Kimberly Boghossian
Talking Points #5
10/30/07
“Metaphors & Myths Have Shaped
American Schools”
Premise:
diversity, white privilege, public schooling, ideology, myths, metaphors, American schools, merit, scientific efficiency, competition, progress, rich/poor, vouchers, society, desegregation, magnet/charter schools, vouchers, privatization, contributions to society, national unity, social progress, efficient, universal education, social justice, discrimination, injustice
Argument:
Changing and improving our country through education in American schools is the main theme.
Schools are a means to control society.
4 ideologies used by American school system:
1) Myths of merit – Success will come to one who works hard no matter how bad that student’s circumstances are. This myth helps wealthy people to think that they are more moral because they are successful.
2) Scientific efficiency – Setting up schools like a factory with the student as the product being produced. This is the way schools are set up today, as a business.
3) Competition – Schools are like the marketplace. The successful students and the successful schools will be the ones who survive.
4) Myths of progress – Progress is thought to be based on past successes and that it will continue to be even more successful. Many Americans realize that they cannot make a choice on how progress will affect them not trust the system.
These ideologies characterize American culture and the way it runs its schools.
My Thoughts:
Though I know I shouldn’t be surprised but I was disappointed on how political our school system is and how it is set up. This causes many clashes between schools and society. You still see this. For example, there are always disagreements on whether a subject should or should not be taught in school. One obvious subject that is controversial is sexual education. There are also some school systems that do not believe in teaching evolution.
Also, every year there is disagreement on how much money the city should give to the schools. Again, it is political because it affects people’s taxes. The wealthier communities tend to have better school systems because they have more money to get better services and equipment. As much as we are trying, our schools are still not equal in the education they provide.
One thing that bothers me is with the ideology of scientific efficiency. Today, students are required to take too many standardized tests. The teachers use up so much of their class time to teach their students strategies on how to take these tests instead of basic knowledge. There’s so much else to learn instead that is new and useful. It comes down to how the school looks in the present time instead of putting effort into teaching for the future.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
"Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us"
Kimberly Boghossian
Talking Points #4
October 16, 2007
"Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us”
Premise:
Society , Views, “Secret Education”, Innocent, Writing for change, Power, Dreams, Behave , Think , Rich/Poor, Violence, Youth, Transforming minds, People of color , React, Real/Unreal, Mass media, Stereotypes, Ignorance, Latest fashion, Sex roles, Injustice, Challenge, Entertain, Myths
Argument:
Linda Christensen, in her essay “Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us”, argues that the cartoons that young children watch are brainwashing them with bad stereotypes. These stereotypes involve economic, racial, and gender roles. In this essay, Christensen is trying to teach us to be aware of and watch for these poor stereotypes in the shows that young children are watching. She believes that the audiences of children are receiving a “secret education” and are being influenced badly by these poor stereotypes. The author wants us to take action teach the new generations of youth to learn the truth about what they are actually watching and to change what they are watching.
Comments:
Christensen mentions some examples of cartoons and how they show poor or wrong stereotypes of different groups. She is also right that people don’t want to think that they are being manipulated, especially with something as simple as a cartoon. The thing that bothered me in her essay is that children seem to be all by themselves, in isolation, watching these cartoons. Unfortunately, that may be true with too many children. But Christensen does not discuss parental and family influences on the child. Hopefully, there are other more positive influences around them so that the children will know that it was just a silly cartoon. Children will always be surrounded by these poor stereotypes, and it is up to the parents to teach their children wrong from right. These “poor” cartoons can be used as a teaching tool, and parents can start a discussion with their child. This will teach even young children to question things and not believe everything that is told them, especially by strangers, including television.
Television is slowly changing. There are still “bad” shows but diversity is being more accepted. I believe “Dora the Explorer” on Nick Jr. is an example of a show with good stereotypes. I don’t know the show that well, but I know Dora is a Hispanic girl who is smart. She is teaching kids another language. Stereotypes can be found not only on television shows, but in books, magazines, and movies. It’s all around us. It is the lessons that their parents teach through everyday life is what will stay with the child.
