Author Archives: ocondoluci

This chapter mostly discussed the effect media and technology has on children today.  It did not really discuss alot about education, more focussed on youth in general.  While I do believe media influences children greatly, I think it is impossible to shy them away from it.  Advertising is everywhere, promoting things some parent may not approve of or that can hurt the childs self esteem or gear them in the wrong direction. 

There are also some good things that media promotes though such as not smoking, no drinking or no drinking and driving.  We cannot say that everything the media sends out damages our youths perception.  Sex is a major exploitation in our day and age but its what entertains and grabs peoples attention therefore it will never go away.  It is kind of hard to connect media and education but can perhaps be done.  Children are consumed with television and music so if this can be incorporated in their learning experiences it might help them out.  Also media is generalized as bad for our children,but it can still be a way to make them listen.  I believe parents need to step in also in kind of controlling what goes on in the home, how much tv is watched, what is watched, etc.  Everything startes with home, so if parents can guide their children in the right direction, it will be easier for them to use technology and media to their advantage and not get lost in it.

Chapter 6 dealt alot with men vs. women as far as teaching goes, in which we got into a deeper discussion in class relating to being nurturing in general.  I believe that it does not matter whether the teacher is a male or female as long as they have the qualities and knowledge a fit teacher needs.  There are many people that believe that men do not have everything a woman has as a “natural nurturer” so to speak.  This cannot be proved because there are many homes in which the mother is not around and the children depend on the father.  Or even if the mother is around there are alot of kids that leach onto the male figure for x or y reason.  You cannot generalize the whole male and female gender because of what people BELIEVE to be true.  We cannot sit here and say yes women are definitely better teachers because they conceive children.  That sounds absurd. 

I believe it all comes down to knowledge as well as patience, respect, and just a genuine love for teaching children.  You cannot gender specify something like this regardless of what most people think.