Taking the "Cultural Plunge"...

       I found the idea of a “cultural plunge” experience, to be a very fascinating one. Participating in a cultural or social experience outside of your comfort zone is an ideal way to learn about people unlike you, looking through their eyes instead our cultural blinding sunglasses. Jean Piaget, a biologist who studied the patterns of learning and cognitive development in children, found that psychological development “including the development of knowledge about self and society,” comes from the constant cycle of understanding and interpreting new experiences by relating it to previous knowledge. When I was asked to participate in my own “cultural plunge” experience, I was slightly timid at first. I came up with many ideas for my plunge, ranging from going out to a Homosexual bar to visiting a strict black church on “the other side of town.”   
        Discussing the experiment with my parents and friends opened my eyes to just how prejudice we are, almost unconsciously, when we are talking about other groups of people. Upon analyzing each idea, I thought about what the people might think of me or how they may or may not include me in their activities. Each of my concerns stemmed from some preconceived notion I had about that “type” of people. Though I find racism and all other forms of prejudice unacceptable and flat out WRONG, I too was judging and stereotyping these groups of people before I even knew them, only relating them to my previous assumptions. I believe these assumptions primarily developed from the images I have seen in the media. (Also my family, friends, educational systems…pretty much all things one comes in contact with living in the United States.) From this realization, I felt eager to participate in the “cultural plunge” assignment and try to learn why I and so many others have developed these preconceived ideas about groups of people that are different from us. I was reminded of a song by Everlast, which speaks about stepping into another person’s shoes, and seeing what their life is like from the other side of things. Maybe if we were able to step into “other” peoples’ shoes for at least a few minutes every day, we would begin to understand them for who they really are and appreciate all people regardless of our differences…Some of the Lyrics from “What It’s Like,” by the band Everlast:



We've all seen the man at the liquor store beggin' for your change


The hair on his face is dirty, dreadlocked and full of mange


He ask the man for what he could spare with shame in his eyes


Get a job you f&*%in' slob's all he replied






[CHORUS]


God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in his shoes


'Cause then you really might know what it's like to sing the blues


Then you really might know what it's like [x4]






Mary got pregnant from a kid named Tom who said he was in love


He said don't worry about a thing baby doll I'm the man you've been dreamin' of


But three months later he said he won't date her or return her call


….


And then she heads for the clinic and she gets some static walkin' through the doors


They call her a killer, and they call her a sinner, and they call her a whore






[CHORUS]


God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in her shoes


'Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to choose


Then you really might know what it's like [x4]






I've seen a rich man beg


I've seen a good man sin


I've seen a tough man cry


I've seen a loser win


And a sad man grin


I heard an honest man lie


I've seen the good side of bad


And the down side of up


And everything between


I licked the silver spoon


Drank from the golden cup


Smoked the finest green


I stroked the fattest dimes at least a couple of times


Before I broke their heart


You know where it ends


Yo, it usually depends on where you start






I knew this kid named Max


He used to get fat stacks out on the corner with drugs


He liked to hang out late at night


Liked to get shit faced


And keep pace with thugs


Until late one night there was a big gun fight


Max lost his head


He pulled out his chrome .45


Talked some shit


And wound up dead


Now his wife and his kids are caught in the midst of all of his pain


You know it crumbles that way


At least that's what they say when you play the game






[CHORUS]


God forbid you ever had to wake up to hear the news


'Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to lose


Then you really might know what it's like [x3]






To have to lose...

"Oppression," by Marilyn Frye

       Before reading this article by Marilyn Frye titled, Oppression, I realized that I didn’t really know the definition of the word “Oppression.”  I am not sure what I thought oppression meant, but I knew it was a negative thing and was something that happened to people when others discriminated them against.  Frye begins the article by defining oppression according to what she thinks it is.  Frye states that when “the stresses and frustrations of being a man are cited as evidence that oppressors are oppressed by their oppressing, the word “oppression” is being stretched to meaninglessness; it is treated as though its scope includes any and all human experience of limitation or suffering no matter the cause, degree, or consequence” (Frye, 2007, p. 1).  Also she exclaims that its consequences hurt the “oppressor” as much as the “oppressie”.  Frye then describes some acts that could be considered oppressive, by giving examples of ways in which members of our society are “oppressed” perhaps without even noticing.  I did not consider these situations as examples of oppression before I heard her aspect on the issue.  One example that I found interesting was the way in which women are constantly criticized for participating in promiscuous behaviors.  At the same time they are labeled as “uptight” or a “cock tease” if they do not give in to a man’s advances.  Another example is the accusations made about women based on how they are dressed or do not dress.  If a woman dresses a certain way she is usually judged as looking either “slutty” or “unfeminine,” giving way to other stereotypes in relation to her sexuality.  It is a no win situation for the women in this case.

