Final Blog

Social Justice
How is there going to be Peace when there is no Justice? -Cliff Richards

Social justice is one of the most important things that a child learns while they are in school. It doesn’t help them pass tests or get them a better grade, but it does make them a better person and teach them how to treat other people. Children act the way they do because of the way they were raised and because of the way their parents behave. If schools don’t begin teaching children about tolerance and acceptance of different types of people then they could grow up with hatred and biases. In today’s schools and classrooms many of the students and teachers are diverse and need to be able to work together to reach a positive outcome. There are many different races, religions, and languages being brought into the school systems and work places and children need to be taught that it is something they are going to have to deal with now and especially in their future. Racism and intolerance is not accepted or well received in schools or in the work place. Children cannot grow up and be successful if they don’t know how to work with other people.
A great way to teach children about other people and their beliefs is to have them work together and form bonds and friendships at an early age. In a school setting teachers can have their students do group projects or work together and help one another on an assignment. Teachers could group students together that share differences and don’t know one another very well. By doing this the students might not feel as intimidated or nervous about talking to the other person. After working with them they might realize that he or she is just another person and that they really aren’t as different as they thought. They may even realize that all of the things they might have been taught about people who are different by their parents or friends are untrue and unfounded.
Another way that teachers can inform their students about how people aren’t really that different is to educate them about all types of races and religions. The upcoming holidays can be used as a great tool to educate children about what different people do around this time of year. Teachers can explain that a lot of people have different ways to celebrate the holidays and maybe have the students share what they do. In an interview I had with the teacher of the classroom I was observing we talked about this very subject. “During the holidays the children are obviously excited for the whole month of December. About a week after they get back from Thanksgiving break we start doing holiday activities and I make sure to not leave anyone out. Each week we spend a short amount of time learning about a different way of celebrating the holiday season and don’t just focus on one.” I thought that this was a great idea and incorporated social justice into the classroom nicely. It let the students explore the different ways that people enjoy the holiday season and that their way is not the only one. They could do activities like read books, color pictures, tell stories, or do a project on a celebration that is not their own so they can learn more about it.
Overall I feel that social justice is an incredibly important subject that must be taught in schools. Not only does it create a person that doesn’t hate people because of who they are, but it also creates a teacher that can educate their friends and family with their new knowledge about how people really aren’t that different on the inside.

Model of Education



"Education is like a double-edged sword. It may be turned to dangerous uses if it is not properly handled." - Wu Ting-Fang

After reading this quote I realized that this is exactly what I think of education only put into better words. Of course education is meant to help children and give them enough information, motivation, and knowledge about the world so they can succeed and live successful lives, although it doesn’t always turn out that way. Education and learning is never going to hurt a student but the person teaching it and the methods they use can. If a student is taught material that is too hard for them and do not receive help they could lose motivation and self worth. They may begin to believe that they are stupid and stop trying or even worse they could drop out of school. Education and teaching is a very delicate thing and the students need to be handled with care. The teachers need to try their best to make sure that they are doing their best to assist their students and guide them as they learn. A teacher cannot simply throw information at their students and expect them to learn. Teachers need to explore what teaching method is best for her students and think of ways to switch up her lesson plans. Teachers need to be able to teach using all different types of methods and not limit herself and her students to just one. It is not productive to expect students to adapt to a teachers way of teaching because it just doesn’t work like that. If a teacher is just blurting out information students aren’t going to realize that they have to change how they learn because what happens is that they just stop listening and fall behind because they’re not being engaged in the learning process.
Education can be a wonderful and empowering thing when it is taught properly and when teachers think highly of their students and vice versa. There needs to be respect and consideration for one another in the classroom so that the teachers continue to want to teach and the students still crave knowledge.


Education is not only meant to make sure that its students succeed in life but to also make sure that they are happy. Many teachers would rather see their former students making less money and happy than rich and miserable. Teachers strive to make sure that their students do their best with the knowledge they have obtained and want to see them happy and well. I feel that is a teacher educates her students well then in the end the student will grow up knowing who they are, what they believe, and what they can accomplish.

