WS Section 45 -48 - Classroom Notes / Examples

Section 45 talking about defining a word in a paragraph. This method is used in all types of writing. For example:

Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body; also known as Cancerous cells called malignant cells. When a patient is told this from results of a test, he or she may be shocked and go into denial about having Cancer.The patient also doesn't want to believe it could happen to them. Then the patient and loved ones start a grieving process in which they start to work through together. They will wonder if they will make it through the rocky roads ahead, and just like grief that will be stages of coping when a patient has cancer.

Section 46 talks about the process of writing. This is a method that can be simple or complex. It is used in reports where you have to tell someone how to do something from start to finish. It is a paper of instruction. Examples given in class were a instruction manual, or a chart on how to build to something, etc.

Section 47 talks about enumeration / chronology. This is very important in the writing process.
Where enumeration simply means what it says, by numbering things in proper order; chronology means saying what came first in time,second, and so on.


Section 48 talks about classification which distinguishes between and gives order to a series of items.

My observation of "Against School: How Public Education Cripples our Kids, an Why"

I felt that John Gatto's narrative is mostly full of hog wash. I think his narrative is more of a rant, than Michael Moores "Idiot Nation". I disagree with Gatto's thought process, however there was only two paragraphs I truly appreciated, the talk between him and his grandfather, and the GOOD NEWS paragraph on pg. 5. But I continued to ask myself, how can someone argue the fundamentals of the importance of school? School is so important.

With this economy today, just having a high school education, a GED will not allow you to get a job to support your family. Like we mentioned today, it takes two people in the household to support a family. We don't have our mom or dad at home to teach us like it was when George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, etc. was in school. Shoot by the time they were of age 11 - 15 they were considered an adult. I can't even imagine children in today's society being that responsible. Times have changed.

Gatto mentioned in pg.1/ paragraph  3 that his grandfather gave him a talking to about Boredom. I do however agree with the grandfather, that if you are bored, it is your fault. There are so many things to do, and if you choose to be lazy, sleep, drink, eat your day away - then you have no one else to blame, but yourself.

At least Gatto tried to instill this into some of his students. If he had an attitude on education - like he does in the narrative throughout the paper on the what if of education, what does he expect people to think about him?

Gatto reminded me of Mr. Keating, when he stated to teach your own children to be leaders and adventures vs. employees and consumers. It is true, we do need to challenge our kids more to have them have a more meaningful life that they can have (pg. 5 / paragraph 3). If we don't prepare our children now for their higher educations, they will not have a future. As for Gatto and Moore they both focused on advertising.

I was a housewife for the last 7 years. In high school I majored in Intensive Business. Before marrying Kenny, I had a wonderful job working for an environmental service with WTI. When the office shut down, I had to take a min. wage job because everyone felt I was over qualified to work in the office. After losing my job this past January, I looked for employment in my trained field. Because I didn't have proper college education, I am back in school. I have returned to college for a degree, because if you don't have that GOLDEN TICKET, you will not get a job to build your future.

Class notes:

In Gatto essay we read about processes, funding, attitude, beliefs.

Thesis-driven Essay Paper III - Outline

     The educational system is a pathway to a students education, which is the importance of an individual being able to follow his or her dreams. Lately, one thing leads to another from the Country wide budget cuts, and we watch this disaster continue to spiral out of control. The public school systems self worth declines, and just like a domino effect, teachers are being laid off; classrooms are becoming overcrowded; teachers are overworked; disruptive starts with classroom curriculum; and frustrations mount between teachers, students, parents.

•      It is no hidden secret, the United States public school system is struggling to stay afloat. Major budget cuts occur and teachers continue to be laid off. This all leads to the teacher / student ratio problems and the classrooms become overcrowed. Teachers can not provide the one on one time with students, especially those who need that little extra push.

The effects on:
1. Teacher layoffs
2. Teachers providing a proper education to an overcrowded class
3. How having a overcrowded classroom effects the other students

•      Teachers already have very limited time in each subject with a normal class schedule. Now what was once two teachers jobs, is now the duties for a single teacher. Teachers eventually become overworked. 

Time & how it effects
1. Students
2. Overworks the Teachers
3. How the Parents end up picking up the slack of an overworked teacher.

•      A students normal class routine consists of reading, English, math, history, science, music and/or gym. Sometimes there may be a student (s) that struggles grasping a certain subject. The student (s) are then pulled out of the classroom during normal class curriculum and being placed in a LAP program. Then the disruption begins.

Special Education and the disruptions
1. Students missed out on subjects to attend LAP classes
2. Teachers

•  Teachers start becoming frustrated from being overworked and having class disruption then leads to the students, teachers and parents frustrated from the lack of the class receiving a proper education.

