Talking Points #7 on Lawrence

“One More River to Cross” By: Charles Lawrence
Premise- This article is about:

• nation's schools
• desegregation
• segregation
• labeling
• whiteness
• privilege
• race
• labeling
• schools
• students
• separation
• classifications
• feelings
• equal protection
• Supreme Court
• North vs. South
• realization
• "separate but equal"

Author's Argument:

Lawrence argues that Brown v. Board of Education has not been a complete success because segregation is still an issue in schools. He also goes on to assert that the public, especially the school systems and courts, need to better educate themselves on different types of segregation in order to end it. Finally, he argues how damaging segregation can be to children in the middle of it.

1) "If one views the Brown case narrowly, as a case intended to desegregate the nation's schools, history has proven it a clear failure". (281) Lawrence is saying that if you really think about it, the whole purpose of the Brown case has not proven to end all segregation and therefore it was not a complete success.

2) "Professor Charles Black has noted that the significance of segregation was best understood by looking at what it meant to the people who imposed it and to those who were subjected to it". (282) Lawrence is proving that in order to understand segregation, it is vital to study the people who were victims of it. That is the most effective way, learn about the problem before you attempt to fix it. (band-aid on broken bone)

3) "Many black schools that existed within the segregated school systems of the South were in fact superior to their white counterparts". (284) Lawrence includes this fact about segregation in the South to prove that colored children are "smart", thus crushing labels given to them such as "dumb".

4) "The exclusion or segregation of blacks in public facilities was settled policy and reached considerable maturity in the North before moving South in full force". (285) Lawrence brings this point up to prove that lack of education and understanding was what caused the spread and thriving of segregation.

5) "Once the state has effectively institutionalized racial segregation as a labeling device, only minimal maintenance is required". (286) Lawrence is saying that once the state actually recognizes segregation is a tool to label minorities, they will only do the bare minimum and will not go above and beyond the solve the problem.

Questions/Comments/Points to Share:

Although lengthy and hard to understand at times, I felt that this article enlightened me on the subject of segregation and how to solve the problem. There is still segregation occuring, I watched it in the movie"For One Night". It was a true story about a colored teenage girl getting her high school in her hometown of Butler, Georgia, to integrate the prom after thirty-one years of segregation. This story took place in the year 2002, which is sort of impossible to comprehend because you would think segregation was a thing of the past.

Talking Points #6 on Oakes

Tracking: Why Schools Need to Take Another Route by Jeannie Oakes
Premise- This article is about:

• grouping
• tracking
• government
• education
• teachers
• students
• strategies
• skills
• classroom
• classes
• average kids
• speed
• curriculum
• academic scores
• labeling
• opportunities
• evaluations
• opportunities

Author's Argument:

Oakes argues that students are academically labeled too early on in their education and this causes some students to perform better than others because they have a greater opportunity to succeed in school. She also believes that all students deserve an equal chance at an education, not just higher learning ones.

Evidence:

1) "Students who are placed in high-ability groups have access to far richer schooling experiences than other students" (178). This quote explains that students put into higher learning classrooms get better attention and resources from the teacher, and they will most likely go on to live a successful life. However, students who are in a lower learning enviroment are not getting as good of an education.

2) "One fact about tracking is unequivocal: tracking leads to substantial differences in the day-to-day learning experiences students have at school" (178). This quote alone proves how Oakes feels about tracking in schools, she believes that students in a higher group learn more than students in a lower learning group.

3) "In low-ability classes, for example, teachers seem to be less encouraging and more punitive, placing more emphasis on discipline and behavior and less on academic learning" (179). This quote shows that children placed in lower learning classes are at a disadvantage because the teachers are not focusing enough on academics.

4) "Heterogeneous groups of students will probably do best in classrooms where the curriculm content is challenging, complex, related to real life and- most of all- rich with meaning" (180). This quote shows that students have a greater chance of succeeding if they are challenged, which would require them to be placed in a higher learning class.

5) "To be successful, heterogeneous classrooms probably need to lean toward placing students more in charge of their own evaluation--checking their own understanding and asking for and providing feedback" (181). The shows that Oakes believes the key to students success is to include more responsibilty on the shoulders of the children, and allow them to give feedback.

Questions/Comments/Points to Share:

I really enjoyed reading this article because I felt that the author clearly got her point across with being too repetitive. The article showed me just how important it is to give all children an equal oppurtunity at education and that dividing children will lead to success for some, and failure for others. In my school at which I perform my service learning, the children who need extra help I assist them with. They are still learning the same material and are in the same classroom with everyone else, they just need a little more attention.

Talking Points #5 on Kahne and Westheimer

Joseph Kahne and Joel Westheimer " In the Service of What?" The Politics of Service Learning"

Premise-This article is about:

• politics
• service learning
• educators
• legislators
• money
• community service
• learning/teaching
• experiences
• community
• democratic education
• American schools
• classrooms
• differences
• altruism
• self-reflection
• charity
• morals
• intelect
• helping
• understanding

Author's Argument: Kahne and Westheimer argue that it would be beneficial if service learning were incorporated into schools because it would give children better character and more sense of accomplishment.

