Geting into Group Works Prompt 6-Shor

One thing I must give credit to Mr. Yeller for is the fact that he encourages particpation from EVERYONE. Lilly the middle eastern girl is not called on for her accent but rather for the knowledge and insightfullness she brings to the class. Each student is graded on participation. Once in a while the classes conduct an activity called "Reciprical Teaching". This is when the students sit at the front of the class and with the voice ampliphyer, teach the class on a specific section of their packets. They begin with a prediction on what they think the text is about, and then read the passage. After they are done they make a clarrificaiton, and then ask the class a question. This part is key because even the teacher must participate in this part. They ask a question and tell the class that they need to raise their hand once they had found the answer in the text. It did not occur to me how important raising you hand is in communication. It stands for more than one thing, it could me "I have a question" or "I know the answer" or "Please be seated and quiet". Communication and active participation are tied together, how can you participate with out making some sort of jesture of verbal response?

Ira Shor explains that teachers must arouse childrens curiostiy to think about school and that education tries to teach them the shape od knowledge and current society, the meaning of past events, the possibilities of the future, and their place in society. He encourages teachers to have active participartoy classes like Mr.Yeller has created so that " in a particpatory, collabritave class, conflicts and complaints can be exspressed openly and negotiated mutually, which increases the possibility of solving tgem or at least maintaing a working relationship in the group"(p24). This method of communication and teaching is very important to have because the classroom should be a safe enviorment. Kids should not have to conform to the ideas and actions that are being taught to them, but they should be asking "why am I learning this?" "how does this affect me?". Having open discussions and good communication between the teacher and students or the students and students allows people to grow and develope witht the help and in put of other people.

I had gotten the chance to sit down and really communicate with some of the students today including the little girl Lilly. They openly told me what they liked, and did not like. They expressed what they thought about some other students, and how the students treated them. During a story a young boy was telling me he was interupted by his classmate who asked "why do you keep moving your hands when you talk?" he responded with "because im a very visual person". I laughed to my self a little at the thought that I do that constintly. When im explaining something or even just talking with a friend my hands are constintly moving. Human beings communicate all the time through jestures and it does not matter what language you speak, you will be able to understand or figure out what is trying to be said to you.

Can you do what I can do? prompt 2 Kozol

Glory was recently just reconstructed from head to toe with in the past couple of years so unfortunately I have no solid information that I could gather from Infoworks.com.

As mentioned first period class is composed mainly of non white students with one or two exceptions. On my first day after period one ended, the teacher and I discussed the class structure while his next class was lining up. He told me that the first class is the lower class, and his second class was better they were the higher educated students...they also had happened to be mainly white. The first class has bi-lingual students, while the second only has English speakers. These kids divided into classes reminded me of Jonathan Kozal who claims that black and whites are still separate and still unequal. His article talks about how schools are separate, but in this case it is the class. The first class is almost non white and they require much more help and attention, is that because their family is poor? is it because they just don't understand the task given to them? whatever the reason maybe for them not learning as fast as white students it is slowly but surely eating away at the kids self esteem I would imagine.

Both classes have bright young students capable of great things in the future, and it really does make me wonder, why are the classes not integrated? is it because they are poor, and unruly? is it because skin color? I'm not entirely sure of the reason see as I am not their teacher, but it appears that Kozal may have hit a key note, segregation still in fact does exist.

The schools in Kozals article were all of very poor quality and receive almost no help from the government, where as Glory is completely new, and yet my class is still separate. The classes are treated differently when it comes to conduct and behavior. The first class is graded more on the social behavior and participation rather than the answer to the question. This however is the opposite in the white children's case.They were graded for the answers. They each get different privileges such as bathroom breaks, the first class gets none, and are not allowed to sharpen their pencils with out asking, while the second class can go to the bathroom and lockers and so on.

It seems so obvious to me that things are segregated, so obvious that they are sometimes overlooked. Theses students all have a purpose in life, and in society and should all have the same rights and privileges as any other student.

What if...this doesn't go well? prompt 5 delpit

Lisa Delpit said that she "wants the same thing for everyone Else's children as I want for mine". It would be nice to say that each and every single person feels the same way that delpit does. but unfortunately it is not. If I was the teacher of this school or even the principal I would encourage parents that the class rooms will be mixed. Living here on the East cost would be easier to establish equality for my students no matter what race or economic background. What if it was in a different location? what if it was in the south? what if it was on the west coast then what? What if my skin color is the color of power?