Frustrations of
1. Teacher
2. Students
3. Parents

Tuesday Classroom Notes

Environment:
1. Physical (violence and/or threat of)
2. Economic
3. Cultural - History, Beliefs, Ethnicity / Social - Friends, other influences, Socio-Econ class differences

Rewards / Accomplishments:
Punishments - grades, knowledge, skills
Hierarchies, levels of achievement, learning styles
Socio-econ

Meritocracy
"The Best & Brightest" get the glory / rewards
"Social Darwinism"

MacFarland = Motivational, dedication, inspirational, offering individualized teaching

* Mike Roses's literacy narrative for instance
Educational:      Voc. Ed . not for college
Tracking            College Prep. & Gifted / Talented "Enrichment" for elite group only

Thesis-Driven Essay Paper III - Thesis Statement

     The educational system is like a domino effect, lately one thing leads to the next tumble. Now that many citizens are realizing that education is the importance behind an individual following their dreams, schools continue to grow more crowded like over, stuffed suitcases. This stems from Country wide budget cuts and we watch this disaster, in the education system, continue to spiral out of control. Budget cuts then lead to teachers being laid off. As the teachers drop out of the lime light, the public school system’s self worth declines. What used to be two teachers jobs, is now the duties for a single teacher. This leads to teachers becoming burnt out, which limits their ability to provide a quality education to the students. Not only will clearing the congestion, by limiting the class size to no more than 25 students per classroom allow them to receive the education students deserve, but it will also prepare our children for their higher education and futures in today’s society.

My Reactions to Michael Moore's "Idiot Nation"

I wrote everything I wanted to about my opinion on this article, I think I would end up with my blog quota. However after reading Michael Moore's excerpt "Idiot Nation", I found the researched statistics on education were very interesting, as well as, very sad.

It is the ignorance of America for focusing on useless information vs. learning things that truly matters. I also agree that our government wastes valuable funds and time, they kept taking away from our children s education. For example, the facts given in the 11th paragraph on page 1, "What kind of priority do we place on education in America?"

Another fine example was the proposed cuts made in the U.S. Libraries. Books are the foundation of learning. Over time it continues to worsen and what percentage will it be when our children sit in college reading current education cut backs. 

It's a shame that our government can't back education like companies do. Although it doesn't seem like much, at least is it nothing at all. What a fine example given, stating that these various companies are giving back what our education what the government is taking away. Why can't our government care as much. They have created a pay it forward and incentive program for the children. It isn't hard nor does it take rocket science to see the important of education.

I also think it would be "Dinner & a Movie" to have the Congress have a pop quiz given to them. I agree with what he says, stating that they probably wouldn't know much. They stress and hold these tests over our children's head for standardized testing. They only focus on reading and math. For instance this past school year, our daughter, Helena, was having reading comprehension problems and math difficulties. To make up and get her help, she was put in a class for extra help. However these classes fell at the same time as History or Science. It wasn't just our daughter, you should see the amount of children. To sum it all up, Helena didn't get History or Science this year. They said Reading and math was more important and it would be revisited in 7th grade. I totally disagree!

Mike Rose "I Just Want To Be Average" Part 2

     After reading Part 2 of “I Just Want to Be Average" by Mike Rose, he illustrates what the teachers were like that he encountered were like while going to school. It is in my opinion that Mike Rose received a “Labeled” education and was being taught per his environment/culture. Mike learned from other people on his block, played with a chemistry set, etc. He also learned from having "boredom" within learning of the classroom and as many people learn - from his father's ailing health. But things would eventually turn around for him.

     Mike Rose talked about two teachers that were a big part of his education: Mr. Clint and Mr. MacFarland. It wasn't until the end Mike Rose had to struggled a little more, until Prof. MacFarland came into his life - as Mr. Rose said in Part 2, "Jack MacFarland couldn't have come into my life at a better time." MacFarland was a mixture of Mr. Escalante and Mr. Keating all wrapped into one. He had hooked Mike Rose, giving him a spark of creativity back to Mike's reading and story creations. He made Mike feel special by using his own thoughts and was a role model that is described as "wasn't shaped on physical prowess alone." Just like Mr. Keating, he had the respect from his students and didn't have to earn it. MacFarland encouraged Mike about college. "Listen, you can write." He too was an advocate for self esteem for his students; he helped his students strive to be all that they could be. Mike Rose, at that time in his life, admired Mr. MacFarland and felt like he could talk to his teacher about anything.

     When you experience an education such Mike Rose, you can't even begin to understand. I feel that Part 2 was very touching and it showed how he struggled and struggled, but had a compelling experience in the end. His past teachers were only will to give him what we will call a street education. But then MacFarland steps into his life and makes change for the good. I have experienced a “Labeled” education and at no fault of my own. Being judged for someone I was not, the teachers only being there for a paycheck vs. dedication to the students. But one day Mrs. Montgomery walked into my life, just as MacFarland walked into Mike's life. Life is full of experience, except I wish no one would have to experience a "Labeled Education". It structures you for who you become in life. Mike Rose made similar realizations in that he decides what his contribution is going to be - writing.