Democracy to what extent?

What can be done to encourage active democratic participation within the schools that will motivate students to be more democratically active within larger society?

I think that in order to get students motivated to get involved within larger society they need to be informed and taught how to do so at an earlier age. The earlier we start engaging children in making decisions and thinking for themselves the more will prepared them to do it as adults. As many people say that "practice makes perfect" many times as students get older they are reluctant to try things because they unfamiliar with such as becoming more been politically educated and involved. The only way in which we can do that is by re-structuring our government or representatives and ourselves to focus on the important issues. Lets ensure that the United states is govern by a true democracy that to advocate and protect the rights and interest of all its people instead of that ones that gives the elite and rich all the power to manipulate resources and services to cater their owns needs. Such as that of limiting minotities groups access to quality resources and education.
When Cornell West states in his reading "he believed deeply in the need for democratic intellectuals to exercises powers of persuasion, to take back the public attention from superficial and attention diversions and hold our officials to a higher standard" which i agree with that there' s been several times in which our attention has been diverted from true issues, for that i think that we must first hold ourselves accountable for letting it happen, only then we can address politicians failure to the American people

I don't know what might motivate other students, but what i can tell you that what motivates me to know that i have control and the ability to make my own decisions whether their right or wrong i can only blame or hold myself accountable for those decisions.

Censored Education

In this week class we discuss censorship in school, which has been the only topic that I am undecided or neutral about. Even though I believe that school should have authority to be selective in choosing the subjects, issues and books that are adequate to teach students with, however there also a need of boundaries that determine what they have control over and how much. Reichman quotes "to provide the students with a wide range of educational materials that will enrich and support the curriculum and meet the needs of students and faculty" as he explains the purpose of for the selection policy of course materials. However, If the purpose is to meet the needs of both students and teachers, how come student are not given a choice to decide for themselves. Schools can choose the textbooks and supplemental reading used in the classrooms but should not limit or restrict the accessibility of other types of books to students in school libraries. By censoring the books in the school library, school are limiting students access to quality of education. Many students like myself look forward to leisure or personal reading, because the class reading were very boring and dry. It was rare that we read something we could relate to in school and the very few books that i enjoy i can still remember what they were about and are in my list of favorite books. If students cannot find a variety of books in their school library or public library were they can learn to explore, develop and pursue their own interest. In the article that i link gives us a history of censorship of school materials started of during the 1982 after court case pleaded in favor of parents and students request for the removal of certain books from school libraries which range from anti-Semitic to anti- American. However i think there needs to re-evaluate the method or guidelines in which they choose which books are banned or withdrawn from school libraries. If the withdrawls of these book limits or prevents student from learning or getting full picture or perspectives and necessary information that would help them become a respectful, tolerable and open minded person then there's a problem. If the purpose of censorship is not to protect the young minds of student from exposing them to things that they are not old enough or mature enough to handle and becomes a tool of keeping them uninformed.
http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-9215/library.htm

In need of Assesment reform.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eunEnhgEUfk

or

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8946754056617461770

This week reading and presentation was about student assessment which discusses whether if these test were efficient in measuring or determining how much children learn. In the quote "Standardized assessments give only a snapshot of what a student knows (or does not know) on a given day. This snapshot is not panoramic. It does not give an expansive view of all that a student has achieved" (England, 35) which means that assessments are not a reliable or precise measurement of students learning. Instead of measuring student learning it seems more that it testing student rate of memorization or attention spam. I wonder that if it's because most teacher teach to test or approach of curriculum tend to emphasize that student memorize terms and techniques, instead make sure that these student understand and know how and when to use these terms, techniques or skills. I found two videos that provide us with some ideas on addressing and resolving these problems, which can help us change the ways students are assess. The first video clip is an advertisement commercial about online program that help prepare student for math and science assessments. Even though students can benefit from additional help from these preparation courses or classes, however we not looking to improve or make all the student expert in taking assessment. Some students do need these classes because they suffer from anxiety and panic attacks in every time they take an exam.
The second video clip is about changing assessment into becoming student centered. Both video clips mention about it its necessary that students are provided not only with explanation but also feedback on students performance such as their strength and weakness. However, I liked second one because it talked about student having choices and input on how they are assesed. It describe a different ways of learning which is not based on memorizing facts, and terms. Through the assesment for learning implements in hands on learning, which is express through the idea that students show their understanding of different subjects by teaching and sharing the things they learn with other classmates. The term "hands on learning" seems difficult to understand at first, but i realize that it works when we used it in my HDEV-300 social research class, by connecting or determining how research steps are used in human services. In begining of each class we would define terms and were ask what we understood and learned from each reading. At the end class we pick a chapter from reading and had to develop a creative lesson plan to teach the topic and test what students remember and learned. I think that this a great way of engaging student in their learning which would allow students not only to remember but be able to teach and explain what they learn to others is best way of assesing their learning.

Seeing is Believing

http://news.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=314259

I link this article because it talks about how a community must decide whether to build a new high school or remodel it. Personally i think that by building a new school is more beneficial since it guarantee that there would be no problems at least for some time. Meanwhile renovating or remodeling it would force the community to be prepare to deal with any future problems. Let look at our University we are all aware that Dickinson and Newing community are the oldest dorm room in the University, and that they will be torn down because they need to be updated according to Housing Association. I lived in Dickinson even though its maintain in good condition it has poor heating system. My bed was next heater and used queen size comforter to wrap around me to keep warm during the winter. The University realize that it will be more expensive renovate Dickinson and Newing heating system and built in sprinklers system that's why they have decided to torn them down and rebuilt them. Even though the construction of these two community would limit or decrease the amount student that university admits for some time but it will be benefitial in the long run because it increase the capacity of students in both dorms. In the article we faced a more difficult dilemma the closing of school either temporarily or permanently would leave teachers without a job and students must relocate. I think that transferring them to another the facility would be a better option. For example after September 11 attacks we temporarily shared our high school with nearby affected school. Since my was ten stories high school and there was plenty of space. Our teachers cafeteria was temporary their cafeteria for half a semester and they occupied the empty classroom (excluding sewing, draping, cutting, art and merchandising room) and our second gym. Even though there were little incidents of school rivally but we manage overcome our differences. If they are forced to closed down the School because of inhabitable conditions then board of education can make arrangements to find another facility to relocate the school instead of overcrowding other school by redistributing the students. What do you think the board of education should do close the school and relocate students, transfer the school to another facility while they build another school or renovate the school?

One of the group question was "How do we go about addressing these concerns? I think that the first step is making the problem public just like the students in our video "Saving Our School" did. The video provided us with a vivid view of the conditions in some school, as much as Kozol we enjoy and read the description of the school and classroom in his students in writing assignment, it does not give or create the impact that video does. When you read about the deplorable conditions of school, readers tend to just paint a temporary mental picture that is usually easily forgotten. The last thing we want for people is to ignored or dismissed the problem as if wasn't important. If authors such as Kozol, Anyon or England are raising awareness through their works of literature is a sign of hope and initiative to get us to take action and speak up. The next think we need to develop a committee or advocacy group that focus on creating to set up ways to regulate, set standard ways to check the conditions of school. It should composed of students, teachers, parents and representative from Educational Department to set up policies, rules and regulations for schools to abide to. There no one better that students, teachers and other school professional to know the type and quality of learning environment they need. There should be an assessment of school conditions every six months and the schools or department of education has a year to address or fix any problems discovered. This would prevent from school condition from getting worst to the point that they need to be closed down school just like the Pine Island.