Evidence:

1) "Educators and legislators alike maintain that service learning can improve the community and invigorate the classroom, providing rich educational experiences for students at all levels of schooling." (2) The authors are saying that service learning is a positive endeavor that can enlighten children to better the community.

2) "Both provide authentic learning experiences, reflection on matters of social concern, and opportunities for interdisciplinary study linked to curricular goals." (3)This part of the article was about two service learning projects and what the students who participated learned from the experience.

3) "For Thanksgiving this year my stepmother and I helped serve the seniors their Thanksgiving dinner. This was a very rewarding experience helping others in need." (7) This student had a powerful and worth while experience helping the less fortunate.

4)"After they returned, the students' perspectives on these elementary school children had changed. They were surprised at the children's responsiveness and their attentiveness." (8) This quote is a reaction from upper middle class students who helped out at elementary school located in a poor neighborhood.

5) "Efforts to integrate service learning activities into the curriculum have great potential and deserve the support they are now receiving." (12) This quote shows that the authors are happy service learning is gaining the positive attention in deserves.

Questions/Comments/Points to Share:

Although a bit boring at times, I found this article to be unbias and informative. It is a lenghty piece, and I believe it is also repetitive at times. This article could have easily been shortened and still delivered the main argument. I enjoyed the personal stories from students on how community service affected them and what they got out of it. This article made me think of my own service learning project, and how to me it really does not feel like community service because I am teaching, which is what I love to do. I hope to still be teaching after college, just getting paid for it. I completely agree with the authors in that service learning not only benefits the community, it also benefits the person volunteering as well.

Disney first: black princess in animated film

‘The Frog Princess’ will be set in New Orleans, scored by Randy Newman



NEW ORLEANS - The Walt Disney Co. has started production on an animated musical fairy tale called “The Frog Princess,” which will be set in New Orleans and feature the Walt Disney Studio’s first black princess.
The film, set for release in 2009, also is the first hand-drawn film Disney has committed to since pledging last month to return to the traditional animation that made it a worldwide brand.
“The Frog Princess,” a musical scored by composer Randy Newman, is “an American fairy tale” starring a girl named Maddy who lives in the French Quarter in New Orleans, said John Lasseter, chief creative director for Disney and Pixar Animation Studios.

Talking Points #4 on Christensen

Linda Christensen: "Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us"

Premise- This article is about:

• stereotypes
• sexism
• racism
• culture of power
• media
• gender issues
• Disney
• secret education
• children's books
• movies
• cartoons
• racial inequalities
• impressions
• myths
• minorities
• generalizations of characters

Author's Argument- Christensen argues that children are quite impressionable beings who are influenced by the media, and their actions prove this. She also argues that authors and writers of children's books and movies need to portray their characters in an unbias, socially equal way. In order to do this, Christensen believes we have to expose the myths in order to end stereotypes in the media.

Evidence:
1) "Our society's culture industry colonizes their minds and teaches them how to act, live, and dream." (126) Christensen is saying that children are highly influenced by the media, and they apply it to their everyday life.

2) "Children's cartoons, movies, and literature are perhaps the most influential genre "read" (127). This quote is stating that the media is the most influencial genre for children.

3) "Many students don't want to believe that they have been manipulated by children's media or advertising. No one wants to admit that they've been "handled" by the media. This quote explains that people want to have control of their own minds, and do not want to be tricked or manipulated into thinking what the media wants them to. (128)

4) "The newer cartoons-like Mulan, Aladdin, and Pocahontas-are subtler and take more sophistication to see through." (130) This quote reveals that stereotypes are still present in these modern Disney movies, however, they are not as obvious as previous movies.

5) "They were fueled by the opportunity to convince some parents of the long-lasting effects cartoons impose on their children, or to enlighten their peers about the roots of some of their insecurities" (137) The author gave the children a chance to make a difference by teaching them about the stereotypes in media. This experiment allowed the students to see themselves as actors in the world.

Questions/Comments/Points to Share:

This article was a delight to read because of the specific examples used by Christensen, such as Disney movies and how stereotypical they are. The majority of people have seen a Disney movie in their lifetime, but few actually catch on to the stereotypes shown in these family movies. I already knew that Aladdin was fairly controversial, but I never realized that Disney has given sort of a "look" to what a Disney Princess should be. There has never been a Hispanic or Africican American Disney Princess, which is surprising because Disney movies cover all different types of cultures, like Arabia and China. I liked how the students watched cartoons and took on issues in hopes to change the stereotypes. The activity allowed the students to see themselves as actors in world and open my eyes to the stereotypes in media and the affects it has on the world.