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Throughout the semester, we have discussed the different concerns in American school classrooms. Most importantly, student’s performance levels have been questioned. Due to different factors in any child’s life, he or she may develop, learned helplessness, which may affect their learning abilities.

Learned Helplessness can be defined as passively giving up on future accomplishments. Once a student begins to believe that their actions are futile, and they are incompetent. As I learned in both EDU 3001, and EDU 3002, learned helplessness may affect student’s capabilities in the classroom setting; whether it is physically, or mentally. I will further discuss why students may face learned helplessness, and different ways to resolve the issue.

One of the primary examples of learned helplessness is “If a student studies a lot but consistently makes poor grades he/she will start to feel depressed.”  The student may feel that success is far from his/her hand reach. With this in mind, the student may feel isolated from his/her peers and fall below curriculum standards.

Secondly, we have put great emphasis on the importance of parental guidance in a child’s educational experience. In Springs text, the factor of nature vs. nurture is a very important aspect in the upbringing of a child’s life. However, “If a mother tries to discipline her child in different ways, such as, timeout, spanking or words and the child still acts in ways she dislikes (misbehavior), she will start to feel there’s nothing she can do to help the child or herself.  She may be failing as a parent.”In addition to failing as a parent, the child may be affected by this form of discipline. They may begin to feel that is the only way the mother can communicate with them. Unfortunately, the student can become stressed from the issues in their households and perform in an unsatisfactory manner in the classroom.

With the assistance of their teachers, during afterschool programs, resolutions can be made. If students consistently ask instructors for constructive feedback, they may benefit from it. Secondly, through cooperative learning, students will be able to share new ideas with each other. This ensures a balance of immediate information for each student to generate new ideas, unseen by others. Overall, an intentional teacher, who is familiar with importance of a high quality education, can work with students to improve his/her students in the classroom.In addition, to parental involvement and the better understanding of self motivation, any student can succeed in their educational experience.

Yesterday,on my commute to school,I noticed a young male and female who attended community college I work at.As I listened to their conversation,it became more and more interesting.The male took his F-graded papers out of his back pocket, and explained to his friend that the professor’s expectations were too high.He also added that he never read the book.His friend replied,”I will write it for you.”His immediate answer was “Great! because I don’t know what to do with this.” I wanted to give my input once I found out the name text which was “Savage Inequalities.”
They exchanged all contact information and agreed on the payment for the paper….$25 dollars.After hearing that conversation,it is clear to see certain students don’t value their education.Other students who are well aware of their capabilities, find a way to start business within the schools and this only leave unsatisfactory level students at their steady unproductive pace.
How can this student benefit from the ongoing feeling of not knowing?Or has he fallen into learned helplessness.I’m not sure of the exact answers to these questions.However,I do feel at the age of college students, your own responsibility level should be at an all time high.As we enter the real world, some things, education per say should have more value in life.Integrity is important.

As mentioned in Chapter 3 of the text the AYP, also known as the Adequate Yearly Progress is of great concern in the education system today.This measurement is determined through the academic success or failure by these schools, through standardized testing.Throughout the semester we have discussed different factors which may lead to a student not performing to his/her best ability.What the government needs to do, is first fix the problem,and then determine the next step to take in fixing the school status.As we all know patience is virtue.yes, these schools need more assistance, in order for betterment.However, such powerful acts need to be lessen so students have time to develop.Should schools implement at home programs, for students to work with their(additional homework)parents to excel in the classroom setting?Could this be the resolution to the problem, at hand?

With the idea of standardized testing the decision maker in most American classrooms, should teachers actually “teach for the test?”

As more and more students graduate from high schools, there is a higher demenad for college degrees.However, higher education faces issues.After working at another CUNY community college for over a year, I have gotten different opinions from students who attend the school.Due to the fact senior colleges, four year colleges are higher in cost, most students transfer(from a four year to a two year school)/attend a two year school(before entering a four year).For the simple fact that tuition rates are less, with the same coursework available.In a way the cuts made towards education, and the highering of tuition rates have/will continue to affect students.

“No country has ever improved the quality and scope of its educational system by persistently reducing its budget,” Mr. Lingenfelter wrote in his recent essay on state finance. “While some may wish this were possible, it is not. Nor can colleges and universities improve their scope and quality without focusing on essential priorities and increasing productivity and efficiency, most especially when resources are limited.”