       After reading Frye’s debate over what oppression actually is, I understood that situations such as these are indeed oppressive and I too had been oppressed in many ways.  I felt that overall this article pointed out some valid points surrounding the issue of oppression, but I also felt that her views seems rather bias.  I would have appreciated more examples of how other types of people are oppressed based on their differences and how they too get stuck between this limbo of what is considered “right” or wrong” according to the society we live in.  The last section discusses how some people think the act of a man holding the door for a woman is an oppressive act.  I agree to an extent but I personally think that it is nice when a guy holds the door for me.  Whether than an expression of control or dominance over the woman, I believe that it has just become more of a common practice that people engage in daily and could even be considered a sign of respect for the woman.  I see her point, but I think that these people and Frye are simply over-analyzing the situation, almost searching for ways to say men oppress them.  I know that I too hold the door for others, regardless of their race, gender, or any other characteristic of the individual.  It is like saying, “thank you” or “excuse me” in that it has simply become a habit among the “gentlemen” of our society and something they just do without thinking.  Sometimes I feel that people internalize the ways that they “think” they are oppressed, causing them to assume or create ideas about others that may not be true.  Isn’t this technically oppression too?  You be the judge…    

"Defining Racism," by B.D. Tatum

“Defining Racism” is a difficult task especially because oftentimes examples of it are either not recognized or simply ignored by those in the so-called “superior” white race, so much so that they fail to acknowledge they are indeed a part of it. The author B.D. Tatum wrote a book titled, “Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?; and Other Conversations about Race,” explains her definition of racism and why the issues surrounding racism must be incorporated in the education of our students and society as a whole. Tatum explains that when discussing issues of race with others during her research and career, she has found that there is always someone who thinks racism is no longer a problem in our country. These people are ignorant to the prejudices, stereotypes, and disadvantages within our culture and according to Tatum, and furthermore these are the ones that have flat out not been “paying attention to issues of race” (Tatum, 1997, 3). I found her studies with young children to be an excellent way to show how our culture places stereotypes and bias on “people of color” even in children as young as 3 and 4 years old. Movies and children’s books supply images and ideals about different types of people, not all of which are negative or intentional. For instance, when the children were asked to draw an Indian, the majority of the class drew a dark skinned person with a feather and/or a weapon of some type. Without knowing any actual information about Native Americans or Indians they all drew what they had seen before through the media. At this age they are not knowledgeable enough to understand what certain types of people might REALLY be like or even have the opportunity to interact with and get to know them. This adds validity to the argument that our culture almost subconsciously displays pictures of certain types of people that teach our children a certain stereotyped view of what these people may be like. Because the young children are technically neutral minds at this point and have only had their families and the media around them to build their assumptions and opinions about people, it becomes obvious that these are very influential sources on their ideas about others. “Cultural racism” has formed in America through our social, economic, and political systems teaches children that there is an “assumed superiority of white’s and an assumed inferiority of people of color” (Tatum, 1997, 6). I DO NOT support this “system” of racism that has formed in our country and hope that one day I can actively participate in reversing this problem and how we teach children about others.

Brown vs. Board of Education Article

The article, "Landing on the Wrong Note; The Price We Payed for Brown" by Gloria Ladson-Billings, was very informational for me because I do not know a great deal about the judicial cases surrounding American education or the how these cases have affected our school systems. Though the content was interesting, I had a hard time pushing myself to finish the article because I am not one to spend a lot of time studying or being actively involved in political matters. I did although find it particularly disturbing that so many African-Americans had in the tried to fight for their rights to equal educational opportunities in court before Brown vs. Education in 1954, but their attempts failed most likely because of their race. HOW UNFAIR!! I know that times have changed substantially since these cases were brought to trial, but still were our court systems not always “supposed” to be “fair and just” to ALL, regardless of race, religion, or any other differences???...(Even back then?) Isn’t our country supposed to be built on a “democracy”?? According to Encarta Dictionary online “democracy” means,” the free and equal right of every person to participate in a system of government, often practiced by electing representatives of the people by the majority of the people.” When I looked at synonyms for the word democracy, I came across the term Egalitarian, meaning “maintaining, relating to, or based on a belief that all people are, in principle, equal and should enjoy equal social, political, and economic rights and opportunities.” It made me wonder if our country is just now starting to realize the meaning of and purpose for our constitution. Although we have a better appreciation and understanding of our governing laws and values, I am still not sure we properly enforce them!



I particularly liked the statements made by Charles Lawrence in this article relating to a major flaw of Brown and how the courts promoted a “way of thinking about segregation” that tolerated the political and social systems to ignore the “reality of race in America” (Ladson-Billings, 2004, 3). The author of this article, then goes on to explain how Lawrence felt we should combat the problem of segregation beyond our classroom. I could not agree with Lawrence more when he says that desegregation of schools cannot be the entire solution to the problem and that we need to start to thinking of ways to desegregate SOCIETY as a whole. When our students leave their school each day they are still walking into a world where they are separated by or disadvantaged because of their race. Brown was definitely a step in the right direction, but there are so many other issues within our now “desegregated” educational systems and the daily lives of our students that need to be dealt with further!! After reading this article I would agree that the case of Brown vs. Board of Education came with many costs, but without it the a change in our education systems in terms of facing prejudices in school may never have begun!