"An educational system isn't worth a great deal if it teaches young people how to make a living but doesn't teach them how to make a life." - Source Unknown


No Recess


In today’s school systems up to 90% say that they have up to one recess per day where students get to play outside or indoors to get a break from their constant school work. Although ever since 1989 studies have shown that recess is getting shorter and less common in schools. The main reason for getting rid of recess is the need for more instructional time in the school day. Many schools are feeling pressured to be the best and make sure that their students are the smartest and do well on the standardized tests. Many teachers claim that recess disrupts the students learning and causes them to become distracted throughout the school day and not do as well on tests. But these results are not correct and studies show that students have recess or a break in their routine often do better on exams and pay more attention in class.
After conducting more than 200 studies it is clear that students who are allowed to have recess are more attentive while in class, less fidgety, retain information better, have better attitudes, and increased fitness. This is because throughout the day the brain needs time to recycle chemicals that are key factors in long term memory use. So if recess does not occur then students may be answering questions and doing worksheets one day but they may not remember any of the material the next. Students who had recess also had better skills with social interaction. For some students recess may be the only time during the day that they get to socially interact with their peers. If they sit at their desks all day and just do busy work then go home and do their homework, watch television, and play video games like many children do then they won’t be getting much interaction with their friend or peers. Recess is an important part of a child’s social development and should be included in their day. Recess can also help teachers discover which of the students are bullies and what ones are being picked on. They can also see if any of their students are isolated and not talking to others. Teachers can fix these qualities in students that they may have not noticed they had before. While sitting in a classroom teachers don’t get the full personality of the students they’re working with but during recess they can really see what the child is like.
Recess can also have an effect on a child’s health. A child is not supposed to be stationary for the entire day they need to be active and moving throughout the day to use up all their energy and burn calories. With obesity rising in small children action needs to be taken and I think recess is a great way to do that. Many teachers and parents think that P.E classes can overtake recess and be just as productive but studies have shown that this is wrong. Research shows that unstructured and unplanned playing stimulates that mind and body more than P.E where they are told what to play and how to play it. With recess many students have to work out games that they are going to play and come up with rules. There is much more unplanned running and jumping and playing which stimulates not only their body but also gets their mind much more involved with what they are doing.
Overall I can’t see any school getting rid of recess after all this research has been done. It is clear that recess doesn’t only help a child’s body stay in shape but also keeps their mind going and helps them pay attention when they get back to class. Students who are allowed to have recess tend to listen better in class, get better test scores, be more socially interactive, and be better fit than those who are forced to sit at a desk all day. I don’t see how any school system could think that getting rid of recess would benefit their schools reputation or it’s students.
Interview on Social Justice


In the interview I conducted I focused on the issue of there being a decreasing amount of recess with this classroom. I interviewed the teacher of the classroom I was observing mainly because I remembered how during her lessons she would always be looking at the clock and rushing as it got closer to recess. She always had to move quickly to make sure the students got to recess and would often complain about how there wasn’t enough time in the day. We talked about how she thought that recess was excellent for the student’s development but couldn’t always fit it into her schedule.
• How often does your class have recess?
o Once a day most of the time but sometimes I can’t fit it into the schedule and we don’t have it or it gets shortened.
• How often does that happen?
o Oh not too often maybe once every two weeks.
• Why do you think that a lot of schools are eliminating recess out of the school days?
o Definitely because of the pressure of standardized testing and all the new material we’re expected to teach. The school system expects us to teach everything and still have time for recess. We’re lucky if we have a minute in between each activity to breathe and move on to the next topic. There just isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done.
• Do you think it’s beneficial for the students learning to cut recess out of their day so they can have more instructional time?
o Absolutely not. I think that children should have time to be children for at least ten or fifteen minutes out of their day and get up out of their seats and run around and play. I think it’s good for them and their learning. A teacher can’t expect an eight or nine year old to sit and listen all day and not start to fidget or not pay attention. It’s just not realistic so children need recess.

Works Cited
"Education Quotes." ETNI. English Teachers Network, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2009.
Jarrett, and Olga S. . "Recess in Elementary School: What Does the Research Say? ERIC Digest.." ERICDigests.Org - Providing full-text access to ERIC Digests. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2009. .

Moncur, Michael. "Quote Details: Wu Ting-Fang: Education is like a... - The Quotations Page." The Quotations Page - Your Source for Famous Quotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2009.
Richards, Cliff. " Quotes about Social justice." Gaia Community — An Online Gathering of Environmentally and Spiritually Conscious People. Gaiam Inc., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2009.

Home Schooling

I picked this topic because I've always been interested in home schooling because I'm always curious about whether it helps or hinders a child’s learning and emotional growth. But what exactly is home schooling and what are its advantages and disadvantages?

What is home schooling?

Home schooling is when a child is taught in their home either by their parents or a tutor. This way the parents have control over what their child is doing, what they are learning, and what method they are being taught with. By having the child home they don't have to worry about toxic public school environments that may hinder their child's learning.