I agree with this excerpt from one of the readings.As we are told everyday, an education is vital in the process of becoming successful.Budget cuts wont solve the problem.If you browse through employment oppurtunity websites, Bachelors/Masters degrees are necessary for better quality, higher paying jobs.If students(working with students,often times, I am often aproached with “Word of mouth” questions) are aware of the downfall in funding for CUNY schools, would the graduation rate at CUNY schools decrease?

Would students who still attend school receive a better quality education,since professors are aware of the budget cuts and how it can affect the student population?

The community that I currently work at, I feel SOME students, dont take their education as serious as they could.Do you think information sessions should be set up, for students to understand the importance of what average oppurtunities they have available, such as financial aid, etc?(Maybe that would ensure better focus in the classroom and less carelessness)

Throughout the semester, we have discussed the importance of the parental involvement in a childs educational experience.However, we just touched on the fact that parents may have long hour position.We fail to realize there may be other factors in parents lives, that may keep them isolated from involvement.As the article mentioned it is important to know th parents educational background,the expection level of their children, and the invitations by their children to school events.

In class we have differientiated the ideas of low income families, to wealthy families.In most cases more oppurtunity in school, is given to the children of higher socioeconomic status.I would assume, some parents from low socioeconomic status,are less likely to engage in their child’s educational experience.So as the article mentions it is important to communicate for parents to feel welcomed in the school community.As the reading mentions the top four ways is through understanding:

1. 1.differences in language
2.  2. family perception of the child’s academic ability,
3. 3. educational support common to the home culture, and
4. 4. ability to navigate educational systems are not barriers to engagement.

NCLB, also known as the “No Child Left behind Act” has become an ongoing concern amongst classroom settings. As we discussed over the semester the idea of teaching towards the test, leaves children with the least bit of educational intake. Often times, I hear stories of high school teachers giving students the easy way out. In other words, if a teacher feels students should just pass their exams, with a set curriculum assigned, most of the time exact answers are given to ensure a passing grade on the test.This not only decreases the child’s ability to learn new information but the instructors or teachers quality of teaching is not challenged. Often times, students may feel pressured to learn the required information for a test that they forget the idea of “quantitative education. “ The ability to learn, in relation to outside experience which can enhance the learning process is lost. This in any classroom can be the vital step in a successful learning process. Does the act of NCLB challenge students to do better on standardized test, or is it a step behind, with its intentions?

Secondly, for a school to improve determination and feedback is important. All factors of any child’s educational experience are important on the grade level each school receives (teachers, parents, student behavior and learning abilities).Once students are motivated and have positive support they may excel in the classroom. Lastly, as a college student we are often times given the opportunity to evaluate our professors. Some of us use this as an advantage; whereas, some of us don’t. This should be important in the younger age classrooms on a daily basis. Students could be asked their opinion on the teaching skills for the current school week (with no knowledge of them giving feedback) Progress starts within the school. The government needs to enforce ruling of all teachers evaluating each student, on their work ability. Once this is done, the students who are a little behind can receive the accurate assistance to be up to par with other students. Before these standardized tests are given to these schools.

There are numerous issues in this chapter that exist in contemporary education. The first was the idea that students in universities faced oppression/racism. As we discussed in class, different educational institution, there are numerous status quot to fulfill the requirement for each ethnic group in schools. Hence, the “optional” race questions on college admission applications or any job related/assessment examination. Although students may not know EVERY question is taken into consideration. Regardless of the mini section which state equality opportunity.

Throughout the chapter, Sidney Marland was mentioned with his different ideologies. He believed career education would resolve the answer to students’ rebellion, delinquency, and unemployment rates. I disagree with this notion. Each class discussion puts heavy emphasis on the importance of the household being the first teacher. In addition, students must have a sense of self determination/motivation, before these issues can be resolved. Being a student who graduated with an A.A degree in Liberal Arts, I feel I was given an opportunity that not all college students can experience. General education is very similar to Liberal Arts I feel I was given, as well as many students the chance to broaden my knowledge on numerous topics while still figuring out my intended major. However, once transferring to a senior college it is mandatory to declare a major with a certain time span. I also believe general education is meaningful. Some students lack the skills to seek further education/ or employment.

“Some of our more serious social and economic problems, including high unemployment and the attendant problems of disaffection and drug excess among the young.” However, we have to remember if students seek higher education does that mean that all external factors will cease? (I.e. poverty filled neighborhood, parents on drugs etc.)Does having an education gear solely to career like curriculum create a form of progress for students?

