" and never give the students a chance to have a voice, they will never understand what empowerment means except for not having any power.

This article mentions Mclaren "the process throughout which students learn to critical appropriate knowledge existing outside their immediate experience in order to broaden their understanding of themselves and the world.
"Hands on" experience helps.

3. "We learn by doing and by Thinking our experience." Piaget
Interacting help get a better understanding of the process.

4."Rote learning and skills drilled int traditional classroom do more than bore and miseducate students. They also inhibit their civic and emotional developments." Dewey's

5."Cooling out process" Clark - depress the aspirations of non-elite students in an economy with limited rewards. This reminds me of Kozol - an unequal society.

Resisting Endullment: The performance strike
Mass education has become notorious for low motivation of many student (an burnout of many teachers) - Reminds me of the Central falls issues . Large #'s of student refusing to perform at high levels. Low test scores. These strikes keep authority at bay.

Dewey, Piaget to Freire many educators have asserted that learning works best when it is an active creative process.
6. "There is now a good deal for research to suggest that the more time and efforts students invest in the learning process, the more intensely they engage in their own education and growth."

Self doubt, hostility, resentment, boredom respect, frustration is mentions about these low performing students. This reminds me of the students in the "freedom writers" This occurs when culture and language is imposed. In traditional classes, student learn that education is something to put up with, to tolerate as best they can, to obey or to resist.

I liked this comment: Students are people who's values are worth listening to whose minds can carry the weight of serious intellectual work.

Great article about Respecting the students as individual learners and remembering that they have a voice.

HK-Visits 2/12 -4-16 totalling 7 visits to date
(Please note that I am usually not assigned any students for my VIPs project. I arrived during Math or Science Lessons. Therefore, I am observing this classroom and occassionally get up on my own to help a student if he/she needs assistance. I walk around the class to observe each student's quality of work. ) I have not come across any behavior problems. I have asked Ms. L How much she is paying these students to be well behaved each time I observe. She chuckled and asked "really" I truly think they are good. She said it took alot of training in the beginning of the year. I asked her to write down her strategies and she chuckled again.
Therefore as part of my blogging assignment, It is necessary to explain my observations.

Observations:
Math Lesson: Fraction Stip - Equivalent = Equal - Part of a whole to compare fractions.
2/12
3/4 find 1/4 strip to pain 3/4 of a wall

***4 3 out of 4 Kevin
**44 2 out of 4 Tina
Who painted more of their wall? 3/4 is greater than 2/5 so kevin painted more.
Math Test: Students correct their own papers. (note: all passed with raised hands) (something to think about!)
2/26-Observation
16 student taking a reading test.
Signs on walls around the room:
Safe-rules/respectful/organized
Grammer Rules: Capitalization/Usage/punctuation/Spelling (signs on walls)
Class Schedule on board:
9:35 - 10:35 a.m music
10:35-10:05 art
11:05 -ll:35 Lunch
12:15- 1:55 DI - Reading Direct Instruction
1:55 - 2:05 Bathroom break
2:05 - 3:55 Math/Science

Homework Assignment on board: 1 reading log/2 math practice
2/26
Math Lesson:
Problem of the Day:
You need $50.00 to go to the Computer Camp. You have save $18.50 You will earn $22. 25 doing odd jobs. How much more money do you need to go to camp.

________________$50.00________________

This is a multi-step problem
Q. What does Multi - step mean?
A. More than one step
Q. What mathamatical sentence do we write?
A. $18.50 (make sure you line up the decimal pt.)
+ 22.25
$40.75

Q. Are we finished here?
A No
We need to find the difference of $50.00 and $40.75 = $9.25

3/5
The class is still doing their reading assignments. Evidentally, more than half of the class failed, therefore the teacher cannot move on to the next lesson. She is teaching Morphagraphs: ie. dislike, removable, tightening, unprintable, greatly, shameful, research. She reveiws these words over and over again. The students are struggling with them. She writes them on the board, but tells them she need to move on to her planned math lesson.
Today she is giving a math test on fractions. She asked me to sit outside with 3 students that seem to need less distractions while testing.
(not very productive for me, but helpful for the teacher and student as they we're able to recieve the proper services needed)

3/12
The class is doing reading comprehension questions, therefore, I am not able to assist as they have already read their stories. I notice a student sitting along in front of the class. His teacher was absent so I helped him with his work sheets. He understood his work, but procratinated as he had all day to do it. I helped him finish the sheets. He didn't have to do it for homework.
I guess this was productive for both of us.

