Hugs in School

Have you ever heard anything more ridiculous, than a student getting in trouble for giving a friend a hug? Positive emotions should be celebrated by schools especially when a growing of deadly violent trends needs to be combated. Emotions are unavoidable and NO ONE should EVER be punished for the good ones. Punishment doesn't change the negatives and it will not change the positives when emotions are being studied. The ONLY time there should be an issue is when a student complains and the approach to combat sexual harassment is education. Educating what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. But, come on, a hug between friends? Come on now. Schools are working too hard to remove positive emotion deriving situations such as birthday parties and holiday celebrations. Each should be studied and shared to enhance the good!

Trip to Arts High

Wow! I had an amazing experience today. I got to see a school of extraordinary students and faculty in the works. I didn't want to leave! There was quite a remarkable atmosphere in Arts High School of Newark, NJ. I can't wait to go back to shadow a teacher. I was definitely surprised by what a gem of a school it is. Wow. Professor, I truly left in awe and I'm inspired by this visit... Thank you. You really opened my eyes to multiple new experiences. The school was REALLY warm and welcoming. The entire staff appeared to be composed of awesome professionals who share in their hearts the ideals which have lead me down the path I'm on. This visit reaffirmed my cookie cutter made shape to become an educator because my heart overflows with love for others. Many of the messages I received today are ideas I've toiling with for my inquiry project. I am SOO happy I was a part of their day for just the few hours I was there. I finally have a definition I can easily remember for a magnet school and I have a beautiful picture in my mind of a special one.

How the Activity Helps...

Not only will the activity help with our inquiry project, but it will help with looking at things for what they are not what they seem. Being able to see things for what they are is important in any sort of research and inquiry. As an educator I will need to take things as they come and I will need to change with new ideas I learn. Things are never static but inquiry allows us to see the flux in many matters. For my inquiry project, I will pay more attention to space & its abrupt changes. I will recognize all my senses have to offer such as: sight, smell, sound... I will try to draw conclusions from people, the atmosphere, environment, and surroundings. I will look for idiocy and solutions to it.

Possible Inquiry Project

It took a lot of thought for me to come up with an idea. Then BAM, like lightning I had to write down my thought. It hit me while in my other education course. I hope it's okay, or possible to write; I generally NEVER think inside the box as my idea proves. The question I have is... As an educator, how can I contribute emotional education to the curriculum to enhance the value of education to those who feel inferior to the intellectual demands challenging them? I want to include EI in my curriculum so that the children who feel excluded from the academics feels satisfied by the curriculum in which they can excel in a non cognitive form of education. It exists in real life and should be included in the classroom. This is especially, while children are socializing in groups. Since I want to educate children, I find it will be of a particular advantage because it will some children more to shoot for.

This is only a thought, I may not even touch this topic but I needed to blog and like I said this is what the bolt that struck me said!

Birth Control in Middle School

Wow. I am astonished at the fact that this middle school in Maine intends to distribute contraceptives. I do believe in distributing protection to minors but I feel STRONGLY that there are other issues involved when children ages 11-13 are in need of birth control. I have two thirteen year old sisters who live in different communities and they are as I was at their age; oblivious to that entire realm of life. I'm not saying they know nothing on the matter. In fact, one of the girls has a classmate who has professed to be bisexual already. This matter has made me think. It makes me wonder how she could know such a thing exists; it must be the media. This is where I feel parental control makes all the difference in the world.My parents no longer allow my little sister to have sleepovers with this girl; because they are parenting. They realized that just as allowing a little boy to spend the night at this age, they are only asking for trouble. I have no doubt my little sisters will be okay. I am concerned with the fact that different locations in the country are not working on the kinks in such a newly developing issue. Isn't there an age of consent in these states? I'm pretty sure such ages were established with a means of protection for children. I don't feel the schools are protecting their pupils by allowing such mischief. Shame on the schools and on the parents for allowing children to lose their innocence at a time they need to learn confidence in themselves.

Democratic Education for Dummies

"Schools in societies that are trying in various ways to be democracies such as the United States, Mexico, and Canada, are obliged to develop public citizens." -Walter C. Parker It's important to teach democracy in U.S. public schools because "schools educate citizenship: (Parker, p. 3). In a democracy, people govern. As Jefferson, believed at the beginning of the United States' founding, the people must be educated. Their education is imperative in continuing with the American way of life. The democratic principles that early Americans established require education of societal norms. These principles are to ensure the survival of a democratic society. In order to thrive as individuals, we must grow as a community. Walter Parker's "Teaching Against Idiocy" cites many examples of how important it is for the community to work in unison at the greater good of society. The greater good is for all people, not just the individual. In order for individuals to succeed they must put in effort and realize their role in the community. Parker blatantly states, "The idiot is one whose self-centeredness undermines his or her citizen identity." Parker is attempting to teach citizens that they must learn to preserve their freedoms. In a democracy where people govern themselves they must understand they will lose their established freedoms if they don't maintain the community. The community secures the desired conditions of its people. The American way of life is in jeopardy if U.S. citizens look only at their material possessions. American must understand that if only they succeed; the larger whole whom are repressed will make necessary changes to achieve their desired success, equality. When a community thrives, each individual will succeed. This is the democratic principle, for the people; it doesn't read for the person. Education itself is a step towards the success of democracy and a democratic society. However, it is an ideal and can fail if its maintenance is not kept up. Progress is taking place at its own pace as is always the case. To progress, new ideas must be understood and worked toward together. "United we stand, divided we fall." Previous ideas continually addressed are racism, ethnocentrism, and nationalistic variety. Whereby, improvements have been seen and continue to be made. This is a result of education. Education is a step at equalizing people. It is a step taken to unify students because they are the future, a team together. What now needs to be addressed is how democracy is being taken for granted by American "idiots" who don't realized the can lose their freedoms. Preservation of freedom is the main reason it is important to educate citizens of the United States. It is necessary for the social good, a democratic community. This culture's norms and social consciousness are preserved by the "essentials", a.k.a. qualities Americans come up with working toward a better way. Hard work at educating and understanding democracy is imperative to living together freely with justice and equality.

Another School Shooting

What a tragedy! Have you heard? In Cleveland, Ohio there was a school shooting at a high school. A 14 year old boy opened fire at teachers and classmates. It's scary to think that these places where students should feel safe can jeopardize their lives. I feel afraid, going into the profession but what scares me most is considering what it will be like to send my children. Obviously, we can't keep our children safe 24/7 but one place where it should be simple is in school buildings. With all the precautions taking place, there is still no guarantee.