Throughout this text, numerous attempts were made to better the education system. Many models were followed around the world, to better the American education system. Throughout the years, the main goal for education was to “teach for the test.” Or prepare students for the job market. This chapter gave some examples, mentioned in Chapter 12, in regards to how the media/advertisement was visible in the school setting. Consumerism was linked into the school settings on different occasions. For example, McDonalds, and Burger King all had reasons to have students addicted to their products. Being a sociology major, I tend to look into different problems society face. As we all know social problems occur/develop over time. Do you feel the “alleged” positivity amongst these companies in the educational institutions can be blamed for the obese student population, in recent days? How can these schools, in a way where students are interested, educate their students on the issue of obesity to prevent bullying but increase healthy eating ?

Lastly, I agreed with the ban of Boy Scouts usage of school facilities. Due to the fact, that they despised homosexuals. With this in mind, shouldn’t the act of bullying in the daily curriculum exist? Do you think this would lessen the acts of bullying, physically, or in its technological form?

Kozol gives readers a better understanding of her experiences at numerous schools in different states. He has given description of all the topics we covered in class thus far. For example, the idea that teacher salary should be higher. In addition, the text brought some useful information for prospective teachers, and education majors/minors to have knowledge on.

I thought this was very important for Kozol to see as a teacher:

“I decided, early in my journey, to attempt to listen very carefully to children and whenever possible, to let their voice and their judgments and their longings find a place within this book- and maybe, too, within the nations dialogue about their destinies. I hope that, in this effort, I have done them justice.”

It is important to know both sides of a story. It is obvious the performance from these low-income schools may depict the learning ability amongst the student body. However, to improve some of the underlying issues in these educational institutions students should have a voice. In order for change, feedback/ the voice of students are necessary as well as teachers. It was very interesting that Kozol understood the principle of understanding the student’s opinion while learning takes place in the classroom. As I learned in my previous education course, an intentional teacher is willing to learn from students and growth will occur from there, on.Kozol has very similar characteristics as an intentional teacher.

According to the text, a pupil funds averaged $5,500 whereas, in the suburbs funding levels were about $11, 00. Throughout the semester, the idea of socioeconomic status is quite a concern in any child’s educational learning experience. Do you think the lesser the funds put into ones education may affect their learning or performance level? I feel that is very similar to higher education For example, when in a SUNY school the tuition is approximately $8,000- $14,000.Whereas in a CUNY school the tuition is around $5, 000 per academic year. In addition to external factors (personal issues, or responsibilities) does the funding have an impact on the student’s lifestyle, their perception on school and striving for a decent quality education?

Kozol provides readers with very specific descriptions of the conditions students faced in their schools. In this article, teens in specific communities are given the opportunity to catch up with work, due to prior failure. Should programs like the credit recovery be implemented in all NY schools/grades, in lower-income neighborhoods? Then again, would students take advantage of it?

In Beverly Tatum’s text, “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?, ” she focuses on the ongoing perception of “racism” in American culture.She gives personal insight from her classroom learning experiences, and additional studies.I agreed with most of the information she presented.Below I will discuss a few point which was relevant to my learning experience, personal experience, and the context in the text.

Throughout the semester we mentioned the stage of nature vs nurture and how it shapes a students way of thinking and lifestyle.In Tatums text, she believed that the impact of racism begins in early childhood years.I feel this is true, with parental guidance.For most of us in the class, our parents are immigrants and we have been taught cultural values which we live by to this day.However, for their generation having a close knit community in their country was very important.This type of bonding was beneficial for the growth.This is relevant to the Native Americans ideology of running their own school system to preserve their culture.However, isolation becomes a concern because the upcoming generations receive information which is “distorted, shaped by cultural stereotypes, and left incomplete.” If isolation exist, and stereotypical views and generalizations are forced into a child’s minds, Does that affect his or her learning ability?Ill give an example,my sister’s friends daughter, who is nine years old currently attends a zoned-elementary school.Often times, the Caucasian students make fun of the quality of her hair, since its kinky.She deals with insecurities due to this situation and makes it known to her mother.The teachers resolution to the problem: “Well straighten your daughters hair, so the other girls can see that she has good quality hair, and everything would be fine.” After hearing that situation, I was highly upset at that the teachers resolution.The student  shouldn’t have to change her appearance for the other students to better understand the quality of her hair, resulting in better treatment.However, the teacher should be able manage her class in a better way.First, being  in a diverse classroom, we must all be aware that learning takes place on a daily basis(while making that known to the students).Even if its an irrelevant topic, like the quality of hair.Find an exercise to generate new ideas of how stereotypes, and  negativity can affect one anthers learning ability.Lastly, in order for the teacher to learn from the class, he/she must know the strengths and weaknesses of each students to plan ahead of time to have his/her students thinking of classwork and less of the instilled perceptions of colored students often forced in the mind by parents.Also known as secondhand information.

