Chapter 10 and 11 offered us many questions to take-home after reading:
Will we choose to guarantee schooling for all children?
Will we stand up for equal access and opportunity? (ie. bilingual education)
What can we do? What will we do?
Pg. 231: Lau v. Nichols
This case argued about the degree of what is equality. Having the same textbooks, classrooms, teachers, etc. does not mean that all students are accomodated. In our case, we can think about our ELL learners. If we give them all the same resources, that does not mean that these students will be able to be at the same level as their fellow acclamated American colleagues. They will need to be provided materials and resources that can help them catch-up and be at the same level. I feel that a lot of times this isn't just a problem of a school, but more a higher-up problem, the government and/or societal issue that chooses to keep the continuous cycle of maintaining the class system. That isn't what America is about, or is it? What is the American Dream anyways? Is it just a dream? Or has reality set-in to cloud that dream?
Bilingual Education: Yea or Nay?
Again, I feel this issue or "fight is a specific issue of a much broader societal struggle" (Olsen, 236)
We have one-side that believes in equality in educational access for language-minority children, and on the other we have citizens that are insistent that minorities are going to take-over the English dominance of the country. Along with those citizens, I believe it is that they are just CHEAP. Sometimes I feel that many are only concerned with themselves, what is good for them, not for the majority. To go back again to my previous comments, the idea of the American Dream is starting to have less and less weight of reality.
The Americanization Project of Schools
- Exclusion and Separation of Immigrant Students Academically
- Pressure to Give up One's National Identity and Language
- Taking One's Hierarchy of the United States
How does one break this nasty cycle? Students are already classified before they even start. If you black, go with the African Americans. Hablas espanol? No. This is America. Speak AMERICAN, oh I mean English. Your class is over there with the other foreigners. The idea of when in Rome, do as the Romans, is kind of how we think new-arrivals should do. They need to give up what they have known their whole lives because too many ignorant people feel that it is offensive to be bringing in different ideas to the school.
My Experience:
Today is Halloween. I asked my students about what they are going to be for Halloween. They all gave me blank stares. A few girls from Africa commented that their families don't allow them to celebrate the holiday. As one student from Pakistan agreed by saying his father refused to allow him to go trick-or-treating because "it isn't his religion." My teacher did not seem to follow. She was confused about why they wouldn't celebrate the "holiday." "They go get FREE candy, and dress-up cute." I can see my teacher's view, but we do have to think about what our students' values are. We all come from different backgrounds, and just because we are in Rome, we don't always have to do as the Romans do (hypothetically speaking). We must value others' opinions and embrace our individuality, because isn't that what made this country?
Phew. My brain hurts from thinking. Can't wait to hear everyone's thoughts!
Stay Classy!
Blogfully yours,
Tommy T.
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