Dennis Carlson: Gayness, Multicultural Education, and Community
Premise:
· Absence
· Shame
· Silent
· Invisible
· Ashamed
· Afraid/Fear
· Cultural diversity
· Sexual identity
· Schooling in a changing world
· Abnormal society
· Normal society
· Marginalization
· Terms: “gay” “gayness” “queer”
· Disempowerment
· Selective tradition
· Structuring silences
· Homosexual = disease
· Heterosexual
Author’s Argument:
Carlson argues that American culture is being reconstructed in numerous ways, many not for the best. Communities are made up of many people, who have different beliefs and express themselves differently. Everyone has a right to their identity and should not be ashamed of what others say/think. He is also arguing that in public schools, students are taught that normalization is the only way. Carlson’s overall argument is that many individuals are taught to keep their opinions silent and to just “stay in the closet.” Implying that being different is a bad thing. And Carlson disagrees with this; he argues that this way of thinking is incorrect. This is all an act of marginalization, as Carlson puts it. He wants a change in society where one can freely be open and not lose their identity due to a different view.
Evidence:
1. Many students in public school systems are taught that the topic of gayness is to be kept in a private place and should remain invisible. On page 236 Carlson addresses this by stating three important forms of marginalizing, which include excluding any “gayness” topics in the curriculum, keeping “gay” teachers quiet or out of the classroom, and the verbal and physical intimidation of gay teachers and students (236). Also teachers who were known as being gay were dismissed from their jobs (237).
2. On pages 236 – 237 Carlson introduces how in the world/society being different is covered up. He goes on to say that many text books purposely keep away from topics of homosexuality, except in a health book where it has been said that being homosexual is a disease. Along with this is says “it should hardly be surprising that major textbook publishers avoid gayness like it’s a plague (236).”This just proves how society drives away from this issue, thus creating a structuring silence.
3. Carlson also allows for the reader to hear what Willard Waller has to say. Pages 237 – 239 are where one can find how Waller views those who are different, or those who are homosexual. He feels that they are negative in society and should be banished from schools. And he has several points as to why he thinks this.
Questions/Comments/Points to Share:
I feel that in this reading that Carlson is trying to voice his opinion in favor of those who are different/ homosexual. Which is unusual in society, many topics on this issue are “hushed” and not allowed in certain places in society. Personally I have no problem whit a homosexual individual and I believe that everyone should be treated the same regardless of their sexual orientations or urges. Being different makes an individual who they are and allows them to have an identity. This reading can be related very much to Johnson and S.C.W.A.A.M.P. in the ways that this issue is kept silence because it is not openly accepted in society. And it is an issue that many individuals chose to simply ignore and continue on with everyday life. With Straightness being one of the topics of S.C.W.A.A.M.P., it makes this fit in too. Since many have to keep their sexual identities quiet to keep their job, leaving many to lose their identity by saying they are straight. I find this unfair, this world is slowly falling apart and diversity is becoming more popular in our country especially and I see a huge difference in my views from my parents’. I think it is just that younger generations are more accepting and opening to these difficult and diverse issues that are arising in society.
This reading was really a good topic for us as teachers to be to be exposed to. Because I found it to be very interesting and appealing to the profession I have chosen to study. If a coworker of mine in the future were to be of a homosexual preference, I would not judge them or reveal their secret. But I feel as if this issue is really getting out of hand, there are many issues that most Americans or even individuals world wide seem to run from. This results in an even bigger problem for the present and future generations.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Talking Point 2
Aria Richard Rodriguez
Premise:
· Anger
· Frustration
· Unfairness
· Language
· Family/Parents
· Heritage
· Education
· Teacher Relationship
· Home life
· School life
· Sadness
· Confusion
· Hurt
· Change(negative)
· Troubled
· Anxious
· Silence
· English
· Diversity
· Stereotypes
· Alienated
· Carelessness
· Parent child relationship
· Suffrage
· Lack of Confidence
· Bilingual
· Loss of individuality
· Scared
· Shameful
Authors Argument:
Rodriguez argues that society is forcing all diverse cultures into one large culture or Americanism. Many children who speak another language at home are forced to learn the American language leaving them to feel a lack of confidence in themselves because they are different. Another argument is that family life has changed for the negative and there is now a lack of communication between a parent and their child. Rodriguez states that a child who is bilingual looses a degree of their individual by trying to fit in a public society.