Another concern in the text was the practice of omitted information in the classroom/in society and how it can affect an individual.In my very first post, I discussed the fact that heroification exist in the classroom setting.As we grow older, we are often times shocked when new information is provided to us.This makes us think, who can we believe?how does this new-found information distort all the information leading to an historical event/person?

I agreed with parents teaching their children what they learned.However, I feel it depends on the individual to determine what in their opinion is wrong from right, in their later years of life.Another topic that stood out to me in the text was the idea that Whites received more advantages and were treated differently, in a good way.The text mention the white female sent her child to school with no expectation of  discrimination against him/her in the school setting.I immediately thought of the show “Everybody Hates Chris.”Although it has exaggerated scenes, it is clear that Chris Rock once faced discrimination from one of his teachers.This show intertwines with the media and how it affects the mind of children, which is present in prior chapters of Joel Spring’s text.This show usually airs on B.E.T, Black Entertainment Television, which I assume any ethnic group tunes in(can lead to internalized oppression).However, are shows like this, putting more emphasis on the superiority of whites on a day to day basis.Mostly, in school settings?Although the show is a televised comical auto-biography about his  life in the 1980’s, Is the perception of his teacher influencing individuals/students to generalize all white female teachers in general?How does this affect a preschool child entering a diverse classroom for the first time?

Overall Tatum’s text informed me with information I was unaware of; I now know the correct terminology for two types of racism.I often witness internalized oppression amongst different groups of individuals.I am also told at times “I talk proper” or I’m not from the borough I was born because of my mannerism.Instilled perceptions are lethal to the human mind, and once it is in a child’s mind, its often hard to change their perspective.My friend is also using this text for an English course at another CUNY school.I say it be used during junior high and school class levels.During this time in a students life, they are “getting to know themselves.”The information would make students aware of the issues around them and develop mentally.

In Chapter 14, there were many different topics mentioned to better understand the globalization of America and its affect on the American schools. In my opinion of the most important text, is the idea of “deculturalization of minority cultures” and how it could affect any Non-American individuals.

Throughout the text, we focused on the concerns of minority groups. Some of the most prominent issues they faced were discrimination, poverty, etc. In Chapter 14, I noticed the determination amongst these groups, Native Americans per say, to better the school system, with the understandings of their cultural heritage and languages; also known as “indigenous people.” According to the text, these were individuals who “have a group and cultural identity distinct from dominant national societies.” In 2007, the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People, it planned to restore the importance of schooling to natives. According to this plan, indigenous people had the right to:

-establish/control their own institutions with information similar to their culture, using specific teaching methods

-children of these individuals have advantage of all grade levels without facing discrimination

-children received an education in their own culture provided with their own language

This seems like a very good idea for immigrants from the past to present. However, in American society diversity is important in educational settings. As the schedule for this class states, the most learning will happen in the classroom, along with the readings done prior to the class session. Learning from our peers and the individuals around us is very important. In my opinion these Native Americans would lack the experience of meeting new individuals from different countries and learning new ideas to further assist them in class and their future. Most of my family members are from South America, Guyana. They are now a part of the “Melting Pot”, America. Upon arrival, cultural traits still existed. However, over the years they have adapted to the fast /educational lifestyle we Americans live. The outside appearance of American society has taken over, but mentally cultural values still exist in the household. I feel that’s how the Native Americans should have practiced. They were discriminated against but being secluded in one area, one school setting gives them the opportunity to isolate themselves from the outside world; with no space to broaden their horizon on the issues surrounding them.

As I previously mentioned, one of my family members who was well-educated in Guyana, came to the U.S and was held back a grade then her current grade status. It was very shocking that this had occurred. There was never exactly a clear description as to why it occurred, however she was from outside of the United States. So I can understand why Native Americans wanted to take the route of being their own learning system, life would be much easier and set perceptions of non-Americans would make life much easier. Do you think the American classrooms (teachers and other students), to this day intimidate children who are from different countries, and affect their performance? If so, in what ways? Is there a set perception for students who are from other countries in the school system, today?

As we discussed in other classes, having same sex gendered schools can affect/ or not affect the individuals learning. However, do you feel same cultured classrooms affect students in a positive/negative way? Would  this process of repetitiveness in immigrants cultural classrooms, set them back for job opportunities which demands a strong sense of experience in different skills and diversed environments? Or  do you feel an American style education is more beneficial for any student?