Talking Points # 6 Argument*

1. Separate and Unequal by Bob Hebert

2. Argument
This author Bob Hebert argues that there is "very little evidence that you can have success when you pack all the low-income students into one particular school."

 How you do in school doesn't depend on what skin color you have, but in-actuality whats important is the environment of the schools, "with better teachers, fewer classroom disruptions, pupils who are more engaged academically, parents who are more involved" are all ways that a positive environment helps to improve education. If the poorer schools had better teachers, who really took on the challenge of caring about their students, and wanted to help them succeed and really make something of themselves, maybe the students would do better. It's a "much more effective way of closing the achievement gap."

It's important that we have integration throughout  our school systems, so no one child gets left behind. Some school districts have tried numerous strategies to integrate schools by "establishing specialized, high-achieving magnet schools in high-poverty neighborhoods, which have had some success in attracting middle class students. Some middle-class schools have been willing to accept transfers of low-income students when those transfers are accompanied by additional resources that benefit all of the students in the schools."

We as a society need to get over the fact that we are all of a different race, and for that reason we need to stick together, by integrating schools we not only get the same education, but we can also learn from one another as well. If you put low income students with all low income students, that's all they've ever seen, that's all they know, they don't know how to want, or strive for anything more, so that's were they stay, in the low income category. But the second you put a low income student in with middle income students, its a whole other playing field, they are now embraced with the idea of something 'more' than what they have now, they see the possibility of being 'more', and actually making something of themselves. It's all about the possibilities.

Talking Points # 5 Quotes

1. In the Service of What? The Politics of Service Learning by Joseph Kahne and Joel Westheimer

2. Quotes:
Pg. 2 "Service learning makes students active participants in service learning projects that aim to respond to the needs of the community while furthering the academic goals of students."..."In addition to helping those they serve, such service learning activities seek to promote student's self-esteem, to develop higher-order thinking skills, to make use of multitple abilities, and to provide authentic learning experience--all goals of current curriculum reform efforts." It's really important that we give back to our communities, and help out those who are less fortunate. It not only helps others, but it maks us feel good knowing that we are doing a good deed.

Pg.5 "In caring relationships, Nel Noddings asserts, we try to consider the life and dispostion of those for whom we are caring. We attempt to "apprehend the reality of the other" and then to "struggle[for progress] together. In so doing, we create opportunities for changing our understanding of the other and the context within which he or she lives." It's important that we understand where the others are coming from, in order for us to help others, it allows us all to grow and learn from one another.

Pg. 10 "Boyte, for example, believes that service activivites should develop students' abilities at "public speaking, recruiting other students, organizing meetings, analyzing problems, developing action plans, and conducting evaluations."  No one person can fix any one problems on their own, we need to all work together.

3. In class I think we should discuss how valuable service learning is, and how we could participate in more opportunities. I know from my own personal experience, I feel such joy and pleasure after helping others, it doesn't matter how big or small the task may be, its just fufilling to know that you've helped someone else.

A clip from The Little Mermaid*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyFVG4VfPmg

Talking Points # 4 Quotes*

1. Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us by Linda Christensen

2. Quotes*
Pg 127 "Children's cartoons, movies, and literature are perhaps the most influential genre 'read'."
I think that this is that authors main argument in the text, from the second we are born we are surrounded by stuffed animals and cartoons influencing our lives on what to like and what to look like. We aren't given the chance to decide for ourselves what our likes and dislikes are because they are being forced down our throats the first chance they get.

Pg. 130 "Look, Ursula the sea witch is ugly and smart. Hey, she's kind of dark looking. The young, pretty ones only want to hook their man; the old, pretty ones are mean because they are loosing their looks."
There are so many things wrong with this quote, first implying that if your 'ugly' that means your smart, and by saying shes dark looking, that's saying she's not white. Life isn't just about what we look like, and by this quote it sounds like we have a time limit on when we can find a mate, and it HAS to be before our 'good looks' run out. Love is supposed to be about whats on the inside, not the exterior.

Pg. 134 "Sabrina said, I realized these problems weren't just in cartoons. They were in everything-every magazine I picked up, every television show I watched, every billboard I passed by on the street."
Its important to realize that these issues are everywhere, and we can no longer avoid them. We can't just blame it on one singular person, we need to voice our opinions and make a change.

3. I don't think that parents should 'punish' their kids from missing out on cartoons but I really do think there needs to be a change, cartoons shouldn't be so racist and sexist. It's so frustrating to think that Disney just recently came out with a Princess of a race other than white- this is both frustrating and exciting at the same time. It's exciting to know that steps are being made in the right direction to include everyone. We all just need to work together to make the world a better, friendlier place.

Talking Points # 3 *Argument*

1. From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America - A National Report on School Bullying

2.This author on GLSEN argues that we need to "bridge the gap between the support that teachers say they provide to students and students’ perceptions of teachers’ willingness to take action.”  

In order to create a safe and healthy environment in schools, its important that we learn to communicate and work together as a team to help create a system that works for everyone involved. It's important for teachers to be involved with the students, and for the students to feel that they can confide in their teachers for support and guidance.  It's important that teachers don't just "shut out" the problems of their students, or pretend that the bullying and harassment isn't happening. "This study clearly illustrates the prevalence of bullying and harassment in America’s schools and that students who experience harassment are more likely to miss classes which can impact a student’s ability to learn." Schools should be a safe, healthy, and judgement free place, not a place where you have to fear both physical and emotional abuse. It's important that we bridge that gap between teachers and students to provide for a healthy environment to learn. 

 3. I really found this article interesting, and it really makes me wonder how many teachers are actually willing to take action, or how long it takes them to feel "its time to step in." The main point that I wish to discuss, which I've already brought it up few times, is that we really need to bring students and teachers closer, and for the students to know, that the teachers are there to help the students, and that they can confide in them. The students need to know that if they go to a teacher, they will have results, and action will be taken to help them. No one can stop the abuse on their own, we need each other for comfort and support.