At the end of each fairy tale, there is a “happily ever after”, yeah right. But it’s nice to relax and dream of nice things. Cartoons and shows are good way to escape and relax, as long as you don’t take everything they say as being so. Cartoons are only amusing entertainment away from the real world, nothing else. That’s just what children need to know. It is not the real world. I am not saying that the shows that children are watching should not be critiqued. They definitely should. But they should be watched by the parents as well and used as a teaching lesson and discussion of what’s right and wrong. Children will always have bad influences around them, whether it is on TV or in the school. They need to learn to be strong individuals, to think with their own heads. When I was a kid, watching theses shows, I did not think of these subjects of race, sexuality, and the rest. I just enjoyed them. I do not think I turned into an awful bigot.
Now as I look back thinking of why I liked these cartoons is very different than this article. When I was a kid I had a different perception than now. I keyed on to colors, singing, and animals. It is really the parents that decide on what for us to watch and how to watch.
Talking Points #4
October 16, 2007
"Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us”
Premise:
Society , Views, “Secret Education”, Innocent, Writing for change, Power, Dreams, Behave , Think , Rich/Poor, Violence, Youth, Transforming minds, People of color , React, Real/Unreal, Mass media, Stereotypes, Ignorance, Latest fashion, Sex roles, Injustice, Challenge, Entertain, Myths
Argument:
Linda Christensen, in her essay “Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us”, argues that the cartoons that young children watch are brainwashing them with bad stereotypes. These stereotypes involve economic, racial, and gender roles. In this essay, Christensen is trying to teach us to be aware of and watch for these poor stereotypes in the shows that young children are watching. She believes that the audiences of children are receiving a “secret education” and are being influenced badly by these poor stereotypes. The author wants us to take action teach the new generations of youth to learn the truth about what they are actually watching and to change what they are watching.
Comments:
Christensen mentions some examples of cartoons and how they show poor or wrong stereotypes of different groups. She is also right that people don’t want to think that they are being manipulated, especially with something as simple as a cartoon. The thing that bothered me in her essay is that children seem to be all by themselves, in isolation, watching these cartoons. Unfortunately, that may be true with too many children. But Christensen does not discuss parental and family influences on the child. Hopefully, there are other more positive influences around them so that the children will know that it was just a silly cartoon. Children will always be surrounded by these poor stereotypes, and it is up to the parents to teach their children wrong from right. These “poor” cartoons can be used as a teaching tool, and parents can start a discussion with their child. This will teach even young children to question things and not believe everything that is told them, especially by strangers, including television.
Television is slowly changing. There are still “bad” shows but diversity is being more accepted. I believe “Dora the Explorer” on Nick Jr. is an example of a show with good stereotypes. I don’t know the show that well, but I know Dora is a Hispanic girl who is smart. She is teaching kids another language. Stereotypes can be found not only on television shows, but in books, magazines, and movies. It’s all around us. It is the lessons that their parents teach through everyday life is what will stay with the child.
At the end of each fairy tale, there is a “happily ever after”, yeah right. But it’s nice to relax and dream of nice things. Cartoons and shows are good way to escape and relax, as long as you don’t take everything they say as being so. Cartoons are only amusing entertainment away from the real world, nothing else. That’s just what children need to know. It is not the real world. I am not saying that the shows that children are watching should not be critiqued. They definitely should. But they should be watched by the parents as well and used as a teaching lesson and discussion of what’s right and wrong. Children will always have bad influences around them, whether it is on TV or in the school. They need to learn to be strong individuals, to think with their own heads. When I was a kid, watching theses shows, I did not think of these subjects of race, sexuality, and the rest. I just enjoyed them. I do not think I turned into an awful bigot.
Now as I look back thinking of why I liked these cartoons is very different than this article. When I was a kid I had a different perception than now. I keyed on to colors, singing, and animals. It is really the parents that decide on what for us to watch and how to watch.
