Week 12 - Class 12 Folder

"Place-based education (PBE) immerses students in local heritage, cultures, landscapes, opportunities and experiences, using these as a foundation for the study of language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and other subjects across the curriculum. PBE emphasizes learning through participation in service projects for the local school and/or community." (promiseofplace.org)

This quote reminds me a lot of one of my favorite professors here at Central and her name is Dr. Clark (I think I've mentioned her before).  Dr. Clark as well as Dr. Werblow strongly emphasize the importance of community and giving back to it.  For example, in my EDT 210 class last semester Dr. Werblow took my classmates and I to downtown New Britain to talk to locals in order to truly understand the New Britain community.  In addition, Dr. Clark required students in her class to do community service projects such as volunteer at a soup kitchen, work in schools, volunteer at a local business, tutor children, etc.  The understanding of community and the act of giving back to it is something I never really understood until now.  By relating to the community, by having your students give back to it, and relating community issues and successes to a curriculum is a very strong and effective way of having students learn (at least I think).

"3. Build democratic societies that are just, participatory, sustainable, and peaceful.
a. Ensure that communities at all levels guarantee human rights and fundamental freedoms and provide everyone an opportunity to realize his or her full potential.
b. Promote social and economic justice, enabling all to achieve a secure and meaningful livelihood that is ecologically responsible... 5... d.  Require multinational corporations and international financial organizations to act transparently in the public good, and hold them accountable for the consequences of their activities."  (earthcharterinaction.org)

This philosophy is very admirable and I feel that elements of this is incorporate into our class.  What do you think?  This quote again reminds me of Dr. Clark for it relates to social and economic justice.  I do have on question though, how are we going to hold multinational corporations and international financial organizations accountable for their wrong doings?  Do we charge them fines?  Do we threaten to shut them down?  Do we give them slaps on the wrists?  What's the right way to do this and what's the wrong way?

"‘A just policy should make sure that these industries that over-exploit our resources are not allowed to happen in areas of drought. The needs of the farmers and local communities should be first and foremost,’ he said." (Levitt)

I know that factories and power plants release a number of pollutants into the air but I never thought about the lack of resources and how businesses can negatively effect communities in the United States and across the globe.  I used to look at globalization in a positive light due but now I have no idea why.  Was I just really stupid in regards to what's going on in the world and how business is negatively effecting the environment and communities?  Or was I only exposed to only the "positives" of globalization and just didn't look past the presented truth?  I know that in the business world you think simply about what can make the most profit but why aren't they looking at how the local community can be affected?  

Week 11 - Kozol Chapter 8 & Folder 11

"...a world view that would enable us to see ourselves not through the lens of racism or racist stereotypes but one that would enable us to focus clearly and succinctly, to look at ourselves, at the world around us, critically--analytically--to see ourselves first and foremost as striving for wholeness, for unity of heart, mind, body, and spirit." (chss.montclair.edu)

I have had a small number of professors that teach in this way and I find, personally, that this is one of the most effective ways to teach.  Courses such as this one and EDTE 210 (a prerequisite for the education program) professors are asking students to reflect on who they are encompassing topics such as, how they can service the community and how they might deal with a number of sociological issues within the classroom.  When approaching education in this way, I hope that most students will find value in the course and learning in general.  Mentioned further in the reading, a teacher stated that they inform their students that the class will be designed in a nontraditional way.  I feel that informing students that the class is designed non-traditionally, they are able to mentally prepare themselves for a different learning experience.  As a side note, I feel that this commentary/response to the feminist pedagogy has beautiful values.   

"I don't believe a good school system can be built on miracles or on the stunning interventions of dramatically original and charismatic men or women.  I don't think anyone really believes this." (Kozol, pg. 200)

I completely agree with Kozol's statement.  There are plenty of original and charismatic teachers across the nation but in reality they are one of the smallest components of a school system.  Building a "good school system" is far more than miracles and having incredible teachers, it is about changing problems on the sociological level.  Where/when can we start designing a good school system?  What do we do if people actually believe that a good school is built on miracles and charismatic men and women?        

"Playing musical chairs with children's lives, when half the chairs are broken and the best chairs are reserved primarily for people of his class and race, is cynical behavior in a president." (Kozol, pg. 204)

This is the power of privilege.  Kozol's metaphor (if that's the right word) perfectly explains how education legislation caters to one group over another.  I too believe that this is cynical behavior in a president and a cynical behavior in anyone for that matter.  The idea of privilege needs to be eliminated in order for everyone to have an equal opportunity for success.  I have a hard time understanding how some people in our class are unable to understand the fact of privilege.  Do you?  Lastly,  I wonder if Bush actually realized what he was doing when he designed education legislation.