Evidence:
1. On page 34 in the text, in paragraph one, Rodriguez tells of the hardship of being bilingual. Also on this page in paragraph three, he discusses his lack of confidence in himself because his primary language is Spanish which lead to him feeling like an outcast.
2. Change of home language-He tells of how the teacher visited his home to ask his parents to work on his English while at home. This act changed the house hold for ever, meaning that English was now the primary home language which caused a barrier between children and parents. Overall as a result the father became silent causing a poor relationship with Richard.
3. On page 38 he discusses how now later in life he feels comfortable with public speaking since he knows the vernacular. He then discusses how he hears several Spanish speaking nuns which does remind him that his family and culture are remembered in pray. Another example is of him getting on the buss and a Spanish speaking women speaks to him which reminded him of the golden age of his youth
Questions Comments Points to Share
I choose to write about this article because I felt that it really expresses how American culture changes home life for many individuals that come from diverse backgrounds. I really liked this reading because I found it to be an easy read and I felt that it was pointed at a young adult audience to help them understand the difficulty a bilingual student has in the American education system. This relates very much to Johnson and to S.C.W.A.A.M.P. in the way that society is creates a bigger barrier for many individuals. Johnson says that many of our stereotypical issues are still around today but many individuals choose to ignore these issues. By doing so this creates the barrier between generations and a parent and child, in this case the topic of language. In relation to S.C.W.A.A.M.P. many of these bilingual families are forced to be like the average American family. This causes them to loose their public identity and a piece of their culture simply by living in America. In America, are we not feely able to speak the language of choice at home, keeping your private identity?
Premise:
· Anger
· Frustration
· Unfairness
· Language
· Family/Parents
· Heritage
· Education
· Teacher Relationship
· Home life
· School life
· Sadness
· Confusion
· Hurt
· Change(negative)
· Troubled
· Anxious
· Silence
· English
· Diversity
· Stereotypes
· Alienated
· Carelessness
· Parent child relationship
· Suffrage
· Lack of Confidence
· Bilingual
· Loss of individuality
· Scared
· Shameful
Authors Argument:
Rodriguez argues that society is forcing all diverse cultures into one large culture or Americanism. Many children who speak another language at home are forced to learn the American language leaving them to feel a lack of confidence in themselves because they are different. Another argument is that family life has changed for the negative and there is now a lack of communication between a parent and their child. Rodriguez states that a child who is bilingual looses a degree of their individual by trying to fit in a public society.
Evidence:
1. On page 34 in the text, in paragraph one, Rodriguez tells of the hardship of being bilingual. Also on this page in paragraph three, he discusses his lack of confidence in himself because his primary language is Spanish which lead to him feeling like an outcast.
2. Change of home language-He tells of how the teacher visited his home to ask his parents to work on his English while at home. This act changed the house hold for ever, meaning that English was now the primary home language which caused a barrier between children and parents. Overall as a result the father became silent causing a poor relationship with Richard.
3. On page 38 he discusses how now later in life he feels comfortable with public speaking since he knows the vernacular. He then discusses how he hears several Spanish speaking nuns which does remind him that his family and culture are remembered in pray. Another example is of him getting on the buss and a Spanish speaking women speaks to him which reminded him of the golden age of his youth
Questions Comments Points to Share
I choose to write about this article because I felt that it really expresses how American culture changes home life for many individuals that come from diverse backgrounds. I really liked this reading because I found it to be an easy read and I felt that it was pointed at a young adult audience to help them understand the difficulty a bilingual student has in the American education system. This relates very much to Johnson and to S.C.W.A.A.M.P. in the way that society is creates a bigger barrier for many individuals. Johnson says that many of our stereotypical issues are still around today but many individuals choose to ignore these issues. By doing so this creates the barrier between generations and a parent and child, in this case the topic of language. In relation to S.C.W.A.A.M.P. many of these bilingual families are forced to be like the average American family. This causes them to loose their public identity and a piece of their culture simply by living in America. In America, are we not feely able to speak the language of choice at home, keeping your private identity?