Monday, October 8, 2007
"Gayness, Multicultural Education, and Community"
Kimberly Boghossian
Talking Points #3
October 9, 2007
Gayness, Multicultural Education,
and Community
Content/Premise: gayness, community, multicultural education, queer, silent, invisible, public schools, homosexual, lesbian, normalizing, real, identity formation, heterosexual, disempowered, deviant, sick, neurotic, criminal, lazy, unintelligent, abnormal, popular culture, popular culture curriculum, straight, AIDS, bar culture, rainbow flags, pink triangles, “Other”
Argument: Dennis Carlson argues that teachings about gay practices are increasingly hard to maintain. He points out some of the ways gay people and gayness have been kept in their place in the school community. Public schools can play an important role in helping to build a new democratic, multicultural community.
Evidence: This reading “Gayness, Multicultural Education, and Community”, by Dennis Carlson, talked about gays. People in society, that aren’t gay, like to separate them out as “Others” just say the word. “Others” seem to have their own little gay community set up, especially gay bars. The gays have a thing called “bar culture”. This is where they like to hang out together with friends and to have their own space. Sometimes you can tell where gays like to hang out by gay symbols such as the rainbow flag or pink triangles. But, what about the people who aren’t gay in society? How are they carrying on with all this “gay” talk? Dennis Carlson provides us with many real life situations, because gays are all around us. Not just in schools, but in the media, we are pulled in about the subject of gays. Society wants to try to normalize itself by avoiding talking about gays. “It was such a sin and they should be condemned” (Sears 1991, 390). “I think gay guys are just sick. How could they do that? It’s wrong!” (Sears 1991, 391). The lesson Carlson would like to make is “Be yourself no matter who or what you are.” Dennis Carlson says a democratic multicultural education must become a dialogue in which all “voices” are heard and all “truths” are understood. In addition, all voices get heard in which gays feel free to “come out” and find their own voices.
Though I am not gay, I believe that a democratic multicultural education is the best method. Being teased and even being attacked for being who you are is just wrong. I have heard the hurtful word “faggot” in school. Everyone is different in some way, whether it is by sexual orientation, color, gender, or religion and everyone should be respected.
Talking Points #3
October 9, 2007
Gayness, Multicultural Education,
and Community
Content/Premise: gayness, community, multicultural education, queer, silent, invisible, public schools, homosexual, lesbian, normalizing, real, identity formation, heterosexual, disempowered, deviant, sick, neurotic, criminal, lazy, unintelligent, abnormal, popular culture, popular culture curriculum, straight, AIDS, bar culture, rainbow flags, pink triangles, “Other”
Argument: Dennis Carlson argues that teachings about gay practices are increasingly hard to maintain. He points out some of the ways gay people and gayness have been kept in their place in the school community. Public schools can play an important role in helping to build a new democratic, multicultural community.
Evidence: This reading “Gayness, Multicultural Education, and Community”, by Dennis Carlson, talked about gays. People in society, that aren’t gay, like to separate them out as “Others” just say the word. “Others” seem to have their own little gay community set up, especially gay bars. The gays have a thing called “bar culture”. This is where they like to hang out together with friends and to have their own space. Sometimes you can tell where gays like to hang out by gay symbols such as the rainbow flag or pink triangles. But, what about the people who aren’t gay in society? How are they carrying on with all this “gay” talk? Dennis Carlson provides us with many real life situations, because gays are all around us. Not just in schools, but in the media, we are pulled in about the subject of gays. Society wants to try to normalize itself by avoiding talking about gays. “It was such a sin and they should be condemned” (Sears 1991, 390). “I think gay guys are just sick. How could they do that? It’s wrong!” (Sears 1991, 391). The lesson Carlson would like to make is “Be yourself no matter who or what you are.” Dennis Carlson says a democratic multicultural education must become a dialogue in which all “voices” are heard and all “truths” are understood. In addition, all voices get heard in which gays feel free to “come out” and find their own voices.
