Saturday, May 24, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
Privilege, Power, and Difference
Allan G. Johnson wrote Privilege, Power, and Difference to make the point that we all need to "...change how (we) think about issues of difference and privilege" in order to stop both unintentional and intentional injustice. His first paragraph says, "...trouble relating...causes enormous amounts of injustice and unnecessary suffering." ( i know i skipped a lot of that paragraph but i was just trying to pull out his main point.) He also explains what we should get out of his book. He says, "...it (the book) allows us to see not only where the trouble comes from but how we as individuals are connected to it."
i really enjoy his main purpose o the essay, changing the world for the better, it gives me that warm tingly feeling of, 'wow, there are people who really care about making a difference and actually DO something about it.' Johnson's many examples, especially his answer to Kings quote, "the answer is still no," had a big impact on me because the question, "cant we all just get along?" is so simple and seams so easy yet, its true, unless everyone changes there way of thinking as a whole, we cant 'all just get along.' On page 2 Johnson mentions that we need to use our words because if we dont have a way to talk about the issues, sex, racism, homosexuality, then they are hiding, being ignored and, so, "we cant see what the problems are or how we might make ourselves part of the solution."
ok, so i know that its going to sound like i am singing Johnsons praises throughout most of this but...thats because i am. i think that he has wonderful ideas and displays them for us in multiple ways in order for us to understand his views and ideas to the fullest extent. For example, he uses many examples from his own life but he also steps outside the box and mentions the behaviors of animals in relation to that of humans as a species. often times we dont look at ourselves from a scientific perspective but Johnson shows us that we are all one species, despite our differences. Rarely have a seen a poodle attack or snub another poodle for being a different color or even a completely different breed.
In class when we discussed Johnsons work i commented that i did not agree with him on the bottom of page six, where he talks about people working together and sharing space. Reading it again, however, i find that i completely agree with him and think that his idealistic goals are just what the world needs. The sentence where he says, "...youd think we could treat one another with decency and respect and appreciate if not support the best we have in us," i find very inspiring.
i think that i find his work so motivating and exciting because i can relate to much of what he says. For example, on page 8 he mentions how uncomfortable he begins feeling discussing the matter of sex and race with his black, female friend because he realizes that he could never fully understand how it is that she feels. Not only could i relate to that because i am white and could never understand how it feels to be otherwise, but i also loved that fact that he mentioned all of the things that women have to go through that men usually dont even notice. I, myself, always have the key that opens my car door in my hand and ready to either open the door or jab someone in the neck with it when im walking to my car at night. i also check my back seat out of nervous habit and double check at night to make sure that my windows and doors are locked at night even though i know that i locked them. My boyfriend has noticed some of these things and thinks that im too worried but he's a 6'2", 245 pound man, im a 5'7", 120 pound girl. i should be a little worried and go the extra mile to protect myself.
Pretty much all of what Johnson talks about in his work is part of SCWAAMP. He talks about S- Straightness, W- Whiteness, M-Maleness, and P- Property Ownership. The scwaamp activity that we did in class opened my eyes to a few things that i didnt really realize before, like the fact that men make more money than females. how can that be legal? why is that ok? what do 'they' have to back up that decision? its frustrating and it makes me understand a little bit more about how homosexuals must feel about gay marriage. why do they have to travel to cali. or mass. to get married? there are so many things wrong with this; first we have to declare that marriage is a strictly religious thing, then that being gay is against all religions, then we can say, 'we are sorry but you cant get married.' however, marriage isnt strictly religious, not any more. you dont have to be married in a church. Marriage has become more; you save money on your taxes is one perk. (ok, im rambling, but some of this stuff ticks me off)
anyways, i think Johnson did a great job of getting his point across clearly and accurately and i enjoyed reading his work.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
American Idol Finale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLa5qYP_HCw
*** David Archuletta!!! = Rocks my sox!
the silenced dialogue
***is anyone Else's, pages all mixed up and missing in the packet??... its confusing, I'm jumping around all over the place!***
ok...so, this is what i got out of every other page:
Delpit is saying that there is no right way to teach and trying to force one, specific, code of teaching onto our teachers is going to, "ignore the natural rhythms of teaching and learning."
Each student learns a different way and reacts a different way to methods of teaching. Because of this, our teachers must learn there children's needs and adapt to them. A child looking back at there favorite teacher may be admiring the same teacher as another student despised or felt was to easy/ hard on the students. The silenced dialogue, itself, is what i believe to be the miscommunication between students and teachers as well as the elephant in the room/ "fire!" that no one is willing to mention; the things that are important, morally, in students lives, the things that we are afraid to mention: race, class, sex (in the male vs. female sense), sexual orientation, religion etc...and even on a less extreme level, the more personal things in life like ' does mommy or daddy cook?' whatever...These things will help prevent a school system with, what Delpit calls, "meaningless, mechanistic goals."
Delpit also touches on the issues of power, majority vs. minority and the lack of encouragement in school systems to teach or even touch upon the subject of race and other "moral issues." These issues tie in with, what i believe to be, the overall purpose of the essay, more diverse, adaptable teaching freedoms, because they are some of the main reasons WHY teachers need to adapt to there children's learning needs.
The issue of power is huge. we, the teachers have the power over what these children believe has or will happen, what they believe they can/ cant do or what they believe they are worth in some instances. Like Dr. Bogad said in class about thinking that she was bad at math; if people hadn't told her that she was bad, placed her in a lower level class, but, instead, told her she was great and gave her confidence, then shed believe she was great, shed believe that she had all the potential in the world. Teachers not only have a power over there students minds, but may have power over what type of power they may, some day, have. She says, "...if schooling prepares people for jobs, and the kind of job a person has determines hid or her economic status and, therefore, power, then schooling is intimately related to that power."
When she talked about majority vs. minority, it reminded me of something i read in 11th grade honors english. i wish i could remember something about it but if anyone has a clue what im talking about, please, fill me in. haha. A guy (thats my only description of him) wrote about the fact that the minority of just as important if not more important than the majority because they... i dunno, he went to jail for like a day... anyways, back on topic:
Delpit says, "the key is to understand the variety of meanings available for any human interaction, and not to assume that the voices of the majority speak for all." The quote kind of speaks for itself so i wont touch upon it furthar.
i guess im done now...oh yeah, her writing wasnt too hard to read, other than the fact that every other two pages were missing (that was a pain).
Blog#1 (i know, its catchy)
Im Charlene, call me Shy
Im a Freshman at RIC, Musical Theatre and English
Im living on Campus this summer and its deathly boring, im taking two summer classes so...
Im from CT!!!
Red Sox Fan (as are most Connecticutians)
