Unequal Childhoods

Looking at it from the parents perspective, maybe it's unqual parenting. In Chapter 5 of Lareau's Unequal Childhoods, it is obvoius that Kate Brindle's mother wishes she could provide more for her children. There are many points int the chapter that show Ms. Brindle has the best intentions for her children. She wishes that "food was free". I pondered on this idea for a while, in America there is a push for a universal or socialized health care system, but not for food. I have heard the arguement that health care is a basic human right, well what about food? Do we not have an obligation to feed our fellow citizens. I personally get sticker shock when buying cereal, milk, or eggs. I couldn't imagin having a child right now, even with government assistance, the poor can't afford a $4.39 box of cereal. If a child is hungry, they can't concentrate and will not be as productive in school or anywhere else. Our country is keeping the poor down. There seems to be an idea that if you were lucky enough to be born to a middle-class or rich family, you are entilted to everything, including food and health care, while the others, who aren't so lucky, should go without. Until we can adiquately feed our country, there will always be unqual childhoods. Parents can't be expected to carry such a burden. To put food ont he table, parent's are forced to work longer hours, which may put food in their childrens stomachs, but then child care is needed and there is alot less parent-child interaction and bonding which is also imperative to foster a loving home. I don't know if there is really an answer to all these problems today, accept to be fully prepared for any child you bring into this world, understand that the government can only go so far, and that "good" parenting is making the best of what is had.

Let's Get Them To Graduate

The NEA site ( http://www.nea.org/presscenter/actionplan1.html )has some really great initiatives to getting students to graduate high school, to stay when things get tough and the future looks bleek. The statistics on the site were discouraging. For example- In 2000, young adults living in families with incomes in the lowest 20 percent of all family incomes were six times as likely as their peers from families in the top 20 percent of the income distribution to drop out of high school. This for me hits especially close to home. My husband dropped out of high school at the age of 15. He now works as a painter and is happy, but times were not always good. My husband grew up in Newark, Bloomfield and Montclair. Too many houses to count and schools to name. The year he dropped out, he went to 3 different schools. Life was not stable and there were many times that he had to fend for himself and the onyl way to do that was to be on the streets with the older guys. To many moves and way to much time on the streets, caused him to loose interest in school and drop out. Unfortunately, his parents did not see how his education was going to help him, after all there was never any expectation that he would go to college. But as his wife, I can tell you, it is hard to find a job without a high school diploma. Never mind all the tattoos, and the long braided hair (that he finally cut off). In the end, when you strip off all the wear and tare, he is a hardworking and good person. We are lucky that he is a talented painter, cause without that, I don't know what we'd do. This is his story, but he is not alone. There are many children out there that are in the same situation. This is a big reason why I am becoming a teacher, because between my life and his, we have differently made our lives better than what was expected. Sometimes the best way to reach a student is to allow them to know your struggle and pain and to give them the hope to make their lives better. Many people struggle, some times if you don't work hard, you won't appreciate the outcome.

I miss New Orleans

It's been a long while, at least 3 years, since I've had to write anything about who I am and what made me this way. Today I sat down to being writing my "Frames of Reference" paper and found it dificult to reflect on my childhood in New Orleans. I am truely heart broken and it hurts to write about places and people that are no longer there. New Orleans, the people, the city, the music, it all meant so much to me. I was born in Charity Hospital, grew up in the lower ninth ward, went to school at McDonogh 15 and Bradley Elementary(this one is gone)and spent hours upon hours walking Bourbon Street until my feet hurt. My mother worked on Bourbon Street and knew so many people. We were poor, really poor, as most are in NOLA, but when everyone is living the same poor existence, you learn to rejoice in the little things. The city brought us all together. Its a way of life, it has shaped my world and my life forever. I look at the world differently than those raised anywhere else in the world. There will be more to come, but for now, I gotta stop thinking bout the past and how it shaped my future as person and a professional.

Take a look at this website if you want-gives a first hand encounter from a New Orleans Teacher- after Katrina- Lil Wayne's influence... It can help us understand what its like to really jump right into a culture and let go of your frame of reference and get down to the nitty gritty with the students. "take away the football team, the basketball team, and all you got is me to represent New Orleans"...Weezy

http://www.oxfordamericanmag.com/content.cfm?ArticleID=390&Entry=CurrentIssue

As Lil Wayne says "born in New Orleans, raised in New Orleans, I will forever remain faithful New Orleans."

Here are some more articles that are crazy facinating. Both related to Crenshaw High in LA and intergrating rap music into education. I've thought about this for years...

http://articles.latimes.com/2006/may/07/local/me-hiphop7

http://articles.latimes.com/2003/jan/14/local/me-hiphop14

So you say you want a revolution?

