Other People's Children
Lisa Delpit
ARGUMENT
This author, Lisa Delpit, argues that it is the responsibility of those in the majority, those with greater power who must take action in order to change "what" and "who" is heard in defining what is best for poor children and children of color.
It would seem there would be an obvious answer to this argument wouldn't it? Unfortunately it is quite the opposite. This debate for what is best for poor students and students of color has long been debated. The problem that persists is the who that are doing the debating are not the who that is doing the hearing. It is the parents of black children and teachers of color who have had their thoughts put on mute for the past several decades due to their lack of power within the education realm. Delpit goes on to describe how the rules of the culture of power are based on the rules of the culture in which is in power. This "culture of power" makes an immediate disadvantage for those who are not the majority or not in power. It is most difficult for those within this realm of power to step outside themselves and see how poor children and children of color are being negatively affected in their education. However, that is indeed what it is going to take. In order for this process to change, the individual or individuals must be willing to put aside his or her beliefs as well as seeing themselves as those on the outside do. It is these willing individuals that will open up the dialogue in hopes for change.
The article below is one I found that was somewhat wordy but a few points stood out to me while I was reading.
"...But what you are essentially saying is, you don't mind people who have historically had more continuing to have more. You are almost guaranteeing that inequities are going to continue over time" (Ross).
I thought this excerpt from the article tied in quite nicely to the Delpit piece we just discussed. In context with the rest of the article it really sheds light on how without individuals willingness to change, the current inequalities will continue.
Further in the article is discusses how the population that lives in poverty has the opportunity to "think beyond today" stripped from them. Their focus is on surviving from day to day, not years and years from now. This provoked me to think of how this thought process affects students in school. Does it limit their visions of their future? Does it delay them from dreaming and setting goals for themselves? And lastly, how can I as a future teacher encourage students in this situation to change their current pattern of thought from living day to day to where they see themselves ten years from now.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/06/minority-children-start-poor-stay-poor_n_845866.html
Monday, September 22, 2014
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Blog Post #1
Johnathan Kozol
"Amazing Grace"
QUOTES
"As confident and grown-up as he sounds, he has the round face of a baby and is scarcely more than three and a half feet tall" (Kozol 8).
This quote is describing a seven year old boy named Cliffe. Cliffe takes the narrator around his city, South Bronx, and shows him what goes on within his neighborhood. As they walk the streets of the city, Cliffe describes various places and what goes on there, including a place where they are "burning bodies" and a park where he saw a boy be shot in the head. This quote reminds the reader that the boy is only seven years old. It also puts into perspective how much young children in this area, and others just like it, are exposed to especially at such a young age. Violence, drugs, murders, and crime in general are all a part of this young boys everyday life. When I think of being seven years old, it would surprise me if I had even known much about any of those things, never mind experience and encounter them on a daily basis.
"A nurse who works there, according to one press account, carries a card in her wallet with the message: 'Do Not Take Me To Harlem Hospital in an Emergency'" (Kozol 16).
This quote really put the condition of this hospital into perspective for me as I was reading. Hospitals are not always the cleanest and quickest of places as we all may know. However, for an employee of that institution to refuse to be brought there, even in an emergency situation tells a lot about a place. This quote is relevant to the text as it is another way for the author to depict to the reader how terrible the conditions of this hospital really were.
"My teacher says 'We came here in chains and now we buy our own chains and put them on ourselves'" (Kozol 24).
This quote refers to the coming of African Americans to America as slaves, reference to "chains", and how the use of drugs, violence, prostitution, and other crimes are restricting ourselves right back into those "chains". Putting themselves back into these chains does not necessarily refer to being put in jail, but also the restrictions people are putting on themselves. Participating in these street crimes and activities is continuing the vicious cycle that so many are trying to escape from by getting a better life. If the crime, violence, and drugs continue, areas such as where the text refers, the South Bronx, will never have a shot at coming out of its present state.
Point to Share:
While reading this text, I kept its title in mind the entire time. As I neared the end of the piece I was continuously thinking that there would be some turning point, change for the better, or some "happy ending". As I reached the end of the text I was almost disappointed to see that there was no "happy ending" like I had hoped there to be. It was then that I realized that this is reality, not just a story. For the unfortunate children and families in this city, they don't get that happy ending either. It then made me wonder what the significance of the title "Amazing Grace" was to the text. Why did Kozol pick that to be the title of such a sad piece of writing?
How as teachers can we help and improve the lives of students who come from similar backgrounds and experiences such as this?
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/kids-struggling-bx-bklyn-article-1.1261803
"Amazing Grace"
QUOTES
"As confident and grown-up as he sounds, he has the round face of a baby and is scarcely more than three and a half feet tall" (Kozol 8).
This quote is describing a seven year old boy named Cliffe. Cliffe takes the narrator around his city, South Bronx, and shows him what goes on within his neighborhood. As they walk the streets of the city, Cliffe describes various places and what goes on there, including a place where they are "burning bodies" and a park where he saw a boy be shot in the head. This quote reminds the reader that the boy is only seven years old. It also puts into perspective how much young children in this area, and others just like it, are exposed to especially at such a young age. Violence, drugs, murders, and crime in general are all a part of this young boys everyday life. When I think of being seven years old, it would surprise me if I had even known much about any of those things, never mind experience and encounter them on a daily basis.
"A nurse who works there, according to one press account, carries a card in her wallet with the message: 'Do Not Take Me To Harlem Hospital in an Emergency'" (Kozol 16).
This quote really put the condition of this hospital into perspective for me as I was reading. Hospitals are not always the cleanest and quickest of places as we all may know. However, for an employee of that institution to refuse to be brought there, even in an emergency situation tells a lot about a place. This quote is relevant to the text as it is another way for the author to depict to the reader how terrible the conditions of this hospital really were.
"My teacher says 'We came here in chains and now we buy our own chains and put them on ourselves'" (Kozol 24).
This quote refers to the coming of African Americans to America as slaves, reference to "chains", and how the use of drugs, violence, prostitution, and other crimes are restricting ourselves right back into those "chains". Putting themselves back into these chains does not necessarily refer to being put in jail, but also the restrictions people are putting on themselves. Participating in these street crimes and activities is continuing the vicious cycle that so many are trying to escape from by getting a better life. If the crime, violence, and drugs continue, areas such as where the text refers, the South Bronx, will never have a shot at coming out of its present state.
Point to Share:
While reading this text, I kept its title in mind the entire time. As I neared the end of the piece I was continuously thinking that there would be some turning point, change for the better, or some "happy ending". As I reached the end of the text I was almost disappointed to see that there was no "happy ending" like I had hoped there to be. It was then that I realized that this is reality, not just a story. For the unfortunate children and families in this city, they don't get that happy ending either. It then made me wonder what the significance of the title "Amazing Grace" was to the text. Why did Kozol pick that to be the title of such a sad piece of writing?
How as teachers can we help and improve the lives of students who come from similar backgrounds and experiences such as this?
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/kids-struggling-bx-bklyn-article-1.1261803
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Introduction
My name is Meghan Reall and I am a sophomore transfer here at Rhode Island College. I spent my first year of college down in Florida at Florida Southern College. So far my first semester here at RIC has been good. When I'm not in class I am playing basketball or softball for the teams here at RIC. I commute from my house so if I am not on campus I'm usually at home.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)