A MUST Read for all teachers and teachers to-be...“Turnaround Teachers and Schools,” by Bonnie Benard

The article “Turnaround Teachers and Schools,” by Bonnie Benard was by far the most inspiration article I feel we have read all semester long!! I agreed with many points made in the article and was intrigued by so many of Benard’s arguments I do not know where to begin. The article discusses the issue of “closing the achievement gap” and uses several cases about real-life teachers and schools as examples of those that go above and beyond in the quality of teaching, with aims of reaching out to all students regardless of their background or struggles in school. These “Turnaround Teachers and Schools” provide beneficial educational strategies and programs that are built on “resilience,” providing 3 basic “protective factors” (as called in this article), that are “critical to healthy development and school success: caring relationships, high expectations, and opportunities for participation/contribution” (Benard, 1991, 1996). I could not agree more that these three factors can “turnaround” almost any struggling student! Reading this encouraging article has contributed to several additions I will be making to my own teaching philosophy. I am a firm believer that once you show someone you care about their lives and treat them with genuine respect they will feel equal to you in value and importance. Through the process of creating these caring relationships with your students you can encourage them to excel when they are feeling doubtful of themselves. Oftentimes children do not have the support they need from someone at home or even have the necessities to live healthy lives, especially those living in poor conditions and low-income areas. As teachers to these “at-risk” students, we often do not realize how strong a leader we can become in their lives or the impact we can have upon them. This is the “POWER OF A TEACHER” that Benard talks about. I thought further about how my teachers have impacted me in my life also. Other than my close family and friends, my teachers have been the people who have shaped who I am today and believed in my abilities as an artist and a student, in and outside of school. I thought about how in our teacher (Ms. Boyer;-)), told us how much she cared about us and how comfortable she felt being around us and teaching us. She also explained that she does not view us as merely her students, but as if we are equal to her and that she learned just as much from us as we did from her! This is a perfect example of how a teacher can show compassion for her students and express that she enjoys actively listening and getting to know them as people.

Personally, if I know my teacher truly cares about my success in their class and beyond, I cannot help but want to do well. I cannot explain it, but I almost feel that I must do well in these teachers’ classes because I know they have invested their time and personal energy into helping and guiding me. I think that a teachers’ compassion for her students makes a huge difference in a student’s success because it motivates them to do their best and try to prove what they are capable of. My favorite quote from this text related to how “turnaround teachers” use lessons that are “student-centered” and focus on the understanding the “whole child” in all of their facets, moving beyond cognitive skills. Benard then states that these special teachers “also understand that student motivation is driven by needs of love and belonging, respect, autonomy/power, mastery, challenge, fun, and meaning, and that successful learning experiences are designed to meet as many of these needs as possible…”. I feel this is very important because I too want to be a teacher that tries to fulfill the needs of my students to the best of my ability, becoming more than just their teacher who teaches them information.



Along with my comments on Benard’s article, I also wanted to try to empower others to do the same with their students. I challenge my classmates and other teachers to-be to REALLY consider the affect and impact you have on the children in your classroom. As teachers we not only impact their education, but their lives and the person they will become after they leave our classroom. It is a rather strange comparison to make but as I was driving back from school after reading this uplifting article, I began to think of the relationship between the effects we have as teachers on our students to that of the decisions we make while driving on the highway. The decisions we make while driving consciously and subconsciously (like the decision to let my mind wander away from the road right nowJ), effect all other drivers on the road. I can either choose to make reckless decisions or “thoughtful” decisions that will affect those around me whether I know it or not. Not concentrating on the job at hand (driving), could cause me to wreck, ruining someone’s life or my own. I can also choose which direction I want to go, leading me in either the right or wrong direction.


These decisions we make during driving are much the same as those we make when we are teaching. We are always influencing our students and setting examples for them whether we realize it or not; just as we make decisions on the road affecting the other cars around us to act accordingly (I.e. Changing lanes without noticing the car next to you causes the other driver to make a split-second decision also). As a teacher I can either decide to make “thoughtful” decisions about my teaching and my students or I can be uncaring and “reckless” with the way I teach them. A non-resilient teacher is a reckless one and can have negative effects on the students, just as our careless decisions can while driving. We must be aware of our students and try to predict how they may need help. This means being actively involved in our students’ lives and paying attention to their words and actions. Just as we should ideally be doing on the road…we should constantly be re-evaluating our surroundings and all other cars on the road. Lastly, when driving we can choose to go the “right” way on the road, similar to how we can also choose to lead our students in the right or wrong direction. Ignoring our students individual situations and the specific help they might need beyond academics, could only lead them in the wrong direction. If I could choose one thing that I wish for you all to take away from my comments here (and Benard’s article), it would be for all teachers to TRULY consider the impact you can and WILL have on your students and to NOT take it lightly! Helping your students to the best of your abilities and making them feel good about themselves can only in turn make you feel better about yourself also right??! It’s a win-win situation!!