Blog Entry #5 Green Schools Don't Make the Grade

Todd Myers does a great job presenting the facts in his article Green Schools Don't Make the Grade. A green school is basically a school that is said to be more energy efficient and health conscience. Many school systems throughout the country are pushing for green schools and Mr. Myers basically pointed out that they aren't worth the hassle. In Washington state a few green schools were piloted to see if the students there would meet the standards on test scores and attendance. It was shown that they didn't. More money was spent on these "green schools' than on schools that were built before these pilot schools.
I could not see where this article would relate to diversity in the classroom. In my experience as a school age student being green did not exist. I know now that riding bikes or walking to school is being green. Using the light from the outside instead of having all of the classroom lights on is being green. During my years of growing up I thought our teachers kept the lights to a minimum to reduce the electricity bill.
As a teacher I have seen the whole green movement come to light. Most schools now recycle, reduce, and reuse. Students are now made aware of the reasons that it is good to be green, not only in school but at home as well. This green movement has impacted my teaching as well because being green is also in some grade level expectations for students to learn. I think that students are much more aware now of how important it is to be energy efficient for future generations. My current school practices being green as a way of everyday life. We reduce the number of appliances used in our classrooms, we share appliances. There are signs posted on beside every light switch in the school that asks for the lights to be turned off when you leave. Things like this started out as a nuisance to many,but now it's a way of life.
I personally don't know if being green will make children smarter or more alert. According to Todd Myers being green does not increase student achievement.

Blog Entry 4 Multiculturalism and the Curriculum

Multiculturalism in the curriculum I think is a very good idea. Students should be taught to be tolerant of all cultures and just in a specific month. Adam Waxler addresses that issue in his article Multiculturalism in Education. Black History Month and Women's History Month are prime examples of taking multiculturalism out of the curriculum but yet segregating it. However, I realize that these months were fought for back in the era when both women and African Americans didn't have much of a voice. Today is totally different because we now have an African American First Family and a woman Secretary of State. Those are two prime examples of how both have stronger voices now.

I am from a very small town in Tennessee and the entire town thrived on social control. One way was the only way or trouble it was. Within that town and school I was a double minority. I don't remember being taught about other American cultures in school. Hispanic heritage was never mentioned even though there was a rapid growth of Hispanics in our area. The small town was a great place to grow up, but people were afraid to speak up. I recall gathering in a particular area in the school building before classes began in high school. Every area in the school was pretty much in different social circles. However, my particular gathering place for the mornings was with a group of my childhood friends. We would sit, laugh, and eat just like all of the other clicks and we thought that we were harmless. It wasn't until I was called out of class into the principals office to discuss that our click needed to disperse in the mornings because people were afraid to walk in front of us. They were afraid that we might do something to them. My head began to spin because the principal could see everything that we were doing because it was directly in front of his office. We were then told that we needed to start socializing with other groups in the school more because we looked like a gang. The fact that I was on every sports team in the school with non African American students. My best friend was not African American, and none of the other groups were asked to mingle with us totally hurt my feelings. It was then that I knew that ignorance is a really big part of why that small town is still the same way. If students were taught to embrace things instead of being afraid of what they don't know could make a difference in life.

Once I went to college and attended a HBCU my whole world changed. I then saw the reverse of what I had learned my K-12 years. I did see the reverse of how things were in my small town. I felt very out of place and was labeled at the beginning because of where I was from. It was like I had to prove myself for no apparent reason. Those students who ridiculed where still in the same type of environment they grew up in and were and simply had no clue about the small town life. Again, ignorance played a strong part in that.

While student teaching I was introduced to the Core Curriculum. Just by reading about it in the article by E.D. Hirsch I would have thought that it was a way for multiculturalism to take over education. Actually working with the curriculum is exactly the same as using Tennessee state standards. It made sure that certain points were hit that deal with multiculturalism. I personally would be open to actually trying it. As an educator I do agree more with Waxler and the fact that we need to teach children about multiculturalism all the time, not just in a specific month or week. I think that this can be achieved by pulling in other sources to help when a teachable moment arises.

