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.

Talking Points #2: Richard Rodriguez "Aria"

REFLECTION-

     Being bilingual in our society today can and can not be an advantage. I feel that being bilingual in our society could open hte future for more job options. But, it could also affect the way you are treated in the society I feel. I am not bilingual, but I do wish I was able to speak another language. It could help me out now and in the long run. I just feel as if it opens up more oppurtunities and give a broader horizon to the society that we live in today. More or less that is not exactly what this article is saying. This article talks more about being bilingual in school. How back when the author was reflecting upon it was not a good thing. They considered there to be only one language and that was english considering you were in the United States. I feel as if more and more people that come to our country and send their children off to school now will find a way to have their children learn english just as well as they know their other language if they are bilingual. This way it allows the children to communicate in school and then allows for them if it is necessary communicate in their other language as well. That is why in school they are now offering to children that are not bilingual more of a chance to open up and learn a second language for their career or to help them in the long run.
      What this author is trying to show and say is that it was different. They did not want the kids to learn a second language back then. They actaully went to his home and told his parents to talk in english. This came to the point where the kids did realize that it was more important to conquer the english language and have use their language in secondary. I can relate to this not because I am bilingual, but because I know a lot of kids that are and need to be. Throughout soccer I have meet kids from all different nationalities. But, a large number of them were able to speak both english and their native language. There was still a large amount that could only speak enlgish a little and neither could their parents. I just thought to myslef, how are they supposed to learn and participate in school if they can baily speak enlgish. That is why it is so important to be bilingual in school now a days, as it will open up a better career, and be a lot more helpful as you go through yuor schooling either in or not in a democratic society. The main question that I feel is the biggest problem, is what if you are not that good in enlgish and what are the approaches that the teachers take towards it in our society today?

Talking Points #1 Mcintosh "White Privilege

        As I first started to read this article I thought to myself how could there still be so much white privilege in our society today? Reading more into this article I came to realize that there is still white privilege just like there is still male dominance in our society as well. The way that Mcintosh described the list of white privilege and how much she is right is unbeleivable. I am not even somewhat close to racist, and would have never thought that there is still so much white power like she described until you actually do sit down and read the list and make a list of your own. By being white you do have more of an option one where you choose to live and who your neighbors are as well as the race of your neighbors. Just the little things like this still does play a huge role in society and the way people live today.
       If I did not read this article, or the list in this article, I do not think I would beleive anyone if they came up and tried to tell me that white privilege still plays a major role in our society. Until it is actaully broken down like Mcintosh did with using male violence as a similiar preference I would not beleive it is still such a problem today. The only one that I did not agree with as much was when she pointed out that in newspapers or magazines there is always a white person on the front cover. I feel like now because of the famous people such as athletes, or actors this is not entirely true anymore. However, this was the only one that I did not agree upon. She made a valid point with the rest. She also used the male dominace role as a great similarity. My opinion on all of this after reading is that this is still a problem and I feel as if it is something that needs to be improved upon in our society.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG4f9zR5yzY