HW 45 - More Big Thoughts on Schools

3. What additional points does reading these theorists make you think of, about your own education and philosophy?

After reading what these theorists had to say about how they feel about the way schools are run in today's society, it didn't really phase me much. I mean, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, however, does it really matter how two theorists feel school should be run for US? I mean, while their intentions are good, THEY aren't the ones in the classrooms 5 days a week....WE are.

When reading about about Ted Sizer's CES organization, his opinions threw me off a bit. He believed that elective classes and sports weren't necessary and were "a distraction to the core curriculum". I mean....Really? So what about future Athletes, Photographers and Artists, they don't get to take part in their given activities in school because he feels that it isn't needed? Once again, I know he means well, but he should be listening tio today's students rather than telling them what he thinks is best for them.

UPDATE( 3-22-10): After sitting in Internship the period before this one in which I am currently typing up this extension, I can safely say that I can back up my opinion in which I say that Students know what's best for them in the classrooms. As I was in Internship, a class caught up in conversations about job interviews, I found myself actually listening. And why was I doing so? Because it ACTUALLY MATTERS!!!! Although a class such as Math has been a mainstay in the school curriculum for a long time, i find myself paying more attention in Internship class than I do in Math class. This is because students want to be taught stuff that will help them in the future. So rather have kids be forced to learn about Quadratic Functions and Combining Compounds (in Science), how about we learn more about job interviews and how to pay taxes NOW.

HW 42 - More Research and More Thinking

Part B for HW 42

Question: Today, the majority of students feel that the curriculum of their education does not help out for what they want to do in their futures. Students question why aren't ALL schools specialized in a way in which student have more specific options in their learning experience that would benefit their futures. So, Why aren't ALL schools specifically specialized in a given curriculum to serve as training for students with their futures?

In class, the majority of the student felt like the weren't learning anything in school now that they would need for their specific futures and hopeful jobs/careers. They felt that although today's educational system provides a balanced base of education, schools everywhere should instead of being widespread, they should get down and specific on what they are teaching their students to ensure that they get the education they need to achieve in their personal future plans.

Because of this, just like it has over time, schools may be looking for a change in the near future. As young adults in high school, we have different aspirations, different ideas and dreams of what we want to make our lives out of. However, we have to wait until college roles around to decide that. Now instead of knowing full well what we want before college, we have to pay both money and personal time to a school we think would fit our future's needs, although we aren't 100% on it, but rather hopeful.

In my opinion, I feel that in the next decade or two, schools AT LEAST countrywide could have a positive change in education to ensure that they are providing the rightful education that students would actually NEED in their lives after school. I mean, it's nice to know this, but do we honestly need to know everything there is to know about Quadratic Functions as an adult in our lives? I doubt it.

HW 41 - Initial Internet Research on Schooling

The topic about school which I will be getting more specific with is the questioning of why school doesn't provide specific classes to benefit not only the interests of students, but to help them long term in the future. In my own thoughts, schools today probably only want to provide a base of education for their students and have them choose more specific classes when they get to college. However, I think it would be more beneficial if this was done earlier in the educational career of students, say around high school or even junior high school.

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/8-essential-skills-they-didnt-teach-you-in-school.html

This article explains the "8 essential skills that weren't taught in school". Some topics include how to be successful in Life and how to make and accomplish goals. These topics should be taught in school to prepare us before we are sent out into the world to make something out of ourselves. This article insists that if we are taught these 8 skills, we will be able to have a better increase in success in Life.

http://www.databasepublish.com/blog/why-dont-we-teach-project-management-school-kids

This article gets more specific and asks why isn't "Project Management" taught in school. Although a little too specific, this article expresses how schools can change the confidence of students in wanting to get to the top of whatever careers they may end up choosing. This may bad, but this idea could serve as positive influence in accomplishing alot past high school.



Part A for HW 42

http://professorronaldgcorwin.com/id15.html

This article talks about how public schools offer the "common curriculum" to students. A clever metaphor that was used was that for heart surgery, a huge, major hospital beats out a small medical office, implying that specialized schools are available for more specific educational interests.


http://teachingtechnology.suite101.com/article.cfm/magnet_schools_for_tech

This article discusses "magnet Schools", schools who have an eye for the more educationally advance individuals who have a clear, set goal on what they want to do for their future involving computers and other technology. It also argues how less advanced students may feel bad because they don't meet a given standard like others do. However, one cannot help if some kids are more determined than others.

