Sunday, September 26, 2010

richard rodriguez's aria

connection

               after reading richard rodriguez's aria, i was honestly unsure of his point of view on bilingual teaching. i think it had to do with what delpit was talking about. about the anti-"ra ra" diversity. he was, i believe, trying to discuss how the individual should be valued, but they must be taught the public voice. it also could be seen as being taught the rules of power, as delpit discusses in her essay. the individual's private language also cannot be thrown out. teachers need to find that balance between the individual and the "institution".
              the article made me really curious about other opinions on the issue, and what exactly is going on in the schools today? rodriguez only talks about what he knew as a child, frankly i'm not sure what schools still have nuns as teachers, or how long ago he was in schools, and i'd like to imagine that in today’s world more is being done. when looking around on the internet i found this essay that opened my eyes to what the government is really doing to help this issue. apparently, a lot more is being done than i could imagine. and i've never actually been aware of the situation

in class:
why in the world did i not know of this problem, it’s so obvious, and why is it that these children are assumed "slow" and put on different learning tracks?  when it’s not that they cannot communicate well, but that it’s just not in the "correct" language. but again i really enjoyed that essay and it really cleared up a lot of questions i had so you should definitely take a look!

song of the moment what i got

Sunday, September 19, 2010

the invisible backpack

"Whites are taught to think of their lives as morally neutral, formative and average, and also ideal, so that when we work to benefit others, this is seen as work which will allow 'them' to be more like 'us.'"

reflecting

              this quote hit home for me. it brings me back to the question of weather or not giana were ahead of the game. we both agreed that we dont see the difference between races. i, personally, like to believe that we are ahead, but this suggests that because we cannot recognize or chose not to is part of our invisible backpack.
             as she goes on and discribes the privallges it becomes more clear that this invisible backpack is real. i always thought because i was maybe more mature or thoughtful that i felt more comfortable voicing myself, or even giving a voice to those who cant. after reading this article i've come to realize that this may be because of what is consider my neutrality i'm unsure i agree with this but it makes me really think about the way i go about my life. going on for however many years believing i was always doing the "right" thing, but maybe the problem. not recognizing it, or facing the problem.
            now to face my problem? but if i feel like i'm trying to help the problem or fix it, then is there a problem? and as i've already discussed in class, i'm not sure it should be considered a "problem". while reflecting on the article i've just come to realize, i have so many more questions about myself and who i am.  i really enjoyed this reading, questioning myself just helps me become more sure of who i am, too bad i dont know the answers yet.

Amy

song of the moment: where is the love

welcome

hey everyone, i'm brand new to this whole blogging thing. i guess i have to say what i do outside class; i love to be with my friends, just hang out. i'm into music (which technically everyone is), i can't spell if my life depended on it, so feel free to correct me at anytime, but i'll try my best to spell check before i post lol. since school i've just really been concentrating on my classes, i wish i had more free time. i like to dance, sing, and just relax a majority of the time. i really love school, as crazy as that is, i love learning and being in a classroom, which is probably why i want to be a teacher in the first place. i want to teach my love of learning. there are a lot of other reasons behind it too, but right now i'm starving and my roommate ate all my food so i need to go shopping. see you in class!

Amy B.

song of the moment Who says?