Talking # 6

Jeannie Oakes, Tracking: Why Schools Need to Take Another Route

Premise

• education
• classroom
• privilege
• tracking
• high ability
• low ability
• stereotype
• opportunities

Argument

Oakes argues that "Children who are placed in lower level classrooms; do not have equal opportunity to children that are in a higher level classroom"

Evidence

1. Students who are placed in high-ability groups have access to far richer schooling experiences than other students.
2. No wonder we find "rich get richer and poor get poorer" patterns of outcomes from tracking.
3. The fact that students are tracked seems less important than that they have the other instructional advantages that seem to come along with classes that are highly able.

Comments

I really liked this article; it was easy for me to read. The author did a good job putting her ideas together and clear. I do not agree on labeling kids at all, but I believe if a child needs the help then it should be from someone that knows what they are doing.

Talking Points # 5

Kahne and Westheimer, "In The ServiceOf What"? The Politics of Service Learning



Premise

• Service Learning


• Education


• Teachers


• Students


• Community


• Support


• Carring


• Helping


• Politics
• opportunity
• Giving Back

Authors Argument

Khane and Westhem argue that Service Learning is an importnt aspect for children. It should be done in all schools, kids will benefit from it. It can help children less fortunate, and that have low self esteem about their learning abilities.

Evidence

1. The ability of a service learning curriculum to foster aythentic, experience-based learning opportunities , to motivate students, to help students engage in higher-order thinking in contextually varied enviorments, and promote interdisciplinary studies.
2. By finding and engaging in community service activities, Mr Johnson explained, students would interact with those less fortunate than themselves and woud experience the excitement and joy of learning while using the community as a classroom
3. Efforts to intergrate service learning activities into curriculum have great potential, it has political dimensions

Comments

It was a bit hard for me to read this handout, because it was alot of information to take. Though it was alot I liked the points, that children should have the opportunity to experience service learning. I love my service learning eexperiene; I feel that i am helping a child in need and helping them gain knowledge.

Talking Points # 4

Linda Christensen, Unlearning The Myths That Blind Us.

Premise

• Society
• Stereotype
• Cartoons
• Images
• Racism
• Sexist
• Myths

Authors Argument

Christensen argues society needs to pay attention to what we watch on TV, especially children it manipulates children by putting stereotypical characters on TV

Evidence

• Our society's culture industry colonizes their minds and taeches them how to act, live and dream
• Children's cartoons, movies and literature are perhaps the most influential genre

Comments

This article was very eye opening. Now that I look back at the cartoons I've watched as a child, it's true there was never a black cinderella or any people of color as the leading character. Christensen did a god job pointing everything out . I liked the way she experimented with her students watching cartoons, It was a good idea. She just wanted us as society to pay attention to what we watch.