HW 39 - First School Assignment

Part A

Questions

1. Will School ever change so it's more like college and you can choose what you want to study?
2. As school become equally or more social as it is educational?
3. Is there a deeper point to why school exists besides education?

Ideas
1. School has become one of, if not the place where social circles are created.
2. School has been evolving ever since it was created, so it will most likely be different than it is currently.
3. School either provides as an inspiration for kids to succeed or for people to feel forced to drop out.

Experiences

1. Obviously, school has taught me to do work at a consistent rate, regardless if I enjoy it or not.
2. School has been the building ground of my friendships of the past and the present.
3. School has made me grow educationally and made me become more serious about my future as I am today.


Part B

When I first came to SOF, I only knew like 4 people who came over with me from my middle school. I haven't had the feeling i had on the first day in high school in a long time. When i got to middle school, all my friends from elementary school went with me, so it was an easier experience. But when high school came, I was practically alone. Thinking back on it now, that was a time in my life where I was able to re-invent myself. I knew I would eventually have brand new friends, hangout spots, etc. Now, I am sad to say that i don't even remember my friends of elementary and middle school. i guess when it comes to school, it's just one stage of your life after another, just passing you by.
Although people look at school as nothing more but just boring work, this experience makes me realize that school provided me with something even bigger than that. it had me change my surrondings, my friends, the school, the neighborhood, etc. There is a point in everyones life where their life changes dramatically. This specifically happened to me when i entered high school.

HW 38 - Art Project Cool

(Unfortunatly, I wasn't able to arrange for the students who were supposed to be in the video to meet up at a specific time.
However, I'll instead write the script for what was supposed to happen, which will hopefully allow me to at least get half credit).

Brandon(me) is getting bullied by a couple of guys. When defending himself doesn't get anywhere, he pleads for help from
somebody, anybody.
Meanwhile, in the computer lab, his sanctuary, Victor was only seconds away from conquering the evil forces of darkness(or whatever crap he does) when all of a sudden, he hears the needs of help from Brandon.
Knowing what he must do, Victor sprang into action and ran so fast to offer to help, it was as if he was flying. He then arrives
at the scene of bullying where Brandon is in dire need of help.
Being familiar with being bullied every day, Victor reached deep inside his dark soul and unleashed his "fury" on the bullies. When the dust settled, Brandon went over to thank Victor for his assitance. Victor insisted his wasn't him who Brandon should thank, it is the mages who give Victor his strength. Afterwords, Victor goes back to the confines of the computer lab, to continue his virtual journey against evil.


Metaphor

This short story was a metaphor of people standing up for what they believe in. Victor's character represented the good in people, when someone sees something going on that is wrong, they fix it for the good. This is considered not only the right thing to do, but the COOL thing to do as well. (obviously, an actual video would've been better, but we couldn't arrange for a period of time to produce it).

HW 37 Cool Paper Done Draft

( I think My first rough draft was pretty good, it just needed the main idea to change for it to make sense. Let me know some examples in your opinion of my new main idea, which is in bold)

Imagine knowing you weren't the creator of your personality, that you were just a robot built by someone else. It now has become apparent that we ae living in a society where one word can determine who you are either by yourself, or by the people around you. Common Sense itself hasn't been playing a big part in the growth of the term "Cool", as it now creates conflict with people in society, especially in the teen age group and the middle/high school scenes. Without having anyone around you to yell in your ear, you would want to do and/or be whoever or whatever makes you happy the most. Unfortunatly, sources within the media play a big role in shaping the lives of upcoming kids who apprently would rather follow what someone else thinks is cool instead of their own way. In fact, cool has been defined in a way that disobeys parents, the people who brought us into the world. "Cool is an oppositional attitude adopted by individuals or small groups to express defiance to authority"(Cool Rules: Anatomy of an Attitude). Now this can be looked at in multiple ways, whether it be a teen ingnoring a parent, or a criminal running from a cop, these examples are surely the wrong way to go. Cool has made it apprent that we don't have 100% control over who we become as people, and that society has now become apart of everyone in it's life.