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Entry 1: Kozol & Goldberg
Jonathan Kozol. Amazing Grace & Bernard Goldberg. “Jonathan Kozol” from 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America (And Al Franken Is # 37)
Premise:
· Anger
· Violence
· Unfairness
· Ignorance
· Children’s role in society
· Diseases: AIDS, HIV, etc.
· Life in poverty
· Poverty
· Everyday life
· Personal protection
· Religion
· Race
· Heritage
· Education
· Teachers
· Families/ parents
· Awareness
Author’s Argument:
Kozol and Goldberg argue that society is vastly changing for the worse. Individuals who have been placed or are forced to life in poverty stricken areas suffer from being able to walk out onto a street or go school with out any worries of being gunned down. Many children in these locations are exposed to drugs, prostitution, violence, disease, and what do they learn by going to school? Not much is taught to them in school, but the things they are taught while on the street should not be around them.
Evidence:
1. Education - Kozol asks the little boy in Amazing Grace if he knows who George Washington was, and the boy replies by saying I know nothing or any one of/about that name. This proves that the education that each child is getting is not very good. Possibly the teachers may not teach to their expectations because the personally think that the child will be dead before they graduate high school, so there’s no point in fully educating the students. This argument can lead to the assumption that a child of color is placed at a lower value than a white child in the community.
2. On page 6 they are introduced to the teddy bears in the trees, which the boy (Cliffie) ignores. On pages 11 and 12 Kozol is answered by pastor Overall about why and what the bears are there for. “Overall tells Kozol that they are hung in the trees because it is a “Children’s Park,” where volunteers arrive twice a week to give out condoms and clean needles to the addicted men and women, who decide to bring their children along. The children play near the bears while their guardians wait for their clean needles so they can shoot up heroine and cocaine to get a high (Kozol 12).”
3. Goldberg presents evidence on page 294 that the American school system is falling apart and has broken down over the few decades when it comes to educating a child. He goes onto continue by saying that violence is to involved in schools today. As a result many kids feel no need to learn about history, they are too concerned with life and learning how to survive living in poverty, where violence is everywhere. Over all leaving these children unaware of their heritage and the recognition that each of them are from the same place.
Questions/Comments/Points to Share:
I really like the first article/reading by Kozol, because I knew New York had a high poverty rate but I was unaware that they were placed outside of Harlem. My family comes from New York City and mainly from the Bronx and Harlem, but this back in the day when mostly Italians and Irish populated these areas. I also was unaware that the state does provide some care for these people by giving them heaters, sleeping bags, electrical blankets, and etc. but I do know that life is still hard and dangerous. One thing that did shock me was the amount of children that commit suicide or that had died with in the past year in this article; and the amount of individuals who suffer from AIDS, HIV, and addictions to drugs. I liked this article, because it is from a child’s view intertwined with the perspective of an adult. Goldberg’s article was very dull to me. I found it hard to comprehend what I was reading; I felt that there should have been a little more to what he was trying to get at. Because there are more issues in this world than those surrounding the topics of heritage and schooling. Life experience and knowing how to survive are the key things needed I think to live a life of safety from the violence. This was somewhat shown in Kozols’ article when the little boy looks to see if the streets are clear and safe.
I found the first reading much easier to read and comprehend than the second. I really got into the first one too; I had a concrete image in my mind of what Kozol was seeing through the eyes of the little boy. I think it does relate to Johnson, but definitely can be related to S.C.W.A.A.M.P. in the way that each issue makes up society. And here the issues of safety, disease and addiction, and violence make up the society in Mott Haven, New York.
