Gender And Education

Hyperlinks:

        I came across many different websites while I was googling gender and education. I dont see why, but still today many people call gender wars a huge problem. I do agree with them, even in our society today we not only still have some racial problems that exist, but gender and education as well. Looking back to when i was in grades K-12 I do notice where the article I stumbled across is coming from. If you think back to when you were in these grades the boys were always trying to beat the girls, or the other way around. This short paragaph I thought was very intersting in the article:
        "Back in 1992, we pointed out that stereotypes have long limited the options of girls and boys. Viewing science and math as things boys did and art and dance as things they did not do influenced the course taking patterns and achievement levels of both sexes. We noted that although girls were getting better grades and going on for post-secondary education in greater numbers than boys, the job segregation that limits women's employment choices and the gender gap in wages continued. This is still the case."
     This was a paragrpah from the article that I found very intersting. I feel that it is not so much in college, but I could be wrong. I feel the gender wars take place more along the grade levels of secondary education. The article The Gender Wars in Education also says how this can be a good thing as long as we are all on the same side. This was just one of the articles that I stumbled upon, and I did research this topic more than others. I also was searching videos and I came across one how it talks about how women our perfrom men and more options in the workforce. The video is Women "Out" Perform Men and it jsut talks a little about different successes at Universities in the UK. In class I wish to discuss where More about this topic and if all of the statistics are true.

Wise and Brown vs. Board of Education

History: Past and Present-

       The Brown v. Board of Education website is a very informational website. It focuses on mainy turning points that we came across throughout our nation's history. It talks about how the civil war promised racial equality, and how African Americans have made a landmark on U.S. History. I feel this focuses so much on the past, but there are still many things today that are still helping use change racial equality. Also, I think it is still not a solved issue, and in Tim Wises's video he talks more about this. They both do talk about the same issue but Tim focuses more on today's society and how it still affects us today and what people are doing to change it.
         The videos are a step up to racism, but the Brown v. Board of Education shows all of the fights that they fought for. They fought hard to get to where they are today which was all for the civil rights and there rights to be treated equally just like everyone else. In the vidoe's Wise talks about Obama and how he is a stepping point. I feel this as well because, back then they would have never elected a black President. It just goes to show that what they all fought for is starting to fall into place. There is still many more steps to go through, but the vidoe's were concerning more about how they are tapping the glass, and starting to push things forward again.
     Both the vidoes, and the website both were very informational, as one focused more on the past, and the other focused more on the present time and the future. But, they were both talking and giving inforamtiona about the same thing which is racial equality. There are still problems with it today and we are just starting to "tap the glass" like Wise said. He also talks about Obama and his role. I tihnk I would like to find out more about Obama and what else he would bring to the table in solving this issue? Here is a video of a speech from Obama and it talks about race :
Obama's Race Speech

Talking Points #5 Joseph Kahne and Joel Westheimer "In The Service Of What? The Politics of Service Learning"

Extended Comments-Response to Raquel's Blog

      I like the question that Raquel raises at the end. She states "What do you think service learning should be.....like charity or civic duty"? I think that service learning should be considered both. I feel that either way you are going out into society and giving a helping hand either way. You are also learning and giving your full effort to help. Whehter it is charity or covic duty either way your out in the field helping either yourslef or the poeple around you leanr or conquer something.
     I feel as if our service learning project leans more towards both of the ideas. We are out helping for charity in a way because we are doing it to help out the teacher. On the other hand we are also doing it as a requirement in order to pass the class. Either way you look at it, it is giving a helping hand and not only helping out the teacher, but also helping out the students learn.
      I also agree with the part where Raquel states Jess. It is just kind of like community service. There is one way I feel as if it is a little different. Yes, you do need to get a certain amount of hours to pass. But, unlike community service you are learning about a ton of different things. You are learning azbout teaching, race, ethnicity and different ways to approach different setting/styles of teaching. So, in a way they are similiar, but I just feel as if that is a major way that they are different as well. In class I hope to discuss what the difference and similarities are between service learning and community service? Here is an article that touches upon this conflict: http://www.leadershipandservice.ufl.edu/programs/servicelearning/generalinfo/csvsl.php
 
    

 

Talking Points #4 Linda Christensen "Unlearning the Myths that Bind Us"

Arguement-

     This author "Linda Christensen" argues that the "secret education" differs the mind of the society and culutre especailly towards young children. In childrens literature, cartoons, and movies all play a mjore role in differeing the minds of young children. They catch their attention early and this affect and impacts thier views on things such as racism, and sex of a person. Like in cartoons you will never see a blakc person as a cahracter, but more or less it is all white people. Even in  children's books too. I agree with what she is saying. I never really did notice any of this either until reading this article I started to think back and see that it all makes sense. The thing I would like to  discuss/ask in class is: If anyone else has thought about this too before reading this article. As I was reading an article online about children and watching television I came across some interesting facts: http://www.boloji.com/parenting/00208.htm

Talking Points #3 Dennis Carlson "Gayness, Multicultural Education, and Community

Quotes-

     "Gay people for the most part been made absent, invisible, and silent within this community"(Carlson 233).

       This is one of Carlson's quotes in the beginning of the text. I chose this because I think it really starts off the articles and gives a good explanation of what the article will be about. It is true that in this article it will talk about being gay and the affect it plays in the community and the education point of view. It will show how it takes toll and just how much of an affect it has in and out of the schools. They want to talk about ways of normalizing school districts in order to make it more open to gayness. This will allow for some to maybe show their true colors and allow them to come out and speak clearly and loudly for who they are and what they beleive in. That is why I felt that this quote was a good way to start off the article and clearly explain what the article was about to talk about.

     "Specific techniques and apparatus's of power that have been employed in the school to keep gayness "in its place" as an invisible presence" (Carlson 236).

        This just show what they will go through to bring normalization of this issue into the schools. They will use three different techniques in order to bring normalization. They are gayness in the curriculum, the "closeting", and the verbal and physical intimidation of gay teachers and students. Just by these three things is what they beleive will bring normalization to school. It doesn't matter their race or ethnicity, or even how they were raised. As I was reading for articles online about this I came upon a different type of blog and in which a catholic girl, going to a catholic school became a lesbian and she was not afraid to show it as she blogged about it : http://open.salon.com/blog/nyctheaterqueen/2010/09/03/with_great_gayness_comes_great_responsibility.
This just shows how normalization is starting to come into play and how they are trying to improve it in the school systems and education sides of things as well.

     "Popular culture may represent identity, but identity also is represented in corporeal form" (Carlson 244).

       This is referring the culture now more than before. The popular culture has much more than just identity. This is what I feel is trying to be said through this quote. Identity plays a major role in normalizing communities. It allows for the people to be viewed by themselves or within the community. Some communities are different than others. Some are for, and some are against normalizing communites. This is where the normal and abnormal comes into play. One is for, and one is against it. Just by identity is show how each culture, or community is represented and through this quote I feel shows it clearly.