Multiculturalism and Education Entry #3

Multiculturalism in education is topic that continues to change but yet stay the same. My experience as a student with multiculturalism in the school setting was pretty much non-existent. I am from a small town in the south and history simply was what it was. I learned of George Washington, Christopher Columbus, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King, Jr. I was never taught about any other American cultures during my school years. What I learned about African-American history I learned at church. When I went to college I went from being the minority to the majority and things were taught a little different, but by then I was not in the public school. It wasn't until the college classroom that learned of many different cultures, but it was taught from that particular perspective. During my public education and undergrad years I did learn to appreciate all that I learned about diversity two totally different ways. Now as a teacher there are certain things that children need to learn for the lovely test. Then there are some things they need to learn to simply be cultured and tolerant. We embrace difference in our classroom and we're all like one big family. When discussing multiculturalism with my young students, they are bright eyed and open minded. When anything negative comes from their mouths it's coming from home and not their hearts.

The articles Pithissippi Burning and The Challenge of Multiculturalism initially made me think "oh no, not again." However as I read the two articles I both agreed and disagreed with some points.

The Challenge of Multiculturalism was a very hard read for me because I found myself disagreeing more than agreeing, but yet understanding the point that was trying to be made. The truth is that you can't please everybody when it comes to talking about history. Yes, I also agree that an American public education goal was to simply educate youth about becoming Americans. I do feel that every part of history should be taught and the students should be able to decide who are the heroes morally. There are some historians that we glorify that may not have made the right choices in some eyes but are still heroes. However, it was probably the right choice during that time. Pithissippi Burning was a little scary to me. I live my life daily often not remembering that hate groups do exist. This was a very hostile article but it did speak the truth. There are people in America that feel that way, and I think that many have forgotten that America is now the melting pot. I do agree that pretty soon the white race will be submerged. But, I don't only think it will be the white race but all races. We live in an America now where people from all different nationalities marry and have babies. Doing this causes that child to have a double identity or nothing at all. Most of today's generation doesn't see the world like it was ten, twenty, or fifty, years ago because things are now so diverse.

Reflecting on the articles made me think that this battle will never satisfy everyone. We all have our own views about multiculturalism. We now have weeks and months dedicated to many nationalities throughout the U.S. Some argue that certain ones are too long, and others not long enough. American public schools should continue to teach children about being good American citizens with strong values and morals. It would be nice if the history books could tell history from every perspective.

Schools and Religion Blog #2 9/20/09

Seperation of church and state has been an ongoing battle for years. Arguments have been that it's the state's responsibility to fund schools and church should have no part of that. Then there's the argument that this country was founded on a religious basis so therefore religion should still remain in schools. Each side always has very valid arguments to ponder. I am a person who believes that everyone should have freedom of speech. I do feel personally that sometimes things are taken too far and arguments about church and state are sometimes for media attention. I do often wonder that if prayer in schools is offensive to some, and "one nation under God" is in the pledge, will those same people turn down millions of American dollars because the tender says "In God We Trust?" I think that's highly unlikely.

In Illinois the ruling of the moment of silence not being a state law was a little different to me. The fact that it was a law is what made me think 'why a law, and not simply an option." In classrooms all over the United States moments of silence have been observed for decades. I always observed the moment of silence but chose to reflect, pray, or daydream during that time as a youngster. No teacher came around the classroom and said, "you should be praying." So the argument that The American Civil Liberties Union claiming that it is a veil for incorporating religion in public education is very irrational to me. I do think that the ACLU does have a valid argument that it shouldn't neccesarily be a law, but yet a choice. The ruling was a fair one because I don't understand making a law to make someone do something that they don't believe in. However, once again I say, would the athiest and his daughter turn down a million American dollars that says, "In God We Trust?"

