Blog Post #7

 Literacy with an Attitude by Patrick J. Finn

Quotes 

1. In the Preface, Finn states, "Today we see illiteracy among the have-nots as the source of many social ills." This emphasizes the educational differences seen in the different class types in the United States. This truly affects the students' future in these matters by providing fewer educational opportunities. These educational opportunities not found in the less fortunate facilities provide low test scores, fewer scholarships, and less enrollment in higher education. Not only are there fewer opportunities, but there is also a difference in lessons that emphasize completely different aspects. 

2. Later in the Preface, Finn states, "Progressive methods, empowering education, and powerful literacy tend to go together. Traditional methods, domesticating education, and functional literacy tend to go together. Progressive methods are nearly impossible unless children want school knowledge and cooperation." This shares the different types of education students get based on their social class. Higher fortunate students tend to learn critical thinking skills and leading positions while working, and lower-class students tend to emphasize obedience in education. This proves the direct disconnect the country has overall between classes, but more specifically, how it affects our education system, which inevitably affects the country's future. 

3. In the second chapter, Finn states, "After all, America is supposedly the "land of opportunity" where you can achieve whatever career goals to which you aspire...However, the more I remembered various teaching situations I've been in, the more clear class culture perpetuation became." This quote truly emphasizes the irony the United States has with preaching freedom, yet teaching the complete opposite in their public education systems. 

Reflection:

After reading, I saw a lot of similarities between this reading and the reading from last week. There were a lot of common themes of irony between the readings, but having different true meanings. This reading truly emphasized the difference in education between classes. If you were born rich, you would have a higher chance of getting a better education, which overall opens countless opportunities for higher education, leading to a more successful future. On the other hand, though, if you were born less fortunate in the United States, you will be taught how to stay less fortunate. This shows that truly the United States is not as free as it thinks it is and it is important to acknowledge in education systems as future teaching, having the future of the country in our hands. 

Blog Post #6

 Troublemakers by Carla Shalaby

Quotes:

1. In Troublemakers Preface, Shalaby states, "When I speak on a child's right to freedom, I mean that by virtue of being human, she is endowed with the unassailable right not to have any part of her personhood assaulted or stolen... A free person retains her power, her right to self-determination, her opportunity to flourish, her ability to love and to be loved, and her capacity of hope." I find these statements interesting because of Carla Shalaby's use of the pronoun "she" when referring to students, children, and freedom. Shalaby relates to students at human beings, but constantly uses "she" and "her" pronouns, which make it seem she is only talking and including female students and a female audience. Though I do not know Shalaby's background, I find these word choices ironic due to the point being made. By using these pronouns it seems that the writing excludes males and other genders in educational settings. Shalaby claims that freedom is a personal right, but does not include everyone in the United States educational system. 

2. Later in the Preface, Shalaby states, "For the most part, schools value quiet children over loud ones and operate as though adults are the only teachers in the room. The adults get to speak while the young people listen." This statement evaluates the irony of freedom in the United States and how freedom is rarely seen in American classroom environments. I find this important for educators and students both to acknowledge because it shows the true way the country is. The statement highlights the flaws this country has and the importance of acknowledging them as citizens and the future. 

3. In the introduction of Troublemakers, Shalaby shares her experience with a certain student. She states, "He loved the freedom of learning just enough to hate the constraints of schooling, and he did what I asked only if it happened to coincide with what he wanted to do." I find this important because it shows the student's perspective of the irony between freedom in the country and within the education system. It shows that students are aware of the irony, which can make it harder to teach in the circumstances the country wants to teach. 

Reflection:

All in all, Troublemakers highlights the irony of freedom in the United States and the difficulties and challenges that happen when teaching students who know the irony. Not only are the constant reminders of freedom in the country and the completely opposite experiences that happen in the classrooms ironic, but Shalaby's exclusive use of she and her pronouns when talking about freedom among students and citizenship is ironic as well.