Delpit claims that black children do not receive the full attention and that is why it had created a negative outcry in the black community. If I was to try and change the way a school or a classroom was organized I feel as though I could be met with Resistance from some parents. I don't want to believe that it is true but unfortunately there are still groups and organizations of power that still do not like the idea of integration. Theses groups have a certain amount of power that can instill fear into society itself. Organizations such as the KKK or the Neo-nazi or Gangs commit violent against certain races and the children of these organizations are subjected to witnessing some of the events.

What people need to realize is that the general population hold the 5th rule of delpits argument in that "Those with power are frequently least aware of -or least willing to acknowledge its existence. Those with less power are most often aware of its existence". What if I teach in a school where a student is brought up in a home affiliated with a gang or the KKK? How would I possibly explain to the parents that the class will have people of other races in it?...I couldn't possibly have them change their beliefs or way of life....But I could allow them to think that each individual child, it does not matter if they are black, white, yellow or red, can contribute to the learning of others to broaden their knowledge. Society has the power to change but the people are not fully aware they can. If people joined together and realized that race and class are divided like in my 1st period and 2nd period class they could clearly see that there is a problem. If I did encounter a problem with a student about the class or the students in it I would try to understand the argument that is being brought to the table as best I can.

My 2nd period class has one girl in it who seems to think she is better than her class as well as others. I over heard her telling another white girl that one of the black girls in class should not sit in same row as them. The girl who was being told this immediately protested the thought. Children are so impressionable, and what they learn at home and from society is a main reason why racism is still an Issue. As I said before it would be nice to have a students treated equally, but that need full co-operation from not only the students, staff, and government, but also where it matters the most....at home.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99cw-wdHUwA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf2njPRdxsM&feature=fvsr
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_uNnf1mojE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5KMqJwTMog&feature=fvw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgq03ZDapLI&feature=related

hmm never thought about that...oh that? yea I did Promt 4-johnson

Though out my life I have never actually lived in the city of Providence, I know when I was younger my parents would say "there's nothing good there" or "you go there you will be sorry". As a kid you look up to your parents and no matter what they say you think that they are right. As mentioned before I had received some bad advice from some co-workers about Glory. Having people tell me that the school is in horrible conditions to lock my car doors, or to be overly careful, it kind of made me paranoid.

Before going into the school I stopped to think, Why on earth is this going to be a problem, their just kids, and besides Providence is beautiful. Its like Allan Johnson said in "Our House is On Fire" that "human beings are fascinated, not repelled by peoples who's appearance differs from their own". I don't think that all of Providence and it's people are bad, like I had said before, the city and all that makes it up has beauty. Look at the RISD campus for example, some of the people who go there are the most unusual people I have ever seen. I remember this one girl was walking around, she had a mohawk with all different colors in it, a green shirt, a red skirt and knee high socks that were all different colors as well. It was absolutely amazing that she was walking around Providence that way. I didn't cross the street to avoid her or say any comments to her, but as she passed I looked to my friend and said "lets be her friend... I give her a lot of credit for that"

I tried to be more open minded about the school and the kids inside and found that it was very easy for me to get comfortable with the students in a matter of a day or two. These kids just need people to show interest in them, to help and support them. I stay with the students for two classes, and its safe to say there is almost no integration. The second group is comprised of white children, but it was odd to me that I was not able to connect with them unlike the first period which is almost all non white students. Going back to Johnson he says that whites are automatically assumed that they are competent in the classrooms, while blacks have to prove themselves. I hate to say it but from seeing these two classes it seems as though Johnson was right.The first class has to constantly keep their game up, but many people feel as though it is tough for them to get the work done correctly. I walked in the school thinking that and will now walk out knowing for a fact that black children can be just as smart as white children, they just need more motivation.

I was able to connect with the 1st period class simply because they needed me. They needed more attention and direction given to them. They are eager to share their ideas with me as well as listen to any suggestions I make to them. I felt as thought the second class did not need or want my help, they just did their own things. When Mr. Yeller assigned the work, they didn't ask questions they just did it. So as Johnson talks about privilege does that make the white class privileged? or does the 1st class who ask questions and who seeks guidance get the privilege? In my opinion its the first class.