race unsettling topic

http://fish.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/yet-once-more-political-correctness-on-campus/?hp
I like this article because it provides us with insight of how the topics of segregation, race as factor of admission, and multicultural education applies to our college experience. As we talk about Education most of us focuses or usually talk about our schooling experience before college. However, these issues are very present in college campus. We ended class with the idea that multicultural education would ease the effects of segregated schools and to acknowledge and accept our biases. As i read this article I was wondering, how can we go about creating or assuring that children are getting a multicultural education. Multicultural Education should start off in pre-school, the earlier children start learning about different culture, race, gender, and religion the more accepting they will be of others. It would prepare students to be more tolerant, respectful and open minded by the time they get to college. As the author express his concern about the segregated cliques that is seen most colleges, where students mostly hang-out with people of their own race, religion or ethnicity. Which most of us may have witness in our campus. He mention or discusses on how the universities and colleges then to reinforce segregation on campus through the use of race in admissions policy, lack of unity among different cultural organization and courses descriptions. I can see the disunity among organization and have experience the discrepancies in some of the courses offered. I enjoy the fact that in college we have option of taking multicultural classes, even though most students are discourage from taking these classes because are uncomfortable with the idea of being misunderstood, isolated or to be the minority group in class. Most of us tend to just be involve or be part of n environment in which we are comfortable in, but understand that it is not hard or as difficult to be outside our comfort zone. Kerri- Ann made important point that the first step toward becoming more multicultural is to accept and acknowledge all of our biases in order to formed better relationship with of different culture and races. I once registered for a class Russian/cinema class that was supposed to be based on cold War, i ended up dropping the class because the professor (which was Russian)had a lot of side conversation in Russian with few the Russian student in class. the are just certain things that can discourage student from taking certain class, if i had read that Russian would be spoken in that class i would never taken it. It is not because it bother me just wasn't comfortable, but it didn't discourage me from taking other classes that focus on the study of other races, which i enjoy and learned a lot from. Even though i can see how the author sees these courses are politically related such as the Asian studies and Latin American class both talk and dealt with political issues that rise with the in-fluxed of Asian and Latino immigrants. Learning about the different experience of other immigrant groups help me understand the history of politics and economy United States in relationship with race and culture. There a lot of history that is exempt from American history taught in Elementary through High school which would help us understand the diverse backgrounds of most Americans. In what degree would your view be different if you had a multicultural education?

color blind society.......is nonexistent

I found this article which is relevant to the discussion we had in class this past week. Everything in this world revolves around race. I enjoy this class because of the discussions even though we try to be conscious of things we say in order not to offend other. However, regardless whether we mean it, think is not offensive, certain things will or can cause a variety of different reactions in different people. In one of my other classes, during a discussion on disparities in education two students said something that really struck me. One students said that it is fair that students in advance classes get the most experience, qualified teachers and the other one said that even if money was invested in improving the condition in inner city school, the student will vandalize or destroy it right back into the same or worst conditions. As the discussion continue, other student shed some light on the second statement. Student in remedial or regular classes would benefit a lot if their the qualified, experience teacher would be able to teach them efficiently the strategies, skills or the things the need to learn. In response to the other comment is that vandalism exist everywhere, student need and can be accountable for their actions but limiting or cutting funding to improve conditions. It should not be used as a punishment or as an excuse not to address the deplorable or hazardous conditions found in certain schools. Even though i appreciate their honesty but i also realize that because people still have these types of attitudes and views is why discrimination, racism and stereotype will always exist. Race will always be an issues, lets look back to first day of class in which we talked about the history of education. why is it that inequalities in education still exist......because minorities still continue to have very little political power...which its determine by social class which is based on income, education, wealth and occupation. Everything its interrelated that why it seem that we talk about same things every week, however we discuss different angles every week. As i read this article i thought about the different point made by the author about student need of support, feeling comfortable and understood as reason why people tend to form clicks. I see these click formed on campus either in sororities, fraternities, whites and minority groups every time i go to dining halls and in certain classes whether it is something we do consciously or unconscious. In the end i think that we should definitely emphasize and spread of cultural diversity in every aspects of education starting with teacher and ending with curriculum. It is only way in which all student can feel comfortable, supported and understood by teacher, classmates specially those targeted or isolated due to racial, ethnic, or cultural diversity.

http://www.independent.com/news/2007/oct/19/color-blind-education/

Politicians hopes or plans for change?

I was thinking about one of the question that the presenters posed to the class, "If you are passionate about learning, and know that you could do? well you will make yourself do well. I don't know whether to agree or disagree. I mean i have experience both in my life. My parents always encourage me and had high expectations but things weren't always easy. During first few years in school after I arrived from Honduras, i was hard adjusting to the culture, weather,... to make list short, everything. Language was even harder, my parent spoke barely spoke English and worked long hours, weren't able to help to make the transition easier. I thought that i was very slow learner because in less than a year my sister was speaking and dominating the English language. Even though it took time, i knew how important it was to learn English. My parents were so concern with difficulties i was having that they banned my sister and I from watching any Spanish channels. Even though there's many people that don't because of lack of passion or interest. I could just imagine, the troubles that others people go through not being able to communicate with others. There has been plenty of times that i would translate for someone, help them fill out application or write a letter in English. The language barrier it's such an conflicting thing, If i become a teacher i now the value and the great need for bilingual teachers. My point is that, I think that at everyone at some point begins to questioned of their capabilities, everything then relies whether you can bounce out that state. Some of us have the ability to continues as if nothing happen others can't.

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/a-look-at-the-education-proposals-of-the/n20071003181609990011

I have attach an article, i liked it because it's good to know about the view or future plans of political leaders on education. Even though i am don't follow, know much about politics but i think is important to know what their views are in education, health care, immigration and other issues. They may not always keep their promises but i least have an idea of what things to expect. Even tough i went to vocational school In this article the author addresses teacher, salary, vocational training and need for after school programs . Even tough there are benefits from attending a vocational school, in terms of learning other skills. However, there needs to be a balance, which i was lucky to have in my high school. Even though i major in fashion design and I learned to sew, drawing, draping, pattern-making etc most of the student end up pursuing other careers. The school did not target teaching skill to prepare students to work at factory or become dressmaker. Fashion world is a very competitive field and in order to be successful you need to very talented or money to launch your business. I enjoy drawing but sewing wasn't my thing but i was passionate enough to learn. I value my academic classes as, much as my major. In this article it seems that the focus on vocational training for working class children to teach them skill to prepare them for workforce as if there no hope for any accomplishes. How do we eliminate such misconceptions of vocational schools? Is there a balance to learn a trade, or skills just for personal satisfaction and not as a label of remedial learning.