Math Lesson:
Ruler Lesson: The teacher drew a ruler on the board and had students cut rulers out from a ditto.
1. Keep these rulers in your homework folder
2. Find the ruler that has #'s on it. How long is that ruler? A. 6 inches
Unit = inches
Teacher explains the System = Standard units of Measurements
Half way between 0 and 1 = 1/2
Half way between 1 and 2 = 1 1/2
She has the students measure their pinky finger and feet to the nearest inch.

3/19
14 students today
Science lesson - (being taught as I arrive)
On large white note pad in front of class teacher writes
What affect does or temerature have on evaporation?
Warmer temperatures will speed up the evaporation process. Colder temperature will slow down the evaporation process.

Math Lesson: Flips white note pad and askes students to take out Math books.
Weight
What do you step on to weigh yourself? a scale
People - pounds - heavy
She shows a small plastic block? This is ounces And askes How man ounces do i need to make 1 pound? = 16
5 quarters = about an ounce
12 lbs = 32 ounces How many ounces in 2 lbs? How about 3lbs of apples?
16+16+16=48 The class answers this together.
Now she shows them Capacity:
1pint = 2 cups
1quart = 2 pints
1 gallon= 4 quarts
Units of weight = 16 ounces = 1 pound 2,000 pound = 1 ton
She asks What is the biggest? Gallon, cups, pint or quarts.

Now she writes down a problem and has them solve it?
The problem is : What weighs more a pound of Rocks or a pound of feathers? and why?
(note: This was a lot for the students to obsorb. The teacher was just introducing this lesson. I'm sure she plans to elaborate on it in the next week.) (This problem was cute!) The students did not get it.)

4/9
Math lesson
Problem Solving Lesson- Mathematic System
Problem of the day!
Maggie is hanging banners in a row on the wall. What is the length of 4 banners in a row if each banner is 3 ft long?
Strategy: Make a table and find a pattern

number of banners 1 2 3 4 5 6

Length of
Banners put 3ft 6ft 9ft 12ft 15ft 18ft
together

Teacher: Do you see a pattern? yes count by 3's

Now take your books out and do problems 7, 8 and 9.
I observed and helped students as I walked around the room. One boy had difficulty with it and was very slow. I did as much as i could in the amount of time to help him.

4/16
Math Lesson
Another Math group came into the class and did a Multiplication relay. I kept score.
The class got loud, the other teacher had to repremand them a few time to "keep it down"
This was a fun afternoon for all!!!