The reform of urban schools can only be done from the top. One teacher can adjust their particular pedagogy and style of teaching to fit the needs of urban students, but this will not change the students' perception of what is important in school, and that is testing. It would be greatly beneficial to the children in urban schools to concentrate on learning rather than test scores. Standardized tests do not accurately portray a student's abilities and knowledge, only their testing competence. There are basic skills that must be taught and learned, but the true test of their learning is if they can take those basic skills outside the classroom and put them to use. Test scores do not translate to what they have been taught and learned in class. The test scores only represent what a student can do in a short period of time with outside pressures and expectations. Test taking is nerve raking for everyone and we should not judge a students abilities in life solely on test scores. It is more important that a student have learned to be an active participant in life and be able to find solutions to challenges that surely will arise. Teachers should no only have to focus on test material, but also teach the social skills nessary to work an interact with the public as well as work ethic. The classroom is a dynamic situation, your intended lessons are changed due to the needs of the children. "Schooling is living, not preparation for living. And living is a constant messing with problems that seem to resist solution." (Martin Haberman, The Pedagogy of Poverty Versus Good Teaching). The change that is most necessary in urban schools is to do away with standardized testing, or at least their meaningfullnes in the urabn schoo, which will lift the dark cloud of teachers, students and administrators heads. The focus of an urban educators should not be to make students pass a test, it should be to facilitate critical thinking and provide the opportunity to children to make a positive impact of the world and surrounding community. All to often a teacher must focus on standardized testing because administrators use it to gauge a teachers ability as well as the students. Neither one is an accurate representation of the learning process. Testing only shows how well a child can remember what they have learned throughout the year. If the lesson was taught and then the test was given, many more students would know how to approach the test question and get the right answer. In order for the "Pedagogy of Poverty" to be reformed, we must take the emphasis off of grades and test scores and realize that just as students do not all learn in the same way, and they should not all be tested in the same way. The lessened pressure on teachers will allow them to do their job better and the expectations for students will change from cutting the grade to actively participating in genuine learning activities.

Working Class Hero

Rather than gripping over urban public schools and their test scores, low grades, high drop out rates, poor attendance, and burnt out and ineffective teachers, we must recognize the value and the importance of the services they provide. In many instances, when children come to school they are in a safe haven and feel comforted by the everyday classroom routine. The Annenburg Article, The Promise of Urban Schools, says that the development of positive cultural and social identity as well as one's relationship to the broader society is a the very core of education in urban public schools. As an educators in urban public schools,we should accept that not every child will continue in their academic pursuits. The expectations are still there that teachers will create a foundation for every child to be capable of succeeding in college, but we must not loose the children that do not have college as a goal. Often the students last experience in a classroom setting is in an urban high school and it is the educators responsibly to impart the knowledge and capability to be an active part of the community and the workforce. As baby boomers grow older, so does our workforce. In order for economic stability in America's future, we must replace the retiring workers with fresh and diligent workers who are equipped with the skills and technological knowledge to succeed in today's job market. Coming from an urban school system, I have seen many of my friends and family fall by the wayside because their is often too much emphasise on test scores and grades. We need to teach that learning is important to function in the world today. That the minimum of a high school education is need to get many jobs. and that there will be many opportunities in a variety of fields as the population grows older and baby boomers retire. When they realize that the will be a flurry of jobs in the future, they will be encouraged to learn and finish high school which for many is a great accomplishment. A teacher should display high expectations for their students, but those expectations don't always need to be college bound. There are many trades and professions that are equally as feasible for a student to learn and achieve success without college training. We should encourage them to feel confident with their knowledge and identity to go out there and make an impact. Just presenting a variety of opportunities to them, not just one opportunity, college, that for many may seem like a stretch. There is a myth in America that all students should attend and complete college and that a college degree is necessary to be successful in the future. Unfortunately, too many college graduate are currently coming out of school jobless because their is so much competition, including outsourcing, for jobs that require college degrees. To truly leave no child behind, teachers need to provide children with multiple opportunities to ensure that every child finds a career suited to their individual character, ability, and goals.The youth of today will be our working class someday, we should be proud of them, encourage them, and most of all allow them to be proud of themselves. Lets hope that we will one day stop perpetuating stereotypes about the youth in urban centers and start recognizing them as a integral part of the future prosperity of America. By allowing students to dream many possibilities, including becoming skilled rather than professional workers, and integrating useful technology into the classroom, a eager and able workforce is created.

http://social.jrank.org/pages/708/Workforce-Baby-Boomer-Retirement-Effects.html

This link shows the true numbers of retirees in the future and the importance of training the youth to fill their shoes.

Kaleidoscopic

Times they are a changin... and the impact of changing demographics on education are profound. According to the Hodgkinson Article, in the next two decades America will see a great influx of immigrants and about 65 percent of America's population growth will be "minority". The increase in population will be absorbed by mostly (3/5) by three states and the remaining (2/5) will be absorbed by only 6 other states. These states are commonly reffered to as the gateway states. The future changes in America's popultion will put increase pressure on our urban centers. The face of America is changing quickly and with people of a variety of national origins. There will be vast cultural differences and barriers that must be overcome to help assimulate the future population to beome a functioning part of our "American" society. This should be gradual and should not be forced. As educators, we will need to be sensitive to the needs of both transients sudents and their parents, and allow for the retention of cultural charateristics which are famliar and comfortable, while continously faciltating their integration into the "American Culture" and realization of the "Amreican Dream". America is the land of opportunity, and although assimulation is sometimes assumed viewed in a negative light, it is important to become part of the society and community in which you live without losing yourself along the way.