Class+03+-+Feb+9

=** Class 3 **= **Class Notes**:

-This quote means that one poor person from each district in Virginia (there are 20 districts) will be brought into grammar school without having to have to pay for tuition.
 * Thomas Jefferson- ** Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge, “By this means twenty of the best geniuses will be ranked from the rubbish annually, and be instructed, at the public expense”.

--> When he says "at the public expense", he seems to not include himself in that

-Jefferson put forth the idea that education should allow for people of different backgrounds to become successful (power and acknowledging differences). -Advocates for censorship of political texts at University of Virginia. Some of the political texts included the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence. In some ways censorship did work.

Horace Mann- ** advocates for the instilling of a common political creed in all students to reduce or prevent radicalism. He wants to fix society and fix the schools, teaching children to be model citizens. -He becomes the Secretary of the Mass Board of Education in 1837 -He establishes **normal** and **common** schools. Common schools are referring to elementary schools that follow a specific curriculum.
 * 

--> By saying something is "normal", you give it a lot of power because that's what everyone wants to go for.

"What's a normal school?" - CCSU is one, they're teacher training schools Francis Bellamy **- Socialist, wrote the “Pledge of Allegiance” in 1837. He includes the word “equality”, but the state superintendent rejects it because they oppose education for women or African Americans. -“Under God” was added as a way to deny communism in 1954. Conservatives said that if you can say, "Under G-d", then you can't be communist. -Today according to Spring- sports teams help schools to build spirit and consequently prepare students for military service.
 * 

--> True because in sports you still have a coach and team captains. Even though they have to work together, each player is significant to the whole. -->This is scary to think about, if children knew this then sports would not be as fun for them anymore, but instead a way of preparing you for the military. Yesterday and Today ** Age of Reform 1820s-1860s Industrialization and urbanization 1880s-1930s WW II 1940s-1950s Reform 1960s-1970s Standardization and accountability 1980s-2000s
 * 

What is next? From say, 2010 to 2040?

--> Probably technology...but is this what SHOULD be next?

What does this history that we've discussed mean? -There HAVE been some changes, so we can't say that we're not headed anywhere, but is it where we SHOULD be headed?

The class came to the conclusion that students are not doing better in school: Parents $$$- reshaping of a society
 * School <-- Home <-- Social Economics** (This is where the money needs to be going in order to reach the other two)

We can only control the way we teach.

(Allie French) (Katya Lagun)

**Clarifications for the class notes this week**: I thought you all might enjoy this. David Zirin was interviewed on Friday on Democracy Now Radio about the militarization of football. http://www.democracynow.org/2010/2/5/dave_zirin_on_super_bowl_fever (Dr. Love)

**Clarifications, points, and questions work pursuing for future weeks (Extend the discussion from this week's class):**

Before closely examining these political/educational leaders in our class discussion, I think that I viewed them all with a very conservative lense. I think that in order to understand where education is going it is just as important to know where it came from and why things are the way that they are. This is the most effective way to create change; to truly know and understand the educational system and the hierarchy that exists within it. I would like to think that as teachers we can create this change ourselves and make better schools for our students. To an extent we can but the problem lies in our economy. Like we said in class, it is a viscious cycle that needs to be broken in order for our children to be successful. I am sure we can all agree that it is very frustrating that everything comes down to money but at least once we accept and acknowledge this maybe we can use this to our advantage and help the money get to where it needs to be most. I don't know why I am always shocked when I hear that when people are being bailed out or there is some money going around that is being made available to the public, that it always goes into the hands of those who need it the least. I just hope that as our understanding of the economy and educational foundations grows we can begin to rebuild our schools. (Sarah Rousseau)

I actually remember talking about the football-military debate in my EDTE class last year; we discussed how football was created around military preparation. My teacher brought up similar terminology used in the military and also football: trenches, bomb, territory, etc. and how you develop plays to successfully intrude your opponents end zone. It is weird that the military and football do have a connection. I also remember in high school when recruiters came, my dad is the head coach at my high school, and a Marine told my dad that they specifically recruit football players. I was like wow... I know all athletes build character and become driven through their involvement in athletics, but is there more than that behind football? (Jessica Roberts)