Citizenship in School: Reconceptualizing Down Syndrome
I typing some things that I highlighted in the article to talk about
This article give a few observations on students who were in schools and segregated due to the fact that they were diagnosed with Down Syndrome. It reflects on trying to "erase those negative attitudes" and the "people who judge"
Freire asks "if I always project ignorance onto others and never perceive my own? How can I dialue if I regard myself as a case apart from theirs ?" We need to see people as they are and realize that they are different in their minds, but not different in their bodies. The article explains that success in life requires and ability to form relationships with others who make up the web of community. But we have certain levels of control as to who we meet and interact with. This is true. We tend to ignore others who are not like us or do not fit our molds.
A belief in One's ability to think- Schools have traditionally taken a narrow position when defining and judging student intellect.
Though Bogdan and Taylor focused on relationships outside of school, these dimension appear to be critical to establishing a recognition of citizenship for students with Down syndrome in schools.
Acceptance is the aim when children with Down syndrome join their non disable peers in classrooms and many schools are individual teachers have entered into this effort, which seeks and finds community value in all children. -Citizenship in schools for Down Syndrome is very important because it not only helps those students, but gives an acceptance to others by building relationships with those children with DS
Shoshone school is a parent fun school with a deep organizational commitment to educating children from birth to 6 as full citizens of the community. It talks about Isacc who had sever dilemmas with fine motor tasks. The school does not set the kids up to fail, it gives them an acceptance and opportunity for individual participation in groups. Isaac help create a play "where the wild things are" due to his parent involvement with reading. Shayne is an awesome teacher. She sets up individual goals for each child.
Teaching Mathematics - 1 logical mathematical thinking 2 linguistic capacities 3 a spatial-representation of intelligence 4 musical intelligence 5 kinesthetic intelligence 6interpersonal intelligence 7 interpersonal intelligence
Gardner suggest that there are probably 10,000 possibilities to be added to the ist
although he acknowledged that our ability to understand and act in the world certainly has biligical underpinnings
Believiing in a child's mind: Shayne Robins at Shoshone school did not engage in extended discussion of Garneer or Vygotsy, she intuitively reject this not that on conformity to the academic nor mean a student inherently acted intelligence or was intrinsically burdensome.
I noted that "Teachers who valued their children as citizens recognized each students individuality as Shayne Robbine noted when describing her three students with down syndrome.
constructive educator directly reflects Vygotsky's sense of higher mental functions emerging through an individuals connection to the community.
The role of the teacher is to foster and guide the children's efforts and to create a reflective dimension to schooling that allows children to critically consider and interpret the meaning of their contribution to the transformation of community.
Concluding: Education all children together configures the representation of down syndrome from burden toward citizenship.
School citizenship rejects the idea of a gap between normality and down syndrome.

Note: Many student with disabilities were isolated in school and classes. Advocates for student with disabilities reasoned that if segregating students based on race were unconstitutional then segregating students with disabilities could also be challenged. I found that before the civil rights movement many students with disabilities were isolated and sometimes denied opportunity to attend their local public schools. This does not happened today due to the enactment of Public Law 94-142 in 1975, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, was a major victory.

Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work-Jean Anyon
This article was easy to read and very informative. Jean Anyon observed 5 elementary schools and concluded on different economic backgrounds. She observed the working class to the Executive Elite Class. Each level offered different option to new methods of teaching. The schools need to know what their students needs are in order to determine a method of teaching according to the standards. This article shows how gender, race, socio-economic status has so much to do with the decision of what the curriculum will be. The teachers approach is very important. How she delivers her lesson should be well thought out. There are many ways to plan a curriculum from Direct teaching which teaches directly with hand signals and continued directions. And Hidden Curriculum that offers teaching methods that are brought into the classroom from culture and climate from the students and families as well as the demographics of the area to which the school is in.
As we know, education is important. It is intended to broaden our society. Therefore "curriculum and teaching methods need to be well thought out and planned accordingly.
The Working School is following steps of procedure. Which might be helpful to those students who need direction. The Middle-Class School work on getting the right answers by following directions. Most lessons are based on the textbook. Critical perspective is not involved. Work tasks are not creative. Affluent Professional Schools work is creative and carried out independently. One's product is usually evaluated for the quality of its expression and for the appropriateness of its conception to the task. Much family involvement takes place. The teacher's ask the children to expand what they say and to give more details. This seems to be the most traditional method of teaching. The Executive Elite School emphasizes reasoning and critical thinking. These children are "naturally" smart. Due to their economic status and life situations. They "get it". They are introduced with language arts at home at very early/young ages due to their teachings at home. These students are given the opportunity to prepare class lessons and be student teachers. The teacher will then evaluate him/her according to criteria where: he/she speaks clearly, the lesson was interesting, the student made any mistakes, and whether he or she kept control of the class. The teacher reminds these students that he/she has the authority in the class while student teaching.
"You are the only driver of your car-and only you can regulate your speed." is an awesome quote!!! In this Elite school the teachers are very polite to the children. and I'm sure in-turn the children are polite to the teachers.
These were interesting samples of contrasting social classrooms and different methods of teaching. Quite interesting!!!
Maybe these schools in range are continuing the process by not intending to have the working class students not succeed. Maybe the teachers are only teaching them the basics and treating them in a way that might be telling them that this is as far as you will ever get. It appears that the middle class and elite are given better teaching opportunities as well as more respect from their teachers. It would be nice to separate these classes evenly and to teach the same across the board regardless of social class. Education should be an equal opportunity as it is offered after graduation in the workforce.

