Oakes, "Tracking: Why Schools Need to Take Another Route"

• Education in America past comparing it with our present education
• organization setting standards
• curriculum
• poverty
• Standardized testing

Oakes and Lipton's article address many issues in education. Throughout most of the article Oakes and Lipton refer to the education in America's past comparing it with our present education. The article for m;e was a bit difficult to read since it jumped to different topics at times. However, it allowed me to look at eductation from a different perspective, because I looked at it as seeing what could be improved and what is better for the students.

Children in schools are measured through testing. Standardized testing provides statistics to show how schools are progressing. This is the most efficient way in which this can be measured, however i believe that grades should also be looked at since testing is difficult and stressful to some students. Many schools that do not score well and are labeled as not progressing are taken over by the state.It is important to raise test scores in schools. "Schools were told that they must find new ways to raise tests scores and improve students' achievements, and were also told that their poor students and students of color must do better, but progrtams desighned to help them were cut back."

This article also mentions our past of segregation and the "white flight". Schools however have modernized and segregation is no longer really seen. Students of all color attend school and measures to enforce diversity must be taken into consideration. Overall, the article touches upon many issues in education from our past to our future.

Talking Points #4

Unlearning the Myths that Bind Us by. Linda Christensen

Premise:

• Children
• Media
• Stereotypes
• Connections
• Secret Education
• Hypnotize

Author's Argument:

I believe Christensen's argument is to inform others of how children are negatively educated through the media.

Evidence:

Christensen informs us of this "secret education", and the stereotypical images being taught to children through happy visions. Society is ignorant to this happening as they too may be hypnotized by what they see, hear or read. The "secret education"...delivered by children's books and movies, instructs young people to accept the world as it is portrayed in these social blueprints." (126) "Many students don't want to believe that they have been manipulated by children's media or advertising." (128)

Talking Points #7

Lawrence, "One More River to Cross"

Premise:

• Segregation
• Race
• Society
• Label
• Inferior
• Label
• Ignored

Author's Argument:

Lawrence argues that the Brown decision which states "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal", did not remove the lable of inferiority.

Evidence:

The Brown decision allowed society to deny the fact that people of color are labeled as inferior and that their children are denied the same rights as whites. Being labeled as inferior gave black children a feeling of rejection which prevents them from moving forward or becoming together with the white people. America mush address the problem for the label of inferiority to be removed. Segregation can not be ignored. It needs to be addressed for its labels to be removes. This article reminds me of Johnson. The problem must be addressed for it to be changed; ignoring the problem will not remove it.

Talking Points #2

"Aria", Richard Rodriguez

PREMISE:

• Language
• Troubled
• Fear
• Not comfortable in the classroom
• Communication difficulties

AUTHOR'S ARGUMENT:

Richard Rodrigues argues that cultures and people's background make them who they are. It is important to speak English, in an English speaking country, however it is okay to let people express themselves in their own language.

EVIDENCE:

1. "Without question, it would have pleased me to hear my teachers address me in Spanish when I entered the classroom. I would have felt less afraid." (34)
2. "Today I hear bilingual educators say that children lose a drgree of "individuality" by becoming assimilated into a public society...But bilingualisms simplistically scorn the value and necessity of assimilation. So they do not realize that while one suffers a diminished sense of private individuality by becoming assimilated into a public society, such assimilation makes possivle the achievement of public indidviduality." (39)
3. "But my father was not shy, I realized, when I'd watch him speaking Spanish with relative. Using Spanish, he quickly effusive." (37)

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS/POINT TO SHARE:

In Richard's home Spanish was the language spoken, and was also his primary language. His school was taught by nuns in English. Richard was not comfortable in school, mainly because of the language factor. His teachers noticed that Richard was very quite. The nuns went to Richards parents and told them that it would be best if English was also spoken at Home. I Personally dont agree with this because I think that it is important to keep your culture because it is a way of expressing yourself, and it makes a person unique. As English was spoken in the home more often, he noticed that due to the change of language it was as if a part of him was taken away. His family was not as close as it use to be, and communication was hard. Richard also notices that English is the public language, but he misses his own. Hearing the sounds of your own culture help you feel at home. It is okay for someone to speak their native language in tehir homes and with families. It makes them who they are.

Talking Points #1 on Jonathan Kozol, "Amazing Grace"

Jonathan Kozol, "Amazing Grace"

PREMISE:

• The poor, sick and suffering
• People with no power
• People with power
• People who feel stuck
• Pain

AUTHOR'S ARGUMENT:

Jonathan Kozol bases his argument with the idea that there is not a person with power that can imagine a place like Mott Haven in New York City. Do these people live like this because they are lazy and choose to live like this or are they really sick and this is their only way to survive? In his article he really makes us wounder what its like for children to grow up there, and also what do these people think the world has done to them, and if they think they deserve to live in such fashion.

Evidence:

1. (pg. 21) The politics say that if poor people behaved rationally they would seldom be poor for the long in the first place.
2. (pg. 17) Mrs. Washington loves to read the New York Times but she can't find it in her neighborhood. She believes the reason is that they don't sell the paper near her is because most of the people can't affort it and it would be a waste to sell.
3. Mrs. Anderson went to school, she was educated, and had a good job. Unfortunatly she became sick and could no longer work. Her husband abused her and left her with AIDs. She didn't choose this kind of live.

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS/POINTS TO SHARE:

Jonathan Kozol's, "Amazing Grace", was a difficult piece to read. Not because I didn't understand it but because of its content. I really felt bad for these people's situations. These people living in such conditions do not choose to live where they do. They are poor and I believe that they feel as if they are stuck and have no place or no one else to turn to. Like Delpit, Kozol also speaks of those with power like the politics and the professors. Kozol also speak about how the rich are evil in a sense and do not want to take the blame or help the people in their situations. The politicle scientists are part of the rich people and they are well off and feel as they are not to blam, but states that the poor people of New York did it to themselves. Kozol's point of this article is that there is someone to blame and someone is at fault.