Advantages of home schooling

Some of the advantages of home schooling are that the student and the parents have educational freedom and don't have to follow the same curriculum that they have in public schools. They also have physical freedom because they are not confined to a desk all day with only a ten minute recess break. Home schooled kids can get up and run around and stretch. Another benefit is that they don't have to be subjected to bad influences that are found throughout public schools. Home schooled students also have closer family ties because they are being taught by their parents and are spending time with them all day instead of with a teacher they don't know and might not like.

Disadvantages of home schooling

There are also disadvantages of home schooling as well like financial problems the parents might face because one of them will have to become a stay at home mom or dad. Along with those issues there is no doubt about it that a child doesn't want to be with their parents all day long and they're going to want to interact with other people. But because they aren't at school with their peers they will be unable to do so. I believe that social interaction is a key part in a child development and helps them learn how to act in society and what the norms are. With no experience they won't know what to expect when they go to college or get a first job.

My thoughts
I'm not crazy about the idea of home schooling because I think it hiders a child’s growth emotionally and socially. I don't think that a child should be with their parents 24/7 and should get out there and make friends or join a sports team or club. Home schooled kids can't do this type of stuff easily and can have trouble relating to society. This isn't about all home schooled kids because it obviously works for some people. As for me I would never dream of wanting to be home schooled or home schooling my children.


http://school.familyeducation.com/home-schooling/parenting/29861.html?page=2&detoured=1

Environmental Justice

Environmental Justice is...

"The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.” This means that everybody is protected from any environmental harm that may occur to the people of a town or state. It also means that the people of that area must act to prevent that harm from occurring. No matter what their race, gender, or income is they are responsible for keeping the environment clean and in one piece.




Should environmental justice be taught?
I believe that environmental justice should be taught in school systems because if the students grow up knowing that they must protect and take care of the environment then they will later be adults who realize that and can change things. Then they will have children who they teach to care about the environment and soon they won't have to teach it in schools. Although I don't believe that schools should be fanatic about teaching this I think that this would be a good thing for parents to teach their children. I feel that that would have more of an affect because they could go out into the woods or on a hike or something else that a school couldn't do. I feel that in order to appreciate the environment one has to realize that it's in danger and that it might not be there forever. It would be nice for teachers to teach environmental justice in school or maybe just touch upon the subject and let the parents do the rest.

I like the picture I chose of the little girl in the leaves because I feel that children should be able to appreciate nature and enjoy it to the fullest while learning about it at the same time. I think that in order to want to protect the environment and preserve it for years to come children need to learn to love it while they're little so they can help it when they get older.




http://www.mde.state.md.us/index.asp

Social Justice

Would You Teach For Social Justice?
I have always thought about how to teach social justice in a school setting because I was always taught about it when I was in school. Ever since elementary school I remember talking about topics that had to do with social justice. I believe that if people really want to change the way our society treats certain groups of people teachers have to educate their students about these issues. It has to start early so that children learn to treat everyone with the same amount of respect. In the article Introduction: Creating Classrooms for Equity and Social Justice the author states "Classrooms can be places of hope, where students and teachers gain glimpses of the kind of society we could live in and where students learn the academic and critical skills needed to make it a reality." I think that the author means that everyone has to start evaluating what kind of world they want themselves and their children to live in. People need to realize that they can change the world and the way that people think. They just have to educate people and make them more aware and always teach children about social justice whether it be at home or school because they are the future and they decide what is going to happen in years to come.
I'm not quite sure about how social justice is taught in schools. I know that in mine we had assemblies and class discussions but it is different in every school. Some schools have different requirements and study for tests more and worry only about academics. In other schools there may be students with parents who do not approve of teachers talking about social justice. So I feel that how it is taught if at all depends on the school district, grade level, teacher, and students.



http://www.rethinkingschools.org/publication/roc1/Intro.pdf

Educational Philosopher

I chose Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi for the educational philosopher that I identify the most with. He was a Swiss educational philosopher and believed that children should not be lectured in the classroom. He believed that they should be able to explore and experiment in order to gain knowledge. He also thought that children should not be given an answer to a question right away and should be able to come to the right conclusion by themselves. By doing this he is giving the students more contol of the classroom which leads them to feel more comfortable in school and in charge of their learning. With this method of teaching a student is never talked down to or treated like they are stupid. By teaching this way you are giving the students control by letting them do hands on activities and not just lecturing to them all day. I also feel that this method of teaching engages the students in the lesson a lot more than a lecture would. Students tend to doze off and day dream during lectures but when they are doing hands on activities with their classmates while the tacher is guiding them they actually get interested in what they are learning and don't just memerize it for a test. I feel that this method of teaching is the best for students because children should be active and take part in their own learning and not just sit back and listen to the teacher spout out information until the school day is over because that's not what learning is supposed to be about.