It’s kind of funny actually to hear military and football used together in one sentence. But from me playing football here at CCSU for 4 years on the offensive side, even though my offensive coordinator was a really religious man and he often spoke to the offense about how football was like a war. He would ask the offensive group as a whole to look at one another and then to think about one question. When the war begins and you’re in the trenches, who do you want to be in your foxhole with you? And I would look around some more and then think of not the most talented players, but the players that worked hard day in and day out and the players that would not turn their backs and flee from the enemy that was approaching in desperate times, the players that would put their body on the line that would sacrifice themselves for someone else to succeed on the same side. And out of those 30 some odd players, I could truly only find a handful of guys that I knew I would want to be with me in that foxhole preparing for battle as the enemy knocked on the door steps. When you play a sport like football you build commrodery (couldn’t find the right spelling for this word lol) like you would in the military. You build friendships and get to know many people. But when that is all said and done, you only come out with a handful of people you count on and trust to be there for you in pressure situations and involve giving up something for someone else. Greg Grochowski

I feel that a lot of changes in the education system (like most things) need money. In order for equal opportunity the families would need to have about equal income. A lot of support is from home and family, and from the resources they can supply. It isnt just being able to provide books and have a computer at home, but also being able to have time and food. It is a vicious cycle where the rich just keep getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, and any advancement in the education system just does not seem to be helping. I also think it is weird to think of sports as a preparation for military. Yes they share similar ideas of order, listening, hierarchy, team work, and what Jessica mentions, having similar terminology, but I just cant see sports being related to military. Most high school students are playing sports for fun, that it is something they like to do, they arent viewing it as military. I think back to my graduating class in high school and i believe about 3 to 4 guys went into ROTC and the military... only one of which played a sport in high school. (Kristie Fergusson ... by the way how do I change it so its not green? I am not that great with these things and am not sure how it happened) Click on the little "T" with the color wheel on the tool bar. Choose the color that you want. (Dr. Love)

I agree with Kristie that it is a vicious cycle but I think its not only because the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer but the smart are able to get smarter, and the average students or below average students either stay the same or fall behind along the way. With so many issues involving money affect the learners it is easier for the students who are wealthier or financially stable to go to a better college and to focus on school. Where as those who are not financially stable have to worry about how they are going to afford college, or how they are going to feed themselves and their family that they spend less time on homework than they do on life problems. I think ultimately it just keeps circling around the problem, unless everyone in the country received the same salaries and had the same problems theirs always going to be this issue. (Emily Hungerford)

I thought the whole idea behind a common school and a normal school was a little confusing. Normal schools come with power, so does this suggest that power only lies within normal schools rather than common schools as well? Also, what extent of power does this refer to? Regardless of what kind of school we are talking about, where the school is located, whether or not this school is known as a "failing" school, and so on, I think all schools need to have the same opportunites and resources to fall back on, especially those who need it more than others. For example, private schools or schools located within a wealthy neighborhood versus schools that we read about in Krozol that are in NYC. This theory is obviously better said than done but that is where it is so disappointing and unjustifiable; there are no real reasons to overlook these serious issues, other than it being easier for those in power to simply turn their heads rather than work with the problem to try and find a solution. As far as what Spring suggested about sports being connected with the military, I can't really see this besides for the similar traits that one might develop, like Kristie mentions above. I think connecting sports with the military simply will detract players from loving the game for the game. Sports shouldn't have to be thought of as something so extreme, especially because many people's main reason for playing a sport is because they love it and are good at it, not because they are preparing themselves for the military. (Mandy Lucente)

I agree with Sarah. I want to see an immediate change, or I want a quick fix to the issues in the educational system. But I am now understanding the importance of learning and knowing how education began and why the changes occurred and when. I am understanding that even in schools that have the money and resources sometimes real learning isn’t taking place, because the children are bored, or looking for an easy way out (maybe taking over a family business or company). All of this is leading up to, why we as future teachers need to make a difference in our classrooms with each child that we teach. To try and spark some change or motivation, support, or acknowledgment. Now to the military aspect that we talked about in class, and I recruited for the military. I can see Spring’s point, and I can see many comparisons. We mentioned in class and even in this discussion : team work, leaders/hierarchy, having a coach is like having a commanding officer. But I can also see that some players in sports, join the school team in order to get a scholarship into college, or aid…well I have never been in the military, but my boyfriend and many of our friends have, and one of the reasons they enlisted was when they got out they were going to get their degree and have the GI bill to support them. Either way, both playing a sport or joining a branch in the military, is something that a person can be proud of and supports the character of a person: it prepares them socially in a workplace/society. (Tara Gleason)

The discussion that the class had about how sports prepare children for service in the military got me thinking. If schools prepare students for jobs then the same would go for sports preparing for the military. The basis around it is that both school and sports socialize students and give them skills that are necessary to work together. This in theory is a great idea. The officials that must have thought of this must have thought… if we train students for the military both in school and through sports, then the military doesn’t have to spend as much money training soldiers in team building skills. If team sports are a way of sending subliminal messages to kids to make the military appealing, then the military does not have to spend as much money on recruiting. in reality if children thought that sports were methods of preparing them for the military, I think less and less children would join. (Elisabeth dos Santos)