Premise:
· Anger
· Violence
· Unfairness
· Ignorance
· Children’s role in society
· Diseases: AIDS, HIV, etc.
· Life in poverty
· Poverty
· Everyday life
· Personal protection
· Religion
· Race
· Heritage
· Education
· Teachers
· Families/ parents
· Awareness
Author’s Argument:
Kozol and Goldberg argue that society is vastly changing for the worse. Individuals who have been placed or are forced to life in poverty stricken areas suffer from being able to walk out onto a street or go school with out any worries of being gunned down. Many children in these locations are exposed to drugs, prostitution, violence, disease, and what do they learn by going to school? Not much is taught to them in school, but the things they are taught while on the street should not be around them.
Evidence:
1. Education - Kozol asks the little boy in Amazing Grace if he knows who George Washington was, and the boy replies by saying I know nothing or any one of/about that name. This proves that the education that each child is getting is not very good. Possibly the teachers may not teach to their expectations because the personally think that the child will be dead before they graduate high school, so there’s no point in fully educating the students. This argument can lead to the assumption that a child of color is placed at a lower value than a white child in the community.
2. On page 6 they are introduced to the teddy bears in the trees, which the boy (Cliffie) ignores. On pages 11 and 12 Kozol is answered by pastor Overall about why and what the bears are there for. “Overall tells Kozol that they are hung in the trees because it is a “Children’s Park,” where volunteers arrive twice a week to give out condoms and clean needles to the addicted men and women, who decide to bring their children along. The children play near the bears while their guardians wait for their clean needles so they can shoot up heroine and cocaine to get a high (Kozol 12).”
3. Goldberg presents evidence on page 294 that the American school system is falling apart and has broken down over the few decades when it comes to educating a child. He goes onto continue by saying that violence is to involved in schools today. As a result many kids feel no need to learn about history, they are too concerned with life and learning how to survive living in poverty, where violence is everywhere. Over all leaving these children unaware of their heritage and the recognition that each of them are from the same place.
Questions/Comments/Points to Share:
I really like the first article/reading by Kozol, because I knew New York had a high poverty rate but I was unaware that they were placed outside of Harlem. My family comes from New York City and mainly from the Bronx and Harlem, but this back in the day when mostly Italians and Irish populated these areas. I also was unaware that the state does provide some care for these people by giving them heaters, sleeping bags, electrical blankets, and etc. but I do know that life is still hard and dangerous. One thing that did shock me was the amount of children that commit suicide or that had died with in the past year in this article; and the amount of individuals who suffer from AIDS, HIV, and addictions to drugs. I liked this article, because it is from a child’s view intertwined with the perspective of an adult. Goldberg’s article was very dull to me. I found it hard to comprehend what I was reading; I felt that there should have been a little more to what he was trying to get at. Because there are more issues in this world than those surrounding the topics of heritage and schooling. Life experience and knowing how to survive are the key things needed I think to live a life of safety from the violence. This was somewhat shown in Kozols’ article when the little boy looks to see if the streets are clear and safe.
I found the first reading much easier to read and comprehend than the second. I really got into the first one too; I had a concrete image in my mind of what Kozol was seeing through the eyes of the little boy. I think it does relate to Johnson, but definitely can be related to S.C.W.A.A.M.P. in the way that each issue makes up society. And here the issues of safety, disease and addiction, and violence make up the society in Mott Haven, New York.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
About Me
I'm Kasey. I am currently a freshman at RIC and live on campus. This is my second semester here, and I am looking foward to this semester because I think that it will be good and it means that summer and warm weather are on its way... YAY!!! If you couldn't tell I hate cold weather. In my spare time I love dancing and have been for 14 years, shopping, driving and cars, and hanging out with my friends. Basically I love life and I live it to the fullest most of the time. I hope that I do as well as I did first semester in my courses here @ RIC.
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