http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/2319/Pestalozzi-Johann-1746-1827.html

Pros and Cons of Inclusion of Deaf Students

The reason I picked this topic is because my younger brother is deaf and he struggled all throughout school to learn and keep his grades up. He was in regular classrooms with all of his friends and went to learning centers during certain parts of the day for help on his work and speech. I always wondered what would be the better choice of schooling for deaf students. Do they do better in public schools in inclusion or would they do better at a school specifically designed for the deaf like the one in my hometown of Beverly? I found some of the pros and cons of inclusion for deaf students and each of the sides have convincing arguments.
The pros of a deaf student learning in a regular classroom would be that they interact with hearing students that are their own age. They aren’t just being kept with other deaf students like they have to be separated from the world. They can make friends with someone different from them and vice versa for the hearing student. I think that that opens up a lot of opportunities for making friends and meeting different people. My brother is a prime example of this because he has all hearing friends and only knows a few deaf people who were in his learning center with him. He was able to get past the differences and so were the hearing people so there is no need for students to be isolated in their own school. Another pro is that deaf students can get access to a large amount of programs offered at public schools. They can go into learning centers, resource rooms, have an aide come into the classroom with them, get a translator, and get so much extra help outside of the classroom if there is something they don't understand. They receive so much extra help and support in public schools and I think it's amazing. Of course at a school for the deaf they would receive the same care but to be able to get that at a public school that is close to home must be wonderful. I know that my brother would never want to go away from home for that type of care and I would imagine there are other children who wouldn't want to either. So for him to be able to get such exceptional care at a public school is very comforting.
Although there are some cons to a deaf child being in and inclusive environment also. One of them is the risk of isolation. There is always the chance that
and after going over them I think that with proper care and a well trained staff a deaf student can do just as well if not better than students at a school for the deaf. I think that there is always the risk that children won't talk to someone else if they are different that everyone else. A deaf student may not be talked to or well liked. They may have a hard time making friends and getting to know people in a public school. Another con is that public schools may not have a qualified and well trained staff to support and teach deaf students. The student may even end up doing worse and not benefiting from their help at all. And the last con is that a deaf student doesn't normally get direct direction. They often get instruction from a translator, lip reading, or something written on the board which may be missing this. The student may not be getting the whole instruction or lecture and could be missing out on important key point in the class.
After looking at the pros and cons of an inclusive classroom for deaf students I have to agree that an inclusive environment can work well for a deaf student. I feel that as long as the student is motivated, has a good support system, and understanding well trained teachers they should be able to thrive in the public school system.

http://sped.wikidot.com/the-benefits-and-risks-of-inclusion-for-deaf-students

Home Schooling vs. Public Schooling

I wanted to look at what the difference is between home schooling and public schooling and if one is better than the other. One reason public schools are so widely attended is because it's free and convenient. The parents don't have to pay for all the supplies except for a few folders and notebooks here and there but everything else is free. They don't have to pay for the text books, chalkboards, computers, programs, markers, and all the supplies for art, music, and gym. And there are no enrollment fees like there are in private schools. Also one parent doesn't have to stay home to teach their child. They are able to go to work and provide for their family. Another reason that public schools are good for students is because they get to meet a wide variety of people who have all kinds of different backgrounds. They probably wouldn't get to meet these people while being taught in their home. It could open them up to a lot of new things like hobbies, sports, and interests. A down side to Public schooling is that violence is much more common and children are more likely to be in danger in a public school than they would be at home with their parents. Also dropout rates are higher in public schools although it depends what school they attend because all public schools and areas have different dropout rates.
In a homeschooling environment the parents have control over what their child is taught and with what method of teaching. They can also add religious aspects to the teaching if that is a priority to them. By teaching their own child fist hand the parents will know when they are having difficulty in an area while a teacher at a public school may not. Students in public schools often get a minimal amount of attention from their teachers because they are 1 of 20 or 30 students. But in home schooling it is 1 on 1 and the student is the top priority. The only thing about home schooling is that I feel the child is missing out on working on their social skills. Children need to learn how to work in groups and use teamwork. When they are just working with their mother or father they are not getting that same experience that is provided in public schools.
Overall both methods of schooling offers both pros and cons although I tend to lean towards the public schooling because I feel that it offers more real life experience that can be used out in the real world. If a student is being sheltered at home they are missing out on a lot of wonderful and sometimes horrible things that I call learning experiences that can help them when they get older.

http://www.educationalgateway.com/advantages-disadvantages-public-school