Tim Wise and Brown v. Board of Education

Tim Wise explains that racism in America has not improved much since the decision of Brown v. Board of Education. He says that the United States took a large step towards equality when we voted Barack Obama as the president but there is a double standard when it comes to the views of whites towards people of color. People of color are compared to Obama and have to be as great as he is in order to accepted by the whites. Wise says that racism will be less significant when whites allow people of color to be as mediocre as other whites.
Denial is one of the points that Wise speaks of being a huge problem for whites in the US. Wise also talks about asking whites if they think racism is a problem in the United States today. He said this is not a credible question because even back in the 60's whites said that they thought blacks were treated equally as well as whites. It is not a question to ask whites because it is not affecting them. They are 0blivious to the racism like Johnson said. The real person to talk to is the people of color who are receiving the opression. Lastly, Wise talks of all the events in the history of race and opression. He says that each moment in time was important to history but there is still so much more to do.
I did not mind the video but I am more of a visul learner so I always like to have the piece in front of me to look at. The video was interesting and engaging but I just found it difficult to listen and take notes then get back into the conversation. Wise was making so many great points all in one sentance or in a few sentances so it was just difficult to remember it all. But in the end it was something different and I did enjoy that. I am really considering the picking up his book. He also has a blog which is pretty cool to read.

Class Discussion Post

The past two classes have been really interesting with everyone's input on their SL project and charity vs. change. The first point I want to comment on is the story that Beth told the class about. She said that her teacher used the words "It's Obama's rule not mine." when explaining the rules to the class. At first I saw this as offensive and wrong for her to do but as the class kept discussing it, it became less and less offensive to me. She could have been using President Obama as a scapegoat blaming all of the rules on him. But this just does not seem rational to me when Beth told us that all of the students were of African American decent. The teacher was white so I just do not see her blaming the president but actually using him as a role model for the kids. She takes the presidential situation as a plus for the students and the bond they have together makes the "blame" she is putting on him okay in the eyes of the students. I just cannot see this teacher trying to be offensive right in front of her students.

The second point I want to comment on is the reason why my service learning project is more "change" rather than charity. I am not saying that I am doing this project solely to change these children. Of course I am doing this project because I have to and without it I would not pass the class. And as others said, most likely I will never see these kids again for even go back to the school after the project is over. But the reason my project is more change than charity is because I am not teaching these kids to read at all. What I am teaching them is to have fun with reading and the WANT to read and the WANT to learn as much as possible in school. If a child is not willing to learn something new it is almost impossible to teach them. A child can learn anything if they want and are eager to learn no matter how difficult the material. So, I am not entirely focused on if the kids are becoming better readers as much as I am trying to show them that learning is fun and they should want to learn. It is difficult to do and I do not even know if I am doing a good job because, as Dr. Bogad said, "There is no measurement of it." But even so I still think my service learning project is more change than charity.

"In the Service of What?" by Kahne and Westheimer

1. "The experiential and interpersonal components of service learning activities can achieve the first crucial step toward diminishing the sense of "otherness" that often separates students-particularly privileged students- from those in need." (p.8 Kahne)

Working with and creating bonds is the first step in making students think they everyone is very similar. "Otherness" is the crucial word in this quote and the diminishing of the word is key. Service learning is important in creating experiences for students of all races and classes in creating interpersonal interactions with other races and classes.

2. "It is the combination of service and critical analysis, not either by itself, that seems most likely to promote interest in and insight into these complex social issues." (p.11 Kahne)

I chose this quote thinking about our FNED class. We are participating in a service learning project and as well doing critical analysis with the article reading to coincide with out tutoring and future education careers. We learn and analyze student's behaviors, differences, privileges, as well as other components to create our own image of education.


3. "Students tutor, coach softball, paint playgrounds, and read to the elderly because they are interested in people, or because they want to learn a little about poverty and racism before they head out into the waiting corporate world..." (Kahne)

There is more to service learning than just tutoring and coaching. Doing these services just for your own experience seems selfish to me. People should do these things to make a difference and create bonds. Service learning is not just charity work.

I was not particularly engaged by this article due to the language and overall writing of the article. I did like some of the points made in the article because I am currently doing my service learning project. The point about service learning being just charity work to some people is a little disturbing to me. They think they are doing a good service without knowing who the people the are helping really are. I think FNED has helped me understand who the people I am helping really are and what they experience day to day. Along with being aware of the children's daily difficulties, FNED has taught me how to make myself a better educator towards all students no matter their background.

Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us, Linda Christensen

1. "Our society's culture industry colonizes their minds and teaches them how to act, live, and dream." (Christensen p. 126)

I chose this quote because it gives a topic to what the author is talking about. She tells it how it is to her. Christensen says that the movies, cartoons, and books show kids how perfect life is or how life can become perfect. These media items teach children unrealistic things that they see and hear and then think is true. Once they see these films and cartoons they live their lives and compare them to their favorite cartoons and films.

2. "First, I want students to critique portrayals of hierarchy and inequality in children's movies and cartoons. Then I want to enlist them to imagine a better world, characterized by relationships of respect and equality." (Cristensen p. 127)

This quote shows the author's purpose for her writing. She tells her students to write about the cartoons and then think about the world differently then the cartoon's world. Christensen wants the children to see the flaws of the cartoons and then understand what the reality of the situation is. She calls this "unlearning the myths." Personally, I like her approach but her constant analysis a little too much for me.

3. "But what am I teaching them if the lesson ends there? That it's enough to be critical without taking action? ... I want to develop their critical consciousness, but I also hope to move them to action." (Christensen p. 134)

This quote is the "now what" of the article. It explains that it is not enough to say something is wrong with these cartoons and that action must be taken in order to make a difference. Christensen has her students take action and make others aware of these cartoons and media items.

This article was very interesting to me and I found it very easy to read. It was engaging because it had to do with cartoons and movies that I grew up watching. But to listen to the criticism of the films and cartoons was difficult. As a child I never really thought of the prejudices in these films. But also I can see how they can affect a child negatively for the future and giving them wrong outlooks on life. Looking back on some of the films and cartoons, I do see some of the negatives of them and how offensive some of them are. People in the article take their opinions to the extreme a little assuming that all children are going to be negatively affected. In the end, this piece made me think of where children are getting their information and influence. Parents influence is becoming less and less and the media is becoming more and more powerful.