I also agree with Sarah and hope that being able to understand our current economy will definitely play a huge role in being able to rebuild the schools for our children. Like I have been learning in my EDTE class the past two semesters, "We are the change." Even though we as teachers may not be able to take a physical role in getting money to where it needs to go, we need to speak up and do everything possible in order for this change to happen. If we cannot succeed at this, then how will our students and children be able to develop the educational skills that will be necessary to succeed in the workplace? Preparing students for their future is one of the most important things and if we cannot get the money to where it needs to go, will children be able to have a positive education? After reading Spring, I realized that is what seems like a never-ending cycle of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. When children come from families who have such a low-level of educational attainment, they are most likely just going to be at-risk for school failure. If we want to better our schools for children at all and provide each family with equality of opportunity, then we need to be "Be the change you wish to see in the world" -Ghandi. We must not only wish for these changes but need to ACT upon what we'd like to see. (Danielle Velodota)

I agree with Danielle strongly, but I unfortunately think that we do not have as much influence on the changes in the school as we need. The school is run by the government and the government bases how the school is run by the economy. Leaving the teachers and students to do what they can with what they have. I also feel that, like Danielle said about children who come from a low level of educational attainment being at risk for school failure, being something that doesnt have to be true. Students who are all in the classroom for the same amount of time during the day should be given the same opportunity and same positive, optimistic goals. They can learn just as well as a student who comes from a strong level of educational attainment if given a significant opportunity and you, as the teacher, give them the compassion and postive future goals that they need. Like Spring says "Teachers assume a vital role in ensuring the future of their students and society." And on the education and military connection, I feel that this is a stretch of an idea. I believe sports to be a way for students to get socialization in their life outside of the home. I feel that sports are a way for students to connect, cooperate, and learn things they do not in the classroom. These things can be leadership, competetivness, and compassion. Militarization would never come to my mind. Maybe sports would help students who in the future want to go to the military with endurance and determination, but I think being in football or any sport would never push a student to want to go to the military in any way. (Allie Beardsworth)

I, like Sarah, also viewed the political/educational leaders through a conservative lenses (especially in taking all of my history classes because they rarely talk about anything especially the non-conservative aspects of their lives. I also agree with what she said about that teachers should be able to create change but that the problem lies somewhat within the economy. I feel that a lot of the problem lies with the money or lack there of it. This is frustrating as, a teacher candidate because I feel that the students deserve the absolute best and if there is no money (or very little money coming into the school) then it is difficult for teachers to give the students the best education possible. I also feel a lot of learning starts and occurs in the home and if children's parents have very little money then it is also difficult for parents to give their children the absolute best that they deserve. I also found it very awkward that sports were created to prepare people for the military. I found this awkward because I have played sports for most of my life and I have never felt that way. Yeah, sports have some of the same vocabulary and ideals, but I know a lot of my high school sports players that have not gone into the military after playing sports. My brother plays soccer and has since he has been four years old and he has no desire to go into the military. So I just found it very awkward that it was an ideal and view that people had of sports and school. (Jessica Morneault)

Going off of what Jess said about creating change in school, limited resources do hinder a teachers ability to try something new or to show how new techniques can work. On the other hand I think as part of being a teacher is you have to be creative. you have to work with what you got, and I think the best teachers are those that can create a great classroom no matter where they are. some of my favorite classes were in third grade when we got to go outside sit in the parking lot (because there was no real playground) and have a reading group. We would spend just a little time outside doing academic work, but it relaxed us and actually let us have fun. you can incorporate many topics into one lesson. Outside have the students write a poem about what they see, or what animals do they hear. Teachers have to be thinking more than the students, and any teacher, anywhere could have a successful lesson. now this won't create any major change in the school system, but maybe it will inspire other teachers in the school and these ideas can spread. Every change and decision starts with one idea from one person, it may take awhile but at least it will benefit those in the future. (Kelly Bates)

It isn't just in sports where we should be concerned about students being prept for military service, we should really be concerned with recruiters being allowed access to kids files and entrance to the school grounds. It is my belief that students are learning helplessness in the classroom and having access to these recuriters only provides a quick fix solution. These recruiters enter schools promising students this "amazing once in a lifetime opportunities" but fail to show these students alternative roots to accessing government funds for higher education. It is a fear many inner city kids feel; "i don't have the money to go to college." As soon to be teachers we need to all work diligently to assure students that "yes maybe the military is an option but here are some other paths you can choose. As Kozhol mentioned students need to find their "El Dorado."(Tim Walczak)