Though I am not gay, I believe that a democratic multicultural education is the best method. Being teased and even being attacked for being who you are is just wrong. I have heard the hurtful word “faggot” in school. Everyone is different in some way, whether it is by sexual orientation, color, gender, or religion and everyone should be respected.
Monday, October 1, 2007
~Aria~
Kimberly Boghossian
Talking Points #2
October 2, 2007
~Aria~
In “Aria”, the narrator, Richard Rodriguez, gives his experience as a non-English speaking young boy in an American school. The boy speaks Spanish fluently, but he and his family are told by his teachers to learn to speak English in America. Not knowing English was keeping him behind in school. The family started to speak only English all the time. This was not an easy thing to do for them, but they stuck through it. As expected, it was easier for Richard and his siblings to learn English than his parents. It was most difficult for his father. His father never became comfortable with English and didn’t want to let go of his Spanish heritage. Now Richard and his family are bilingual.
Some educators believe in bilingualism, teaching in two languages. Richard admits that it would have been much easier if his teachers spoke Spanish to him but he has to admit that his education was better and more successful because he learned English. It’s important to learn the language of the country you live in. It’s a requirement for success. It is just as important to keep your heritage.
People coming from a foreign country worry that they are will lose all of their traditions if they stop speaking their language, but this does not have to be true. I do believe that by not speaking your birth language, you do lose some of your cultural identity. But by learning to speak English, doesn’t mean you have to forget your birth language and your roots. When Richard was learning to speak English, Spanish became his private language.
This story of Richard’s relates to my family. When my mother became old enough to enter kindergarten, her mother stopped speaking Armenian to her and spoke only English so she wouldn’t have trouble in school. My mother never learned Armenian, and so the language is now lost in our family. It’s hard for me to learn the language when it isn’t spoken in the house. Even though we try to keep our Armenian roots, a big piece of it is gone.
I wonder why the narrator of this story titled this “Aria”. Aria is supposed to be a romantic piece of music. It is very loving in the melodic sense. Richard’s love of being bilingual could be why he chose the title. Aria, the word, really looks and sounds so pretty as well.
Talking Points #2
October 2, 2007
~Aria~
In “Aria”, the narrator, Richard Rodriguez, gives his experience as a non-English speaking young boy in an American school. The boy speaks Spanish fluently, but he and his family are told by his teachers to learn to speak English in America. Not knowing English was keeping him behind in school. The family started to speak only English all the time. This was not an easy thing to do for them, but they stuck through it. As expected, it was easier for Richard and his siblings to learn English than his parents. It was most difficult for his father. His father never became comfortable with English and didn’t want to let go of his Spanish heritage. Now Richard and his family are bilingual.
Some educators believe in bilingualism, teaching in two languages. Richard admits that it would have been much easier if his teachers spoke Spanish to him but he has to admit that his education was better and more successful because he learned English. It’s important to learn the language of the country you live in. It’s a requirement for success. It is just as important to keep your heritage.
People coming from a foreign country worry that they are will lose all of their traditions if they stop speaking their language, but this does not have to be true. I do believe that by not speaking your birth language, you do lose some of your cultural identity. But by learning to speak English, doesn’t mean you have to forget your birth language and your roots. When Richard was learning to speak English, Spanish became his private language.
This story of Richard’s relates to my family. When my mother became old enough to enter kindergarten, her mother stopped speaking Armenian to her and spoke only English so she wouldn’t have trouble in school. My mother never learned Armenian, and so the language is now lost in our family. It’s hard for me to learn the language when it isn’t spoken in the house. Even though we try to keep our Armenian roots, a big piece of it is gone.
I wonder why the narrator of this story titled this “Aria”. Aria is supposed to be a romantic piece of music. It is very loving in the melodic sense. Richard’s love of being bilingual could be why he chose the title. Aria, the word, really looks and sounds so pretty as well.
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