Connect 10: Statistics vs Major

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For this connect 10, I wanted to highlight how this research had a moment where one of the statistics made me have an emotional connection. In my personal life, I have been having a hard time with my major. The more I shadow teachers and other educational specialist, I fell that I want to make more of a difference. When assigned this topic, I really wanted to find a way to not only push me out of my comfort zone in researching, but I wanted to explore all the issues of the educational system and find a passion. After reading that initial article, I thought I was going to focus my paper on how the schools are being funded differently and why that was wrong. As I was attempting to further my research, I came across three statistics that depicted an interesting common thread to how funding was different and why. This reoccurring theme was special education. As hard I have been trying to disconnect myself from it, deep down, my passion has always been to help special education students. Each time I am out in public and I see a child who is has a physical, emotional or learning disability; I can’t help but give the family and child a hug and tell them how wonderful I think they are. After reading how the statistic suggest that there is a growing rate of special education students up north, where my family is moving this summer, I instantly knew that God was calling me to add on a major that would further satisfy my passion in life. More importantly, this new self discovery provided a motivation for my deeper reading and researching for this particular assignment. One thing I have learned about myself is that reading is like pulling teeth. I don’t want to do and I will use every excuse to try to talk myself out of doing it. After having this moment of emotional connection, I realized that I had been looking up articles and other statistics until 1:30 in the morning. In my educational experience, I have never had an assignment that seemed so easy to read and research things about. Overall, I think this learning and connecting moment was not only beneficial to my paper, but to my decision on what I want to do with my life.


Discussion Form: Still Segregated?

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I am asking about segregation in the education system today. I really wanted to hear the classes opinions about this because I only truly understand one side of the argument; the white population. In addition, I had never thought about the other issues of which Kozol talked about. The differences in school structures, resources and teacher efforts. I began to try to make connections through my moms school and where I went to school, but I feel like input on an outside school district would be more beneficial.


Weekly Artifact: Phi Mu = Labor Union

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I had a hard time thinking about a moment this week in which I had made a connection. After spending some time writing my list of things that have happened this week, and doing some studying for my history midterm, I discovered that I drew a connection without my realization. In history class, we were talking about the different labor unions that were created during the time of industrialization. More importantly, they were very selective and secretive about the people and things of which they discussed. Without consciously realizing what I was writing I wrote “Phi Mu Rituals” in my history notes. We are currently preparing for rush and there are so many things of which we, as a sorority, keep under-wraps and private. While I don’t know why labor unions who petitioned things made me think of Phi Mu, I know that I drew a connection between my personal life to an event in history.


Connect 10: Back at it again with Education

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As much as I enjoyed reading about the money and success, I think I wanted to change my myth/topic back to my favorite thing to write about; Education.

Still separate, still unequal- This article was the first one that caught my attention. As I read the quotation underneath the title in the table of contents, I immediately was able to draw a connection. I was blessed to go to a very well off public high school. In fact, we were known through out the district as Cy Rich. With this being said, my mom works as an assistant principal within the same school district. During my junior year of high school, my mom received a new position within the district at a title one school. When I went there for the first time, I was surprised as to how different it looked compared to the schools I had personally attended. I think it was at this moment that I realized that even though Cypress Fairbanks claims to be an equal opportunity school district, there are some schools that are more advanced than others.

I just wanna be average- I was taken aback by this title when I first read it. I always viewed myself and peers as wanting to better ourselves through our education. If we didn’t, why were we paying all this money and being away from our families? As I read the quote from the article underneath the title, I was shocked as to how relatable this article was. It talked about how they were just set on a track and there was extreme emphasis on the bottom level. I was really intrigued by this because I want to know more about what this author has to say. I have always viewed education as a positive, not a negative.




Weekly Artifact: NEVER LOFT YOUR BED ALONE

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As soon as we were given this particular assignment, I knew exactly what I was going to write about for this week. I was doing my daily stocking on Facebook last night and came across an article on “10 ways you change while at college your freshman year”. Of course my curious mind overtook my body and I clicked on the link. I was so humored by the things the author suggested. In fact, I could instantly give you an example to correspond with each of the 10 points that were made. For instance, one of the points was about how you learn to be spontaneous, because you have the absence of your mother telling you its probably not a good idea. The irony of that is that just yesterday, I had the smart idea to loft my dorm bed, just because I was tired of how my room was arranged. With the help of my $2 rubber mallet purchase at Walmart, I was able to complete take a part my bed with only one bruised knee. I looked at my bed, which was in three pieces, and realized that I could not lift the bed, on my own, above my head. At this moment, I realized I had made a huge mistake. So what did I do, sit on the floor with my bed in pieces and just sob on the phone with my mom. While she found it humorous, I was concerned that I wouldn’t have a place to sleep and was convinced that I needed to come home. After I had the stable reasoning and advice from my mom on FaceTime, I was able to loft my bed. Still to this moment I don’t understand why I made such a spontaneous decision. Why I thought I could take apart and reassemble a bed is beyond me, but nonetheless I did it.

The reason I thought to include this example was because with something as simple as a Facebook post and a stupid idea/action, I was able to draw a connection. Even further, I was drawing these connections without even realizing it. I think that this was an important learning moment for me, because I always feel that a weakness in my writing is drawing connections between two articles. I have a new perspective in the sense that I have learned how to be more aware of the times I draw connections.


Discussion Form: Media vs Society

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I am asking the question “How do you think the media is portraying society?” As I continue to read my article from the book and watch the television show that corresponds with the article, I began to realize how much the media is shaping our view of society. As I being to truly think about this idea, I have discovered how truthful that is. So much of our media today is exaggerated and far from the truth most of the times. But why do we continue to support that?


Discussion Form: Money or Success?

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As I was reading through the articles associated with the myth “Money and Success”, I found a common theme. Each of these texts, directly or indirectly, suggested that money brings people happiness. Even more eye opening, I say the pattern of those who do not have money and are in observation of those who do, tend to be depressed or wishing they had more. I think this is alarming, because this shows what America is turning into. The citizens are becoming greedy, selfish, not willing to find happiness in the joys that life has to offer. They become consumed with their jobs, in order to make more money, that they turn their attention away from their family and friends. The thought that constantly crossed my mind was “How can they call this happiness?”.

Moments thought through out the discussion:
-If money buys happiness, then that means a lot of working…would you trade your family time to work longer hours?
– It is not our place to judge people wether they are gay or not.
-Educators have their hands tied at times, so it is not always the teachers fault. (District tells them what they must teach)