In continuation to what Tim was saying, I think the value of school conselors really comes into play here. Spring mentions that counselors became quite popular during the Sorting-Machine model in hopes to "help them (the students) select a future career and an educational program leading to that career." I understand that this model was really to place students in different levels based on academics and career choice, but I think it can also play a role in this situation. Military service is not a negative thing and it is being used and perhaps, abused, when recruiters and schools are taking advantage of the fact that many innercity school students may not have the funds to continue their education after high school. When students do not have the opportunity to speak freely in class as mentioned in Kozols chapters several times (chapters 2-4), students need somone they can confide in and a counselor can be that person. However, when a struggling school is already overcrowded and possibly cut spending out of the budget, I wouldn't be surprised if counselors and other related services were on that list. (Laura Vagnini)

After reading what Laura said I could see the possibility that counselors could be cut

Kelly, I agree with you. I believe a great example of this is the movie, //The Freedom Writers//. This is a story of inner city kids who struggle everyday to stay alive. They deal with gang violence, racial tensions and drug abuse. Their teacher, Erin Gruwell, opens their eyes and teaches them to use writing to change themselves and others around them. You have to make the best out of every situation. Yes, not every school is given the same amount of money per student, which means not every student is given an equal opportunity but money is not everything. It also really bothers me how people think because a school is "Private" they have money. I recently observed a "Private School, the tuition ranges from 10,000 to 20,000 dollars per student. This based upon the grade level, the higher the grade level the more money it costs to attend. The gymnasium was very run down and had multiple holes in the ceiling. When ever it rains the water goes inside the gym. Even with the buckets there to catch the water it is a very unsafe environment. I spoke with their Physical Education teacher she informed me she has applied for every grant available and because they are a "Private School" no matter how desperate they are they will never receive a grant. Having played sports my entire life, it is kind of frighting how the military is being associated with sports. This was an eye opener for me. I have never been addressed by the military at a sporting event but I am constantly seeing ads for the military during sports events on TV. Sports are a great way to have fun and be active simultaneously. Today, the obesity rate is higher than ever. Once you bring the military into the picture the fun goes away, people are going to stop playing sports for this reason and become even more inactive. (Kari M)

"Today according to Spring- sports teams help schools to build spirit and consequently prepare students for military service."

Ok, since I have played football for most of my life and most people in the class are responding to this statement, how could i not say something about it. Sports prepares students for the military?? Come on. I mean let's talk about what my football career here at central and what I KNOW about the military. You spend your time with the same people which would be your team, you wake up early in the morning to work out, you have uniforms, and as some people said, you even share some of the same language. Fair enough. But let's talk about what football really is. A GAME! It's fun! You have cheerleaders! And what is war? Wakeing up everyday knowing that you could die at any second. Period. Just because you have a coach who yells at you and you offen have to tackle someone, doesnt give war and football the same attributes. Puting on a football helmet to nullify a tackles impact does not compare to strapping on an army helemt to stop a bullet from entering your brain. If you want to go that farby making that comparison to sports and military, you can also say that being in the military is just like any job in the world! You have to wake up early for that too and you have a boss. You have co-workers and you try to solve problems. Just like the military right? No. Being in the military is in it's own catergory. The only job that I can see share similar traits and possibly prepare you for the miliatry is being a fire or policeman. Comparing sports to the miltary is ignorant and leaves out the 24 hour life or death burden. Which is pretty important to leave out. You do not get prepared to be in the military. It is not for everyone. It is something that you are born with. Again, this is my opinion. (Nick C.)

Emily brought up a good point the "rich are getting richer and the poor poorer and the smart are getiing smarter and the average students or below average students either stay the same or fall behind along the way" the thing is some student who suffer in school that dont have much resources, many continue to succeed in life. I feel in this aspects its a matter of wanting to survive the community and the school they are in, is wanting to learn and become a better person. Dont get me wrong have the luxuries that other schools have is a great motivation I feel. To have all that it makes it easier to learn, because the sources are all there and ready. This may cause some to stumble in that aspect, because as I mentioned it is a motivation to have such resources.

The other Comments made was how football is like the military, some agree and some classmates did not. they way I see it as Dr. Love said in one of our Classes, school and school activities kind of gets us ready for the real world with the kids in school having, jobs, titles, learning to make resumes, graphs, science, its all for students to be prepared to learn and survive the real world. In order to be out there we need to know to defend ourselves, like in foot ball, or any sport, be able to attack, listen to orders and be able to preform them, in some cases like the military to be able to do them under pressure (Frances Valentin)