Cool in general should be defined as being your own person, following nobody except yourself. Cool however, wasn't grown in society in that light, so "Cool" isn't technically defined in that way by the majority of people. These individuals may look at Tattoos and over the edge hairstyles as a characteristic of the "lower social class", amoung other things. However, if those people opened their hypnotized minds, they would realize that these haircuts and bodyart are a way of expression, a way to say "I'm Different", a way to identify yourself in the world for real. Think about it, would you rather be standing in the world noticed by yourself or with a big crowd? The answer should obviously be by yourself because in this case, YOU are seen, in a crowd, the crowd itself only is seen.

People now use these ways of representation to mock self expression, not necessarily on purpose, but in an attempt to try and be accepted by others. When people look for the best ways to be cool, they are copyrighting someone else. " If you don't have your own idea, you'll be apart of society's idea" (quote from Andy's class). And on most occasions, they ARE noticed, but not in the right way, not for being yourself. Many Teen girls today who dress "sexy" aren't being looked at for their personailty first, girls today first attract guys by physical apperences. And I'm sure when asked, these girls will say that it's 100% their own style with NO inspirations. No? Never heard of Britney Spears? Really? Same goes for the guys, who may change their appearence and hide themselves behind baggy clothes and namebrand sunglasses. In fact, girls themselves are a reason why guys feel pressured to change themselves up a bit. Some guys who don't feel 100% confident in themselves will look to anything to impress a girl, at all costs. It's not just girls though, it can be in any situations wioth groups of people, a hopeful job, etc.

Cool has now become somewhat of a problem when thought of. Sure, cool can push you into the "in" crowd, but is it worth it? Is it worth losing your true identity, who you can truly become? People who are strong minded, who don't let other people's ideas and opinions affect them, those are the people who have the true right to say, "I AM COOL". They follow nobody except themselves, they are happy with the path in life they have chosen. How about those kids who are in the "cool" group? OK, now what? All they're doing during that period of time is wearing a mask, a white, plain, mask. There are these kind of people, then there are the strong minded people. I guess Cool can be looked at as proof to the fact that maybe some people are just stronger than others. Better yet, that is only one example of what Cool can prove.

HW 36 Triangular Partner Help

Matthew B's Topic:

"Gangs are a way of life for many of these young black males because of their position in culture, sense they our born in mist poverty they our already for the most part given what will look achievable and cool".

My Idea:

To me, Matthew's paper gives a great P.O.V. as to why people do things such as joining gangs. In order to even think about the topic of cool, one most know what it feels like on both sides of the argument. Although I myself think gangs are wrong, it doesn't hurt to get an idea as to why people join gangs, to know their inspiration. These kids, they're lost in this world. Whatever the cause was, they're looking for a way out of the bad situation they unfortunatly have to call life. Just like everyone did at one point of their lives, these kids are looking for something to do, something to gives their lives that new twist. Although some people think it is wrong, including myself, I have come to realize that not me, nor any other human being on this Earth has the pure right to say what is right and wrong, unless they were there when the Big bang happened.

Michelle G's Topic:

"These roles we play make us who we are and are shaped by all that surrounds us".

My Idea:

Obviously, Michelle is stating what Cool is and what is does to us in our lifetime. In some period of time, Cool was invented. Nobody can say they know how, when or why, it just happened. And now, thousands of years later, it is still apart of society, apart of life. The society we grow up in, our surrondings we absorb into our brains as we were young, shapes us into who we become in that same society when we get older. Because of realizing this, alot of people would probably get fustrated when they realize they are not in control of the person they have been since they were born. However, I see this in a different light. Does society have an effect on who you are? Yes. Do you have an effect on who you are? Yes. Ads much as some people don't want to believe it, society has become a major part in how we grow up. However, i wouldn't say it has complete control. I'll put in like this, society gives us the tools, and we get to choose which tools we want to use in building our lives. So the way I see it, it has become somewhat of a partnership.