Race, Class, and Gender - Why Students Fail Black Underclass: Racial Stratification and the Politics of Culture

This was a very long but interesting article about how schools controlled by white people and their attitudes, knowledge and competencies towards blacks. It talks about how black people try to "make it" and the distrust between blacks and public schools.

It does mention that this is not true to all members of underclass and not just blacks. Thank God it mentions that. I'm kind of getting tired of these articles making it known that white are still treating blacks as though they are still "slaves" Therefore, I'm going to address the questions of Why students fail? With keeping in mind all people of color.
*Lack of Parent involvement: stable homes & communication
*Poor Organizational skills: homework, assignments, neatness
*Study skills: kids should not just "wing it", use charts/flashcards, memorize facts.
*motivation: kids want instant gratification. Take small steps to succeed.
*poor reading comprehension: encourage more reading
*Poor basic arithmetic: learn math facts first/memorize
*poor diet/sleep:
*peer pressure
*lack of social skills: get involved in youth groups like sports, religious etc
*low self-esteem: praise helps
*lack of School Resources: Public schools are cutting budgets...this shouldn't happen there are special circumstances for each individuals needs that should be addressed.
If we don't stay involved with our children and know what's happening in their worlds, this is how "a moderate level of depression" can occur. They need to understand political awareness.
Otherwise according to Paul Willis violence, sexism and racism are reactions to economic exploitation.
Even though it is mentioned that some ethnic groups are thought that success is met through a vocational level and that children should not depend on school to succeed. We know that this is not true in most cases. Education is the key. Skilled laborers are still successful, as they are far and few between. We still want to stress education.

Teaching Boys and Girls Separately-by Elizabeth Weil
This article was very informative and gave a lot of facts about the differences in male and female students in school. It's an argument as to whether or not single sex education is better or worst. This dispute takes place due to the fact that there's and ongoing education crisis for white, middle-class boys, and that public schools are failing minority students in general and poor minority boys. Administrators are trying to find something else because "coed is not working." (Benjamin Write, Chief administrative office for the Nashville public schools)
Consequently, the decision to send a child to a same-sex school is most likely the parents choice. Therefore the educators can put it out there for suggestions, but it may not be for everyone.
There are many reasons why a parent may find that same-sex education may be suitable for their child. Competition, academics, and socialization. Competition-some girls may be less likely to join a sports team due to the stereotyping of being called a "tom-boy" Academics-girls may have more confidence in taking science/engineering due to the competitiveness of boys may know it better. As well as boys may have more confidence in joining the school choir or theater programs. In regards to socialization-there would not be any reason to try to impress the opposite sex, teasing and flirting wouldn't happen as much. Although, it would be hard to find a date for the prom, but there's always extracurricular activities outside of school. Single sex schools may be considered for those families that have just one parent. Boys would find father figures and girls as well could do the same in single sex school. Single-sex schools can help teachers tailor their plans for just girls or just boys. Single-sex education has been known to help build confidence and self-esteem. That's enough to agree with sending your child to a single-sex school. Building confidence and self esteem goes along way in this mixed up world we live in.
The data presented in this article does not suggest either way that single sex education is better or worst. Riordan say, "You're never going to be able to compare tow types of schools and say "the date very strongly suggests that schools that look like a are better than schools that look like b. It is best to compile ones own information and research to decide what's best for your own child. Ask questions like: Do I want my child to be well-prepare with challenges that are presented to him? Do I want my child to have high career goals? Will same-sex education benefit him? If you answer "yes", then maybe same-sex education would be best for him. Visit the school alone, then let your child visit. After researching you may find that single sex education might be beneficial to him/her, or not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2ql_4g3s_w&feature=channel

See this video relating to Tricia Rose.