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

See this video relating to Tricia Rose.

Tricia Rose - Speaks about Hip-Hop. She says that Hip-Hop is a generalization of young people.. She explains that it is a profitable business in the African American culture of creativity. Hip-Hop is a way to break out rhythm and to tell stories about black communities that have been devastated in the past. It is a wide range of youth expression. She says that Hip-Hop today is driven by images of black people. Tricia Rose explains that hip-hop tells young listeners today about cultural politics, black culture, music and gender. Which can be helpful to our youth today to better understand these major issues.
Although, If we listen to artists like JayZ, 50 cent, TI and Little Wayned, who all sing hip-hop you will hear these artist portray negative lyrics. Their lyrics often give messages about drugs, violence and addiction. Most of this music also known as rap music is listened to by youth and gangs. In relation to education, Hip-hop music is just one factors among many others that contribute to gang related incident.
Again, going back to Trisia Rose, she does explain that not only blacks use hip-hop. It is used as poetic music which could have a positive effect on our youth. And she also explains that it has Political and Social stories that are currently in the media today. Hip Hop today has progressed and now has songs about Fox News, Democrats, George Bush, the GOP, President Obama and more.

HuluDotCom
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vllm-riMN6Q

In the Service of What? by Jesph Kahne and Joel Westheimer
"altruism"- self-sacrifice, all heart, benevolent, good scout, charitable, considerate, generous, open handed. "The joy of reaching out to others."
The idea that all students take part in volunteer activities in either their school or community as a condition for graduation from high school, is wonderful!! It give the student a sense of completeness of oneself regardless of his grades. He could be an A student or a failing student, but when he completes these service hours he will feel a fulfillment of himself. Either way each student knows that he has a purpose and can help others feel good about themselves too. I do believe that service learning projects do promote moral development on both ends of the spectrum.
While reading this article I thought about myself prior to visiting my VIPs school and my stereotyped feelings that I had about going into a Title 1 elementary school. I felt the same way some of the students felt in the article when they thought they would find "horrifying children running around on a dirty campus." and "rude, tough, noisy, and very unfriendly people." I too was scared before my arrival into the neighborhood as I was careful by locking my doors and concerned for my safety.
I know feel comfortable each time I visit my VIPs school. It's unfortunate that we have these fears. Maybe it's because of what we see in the media that makes us feel this way.
President Bush's support for the National Community Service Act of 1990, gave me something to think about when he said "Government cannot rebuild a family or reclaim a sense of neighborhood, and not bureaucratic program will ever solve the pressing human problems that can be addressed by a vast galaxy of people working voluntarily in their own backyards." Made me realize more and more how hard it is to make changes in our society. Even by doing the most benevolent, charitable services change is hard to do. But it's worth the efforts to volunteer. It's worth the efforts to try!

Bart and Steph see article on:Women in the media

http://www.mediaandwomen.org/problem.html

follow-up: on Unlearning the Myths that Bind us
goes along with the steriotype articles we have been reading in class

Bart and Steph:
This might go along with our project....Big news!!!
See news clip on Bob Johnson who sold Black Entertainment Television
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/29412350#29412350

HK-March 19-Ms. L and I had the opportunity to discuss some of the students and their behaviors. She pointed out different students and explained the type of upbringing they had. I thought most of them looked clean and well cared for. Ms. L shook her head and said "you only see them once a week." Some of these kids have been wearing the same thing all week." She pointed out the student who I thought looked "well-dressed." He had on a Tommy-Hilfiger button down shirt on. Ms. L said that student receives "free lunch assistance", both parents don't work and he is picked up in a beautiful huge yellow Hummer vehicle by his father every day. Without actually putting this in words.....we both "surmised" the possibilities as she knows these students obviously better than I.
The class was working on Reading and answering some comprehension questions. I walked around to help some students. One boy that I find every week who sits in the front of the class at a table by himself had nothing done. I think he has an attention problem. I stood over him and worked with him. He quickly caught up to the rest of the class. He is very smart, just couldn't stay focused by himself.
There were 3 students today who were just sitting Ms. L's class. Their teacher did not show up for school and there was no substitute. They were given sheets to work on for the day. The each had 6 sheets and at 1:30 when I arrived only 1 or 2 sheet were complete. I tried to help them complete a couple more before Math started. What a shame!!! These three students were in this class last Friday as well.
Math began and Ms. L. is teaching measurement. She used a scale to show oz. lbs. and tons. They read from their math books different problems. One problem that stood out that I recognized as one that I received when I was a student in elementary school went like this....
Which weighs more a lb. of feathers of a lbs of apples. Explain your reasoning. I loved this one as a student and still loved it!!! It was so funny when all the hands went up!!! Ms. L and I had a chuckle over this one too. They will be tested on Monday for measurements. They seemed to have a handle on it so we'll see how well they do.

Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us - Linda Christensen
This reading helped me to think about stereotypes, self image, money and power, education and again racial issues.
I never really noticed the way cartoonists depicted different characters as they did in Daffy Duck when the women appear to look like Jessica Rabbit or Playboy centerfolds. When students after reading these stories find stereotypes on their own "look, Ursula the sea witch is ugly and smart. He, she's kind of dark looking. The young pretty one only want to who their man; the old pretty ones are mean because they are losing their looks."
But then again these are old cartoons. I feel as we progress with the times, things will get better.
I find that the cartoonist are trying to appeal to the adult audiences when showing the images of beautiful women and images of money being made. I have seen movies like Charlies Angels trying to make women look strong and powerful. Its not like the industry doesn't know that we need more of them. Unfortunately, the children are still watching these cartoons and movies. Disney movies are very powerful. I remember when my son was three and had been experiencing with "night terrors". The pediatrician asked if he was watching any movies. He loved The Lion King and watch it over and over again. Well, think about the bad influence that occurred with Mufasas own brother, when he killed Mufasa. Very tragic. The pediatrician pointed out to me how bad it was for my three year old to be watching this Disney movie.
The writers think that the story-line or joke-line goes over the childrens heads, but it doesn't often happen. Children now a days are exposed to so much more. So when these images are presented to them they get it.
Weight issues, money, power, politics, racial issues are everywhere. Therefore children are not just influenced by the Disney movies and cartoons being presented to them. It's on billboards, on the news, in magazines. The media is brainwashing everyone. What's the solution???? Who knows....There are so many issues to bring to the round table where do we start.
The Black Cinderella....Keep them coming!!! Things should get better. I hope. I agree with Kenya and there should be more women of color who play the leads in these white-on-white wedding cake tales. I can see this happening more and more especially within this past year. Obama is making a huge impact on the american people as well as pointing out to the many of us that there is no difference when it comes to "people of color."

Visited HK School on Friday, Feb. 28 -Worked with 2 students on a Math test out in the hallway. They were having difficulty while testing. The problems were hard. The test was on fractions. I could hear the teacher helping some of the other students in the class. I asked her if I could help these two students so they could understand what the problems were. She said it was ok to do so. When the math test was finished, I attempted to help a student with a writing assignment. This was difficult. His language skills were very poor. The teacher was giving out "Order Forms" for good behavior. The students who finish their work on time and behave well in class receive coupons to buy item at the HK school store. This is a good idea to motivate some students, but on the other hand not such a great idea for those who struggle. This reminded me of the "Power and Privilege" reading. Those students who were well behaved and who finished their work on time had more Power than those who could not do so.
Friday, March 5 - Today I introduced myself to the Principal of HK School. He was very kind. He asked me a couple questions and we realized that we had a couple acquaintances in common. While chatting the secretary and I also have common acquaintances. It was a good feeling.
The third grade teacher assigned three students to me and we worked as a group on problem solving. The teachers also reviewed a reading lesson with the students while I observed. The students had to review/redo this lesson. The majority of the class did not do well on the last test that she gave them, therefore the teacher told me that she could not move on the the next lesson until the rest or a majority of the students pass their next reading test.
I was able to observe the whole classroom and noticed the teachers classroom management. She had a Math Wall and posted some test on it. The test ranged from 40-100 as far as grading went. She had posters up with classroom rules on them. There was a chart on the wall for homework assignments, a chart showing how to solve math problems. There is a reading corner, a computer, and files set up for each student. I noticed a behavior chart with all the students names on it. The third grade teacher has a positive classroom relationship with her students.
I'm getting comfortable in the classroom and am beginning to recognize the students by name.

Dennis Carlson: Gayness, Multicultural Education, and Community

Carlson writes to suggest that public schools play am important role in helping build a new democratic, multicultural community, one in which sexual identity (like other markers of difference including class, gender, and race) is recognized, in which inequalities are challenged and where dialogue across difference replaces silencing and invisibility practices. In other words, Carlson wants to bring diversity to the classroom with no oppression or discrimination. I feel it is important to recognize homosexuality as well as different cultures among race and gender. Although, gayness is still a question of scientific or biological concern this subject contributes to the development of critical thinking skills in the classroom. We need to realize that gay and lesbians contribute tremendously to our society in many ways, therefore we have to understand that it exists. If we discuss gay and lesbian topics, we need to try not to be offensive as we would not want to oppress the gay and lesbian student. We need to keep in mind that humor directed at gay or lesbians in the classroom should be discouraged. The public schools have an open range of many races and cultures as well as gay and lesbian backgrounds, therefore the subjects can only contribute to the development of a better understanding of these different cultures. As we have read in Mcintosh about the oppressive and unconscious that whites are thought to think of their lives as morally neutral, normative and average. The gay and lesbian community want to be considered equal or to be more like "us." We don't want them to be a part of the "silenced dialogue" as we have read in Roberts Lakes and Delpit's articles.
Vocabulary: Homophobia-fear, dislike or hatred of lesbians and gay men. Discrimination against them.
When entering the field of teaching, we can't assume that our classrooms are heterosexual. We need to be careful of stereotypical terms when discussing homosexuality. Faggot, or queer can be insulting as well as nigger, or honky. "As we enter into language we must simultaneously negotiate the crude classifications which are imposed upon us and create our own identities out of the twisted skins of our backgrounds" (1990, 13).