The texbook case and the Darwin's Theory was a very interesting one. I remember being a student in science class and always wonder about what was actually true. Should I believe what I learned at church, or do I listen to my science book. Both parties involved here had valid arguments as well. A teacher should allow the children to say how they feel or be able to argue the theory because any open minded person wouldn't ridicule. Scientists were upset because they believe that teachers are once again trying to slip religion into education when discussing the weaknesses of the Darwin Theory. However, scientists should think hard and realize that this theory is not a proven fact. Since this is learned in high school when students should be mature enough to be able to debate these things if chosen. As a parent, I would instill what our core beliefs and values are when it come to Darwin's Theory and allow my child to be aware of everyone's difference of opinions and beliefs.

Minersville v Gobitis in the late 1930's was an eye opener for me. I remember some students in class not standing for the pledge when I was younger. No one really said much, except that they were Jehoviah's Witnesses and it was ok for them to not stand during the pledge. I never questioned it again, but knew that it was a religious preference. Now as a teacher I have students who do the same and I do not bother them. To know the reasoning behind it and that two young students were expelled from school for not saying the pledge was amazing. The young Gobitis boy had lots of courage to be able to state the reasons for not saluting and was able to explain why was touching. This case went through different precedings and rulings before anything final ever took place. Initially the courts ruled on behalf of the children. Then it was later overturned and it ruled that the government had the authority to compel respect for the flag. Then later it was changed again in 1943 due to the First Amendment and Freedom of Speech. I agree with the last decision because we live in a country where there are so many of us that we all believe differently. The constitution does protect that right as well. I also thought back to reciting the pledge as a young student. I recall it simply being a morning routine. I recited it, not thinking much about the words that I was saying but I did it because I was taught. If I was ten years old and my parents told me not do it, and why. I too would not have recited the pledge just like little Billy.

I think that the argument of religion in schools is always be in the public eye. Someone, somewhere is always going to have an argument about hidden agendas of the public school. As a parent, it's my responsibility to teach my children to stick to her beliefs. If my child chooses to take a moment of silence to pray, then hats off to me because I've taught her well. As a teacher, I have to be respectful of others while doing my job. Since I am an elementary educator I won't have to deal with Darwin's theory, but I'll simply teach them facts that can be proven or allow them to argue things that they don't agree with. I can teach them how to be respectful, responsible citizens, but I can't be that for them. Society nowdays has become so caught with worrying about whether or not the public schools are teaching about God, but the fact remains that we all spend American money daily that says "In God We Trust," and no one complains about that.

I feel that some makers can become innovators. However, makers are not always people. Makers can be test scores or devices that are used in education.

Innovators and Makers in education are very similar I believe. Innovators have a historical background with education while makers may or may not.

One innovator that influenced education today is Linda Brown Thompson. This is one little girl who pretty much single handedly changed the way that public schools were housed in America. She was not an educator, but simply a student who's family stood up for what they believed in. She was one of twelve who attempted to attend a segregated white school in Topeka, Kansas. She was the Brown in the 1954 Brown v The Board of Education decision to stop legalized school segregation. Linda Brown Thompson is the innovator that I chose because without this decision, I personally wouldn't have the same opportunities that I have today. I would be limited in the schools that I would be able to teach and I would only be able to teach children with the same skin color as mine.

The maker that I feel had an impact on public education is Erin Gruwell. Erin Gruwell was a teacher at an inner city school in California who was always given the bottom of the barrel. She fought for the students in her class were labeled as failures year after year. She started a writing class on student interests and allowed them to do things that they never thought they'd be able to do. Her class of students actually met a Holocaust survivor from a book they had read. She often chose literature for them that they could relate to. She especially chose war stories, because many of her students were fighting their own wars at home. I chose Erin Gruwell because she is a maker just as most educators are. She set out to make her children accomplish things that we all want for our students. She seems to be an out of the box thinker as well. I had the opportunity to read a book she authored titled Freedom Writers and I highly recommend it to any educator with a heart. It is also a motion picture, that I have yet to see.

Welcome

This is my first blog. It only took me days to figure it out. :) I am excited about working on my Ed.S in administration and supervision. I have been in the education profession for eleven years now and I'm ready to take the next step and become an administrator. Since 1999 I have taught either second or third grade and I thoroughly enjoy the children. I have two beautiful children of my own who light up my life. That's why I chose my blog name "The Sunshine Spot." Sunshine can make anybody smile.