Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Activist Proposal (Revised)
I believe that one of the largest problems with (some) conservatives is the lack of being open minded and actually speaking your mind and saying what you believe or think. There is such a stigma with "us" being unaccepting, cold, or oldfashioned. I think this is true, at least with many conservatives. Just because someone is conservative, whether they be republican, democrat, or any other party or group out there doesn't mean that they fit into this sterotype. This is something that I think needs to be changed. Now I know I cannot "transform" people into what I feel they should be, but I hopefully can get them to see the "other-side" a little more clearly. I am not looking to change the world but to change the mindset, even if it is just one person. By getting people to join groups like College Republicans, or College Democrats for that matter I feel like these can be accomplished. These places provide a place for you to go and be with people who may feel the sam, or maybe not. Here you can say what you want and not get into any altercations with people who feel differently. I hope to make flyers and maybe an essay about a personal experience to achieve my goals.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
My Autoethnography
Fighting for an Revolutionary Educator
I went through many bad teachers in my educational career. Many of these same teachers maybe should not be teaching, not because of personality clashes or character differences, but because of the disassociation with education or just plain bad teaching. This is how things should work in a “normal” school society. But this is not how everything always works. In some schools, such as mine everyday logic and reason are thrown out the window and a new outlook on education rules. While attending Bosse High School here in Evansville I had never felt so disgusted and ashamed to say I went there during this past event.
During my junior year in high school I had come to honor and respect my chemistry teacher. He came to our school as a chemist-gone-teacher fresh back out of college. He carried with him a new way of teaching and a fresh face. He was not different than us but one in the same. He was able to connect with his students and able to teach them in a way to make things “stick” in our minds rather than just memorizing for a test and forgetting it the very next morning when we wake up. His way of teaching was “revolutionary” to our school, but not the world. Bosse was stuck teaching in the Stone Age. If it was not traditional, it was not right! Many teachers and student liked him very much, not because he was cool or contemporary, but because he was a genuinely nice person and great teacher. Many though I hate to say felt very differently. Some felt he was insane and lacked the credentials to be a teacher. I as well as many others disagree and feel that these accusations were mad because of a lack being able to connect to him. They could not be personable with him and did not understand a new teaching style. In retrospect it was really just a personality clash, not with just students, but with department heads and administration.
After having him as a teacher for several months some of us started to hear things said by other teachers about ours. After several more days of this we decided to confront our teacher and ask him if he was really being fired. When he replied “Yes” we were all shocked. We made a promise to him that we would try all we could and make our point known that we wanted him to stay. He told us that he would not stop fighting because he saw how much we cared. Over the next few weeks words flew around the school on what was being planned. The issue was then made public. The local paper picked up the story. Who would have thought that a bunch of students could already have this much of an impact? After the story went public the then current chair of the science department and the Vice Principle were exposed as the two leading a charge to get him fired.
Several more weeks went by and the students held meetings with our ousted teacher as well as a few reporters. We were planning a sit-in or a protest. Over the next days we wore shirts flaunting our cause. We started to get in trouble say that we were causing “distractions” and that it was clearly against the rules. The next day we planned to not go to certain classes. This included those of the people trying to get him fired. When she realized there were several missing from class she walked next door to find us all sitting listen to our teacher do what he does best, teach. She was infuriated. Early that next week came the moment of truth. Would the school board carry through with the school’s plan? About 20 students including myself went to the school board meeting and flooded the request to speak box with our names. This all proved to be too late. By the time they allowed us to speak the deed had been done. He was officially fired.
The fight carried on between our teacher and the school system, but now there was a larger power involved, the teacher association. After several more week of fighting reality set in and we came to realize he would not return the next year. Over that next summer I learned many more things about the situation. Come to find out that both people leading the fight left our school and moved to the Indy area. But even though the battle had been lost we were proud and so was our teacher. I got a call from him that summer saying he had been offered a job at a local private school and that he would have the choice of his classes and be with other teachers who cared like he did.
I came to learn many things through this whole experience. First of all, never take on the school board, they may listen to you, but they do not care. Second, do not expect all involved to even know the story, this includes the school board. One of the most important things I learned though is to never give up on what you are fighting for. All of our hard work may not have paid off at our school, but it made a difference. The administrators now see that we have opinions as well as they do. Just think if a group of high school students can make statewide publications, what can the rest of the world do? I may not have a voice as a single person but I matter, my thoughts always matter and if to no one else, they matter to me. I am proud to say I stand up for what I believe in and one day I will have a more defined voice in our worlFighting for an Revolutionary Educator
I went through many bad teachers in my educational career. Many of these same teachers maybe should not be teaching, not because of personality clashes or character differences, but because of the disassociation with education or just plain bad teaching. This is how things should work in a “normal” school society. But this is not how everything always works. In some schools, such as mine everyday logic and reason are thrown out the window and a new outlook on education rules. While attending Bosse High School here in Evansville I had never felt so disgusted and ashamed to say I went there during this past event.
During my junior year in high school I had come to honor and respect my chemistry teacher. He came to our school as a chemist-gone-teacher fresh back out of college. He carried with him a new way of teaching and a fresh face. He was not different than us but one in the same. He was able to connect with his students and able to teach them in a way to make things “stick” in our minds rather than just memorizing for a test and forgetting it the very next morning when we wake up. His way of teaching was “revolutionary” to our school, but not the world. Bosse was stuck teaching in the Stone Age. If it was not traditional, it was not right! Many teachers and student liked him very much, not because he was cool or contemporary, but because he was a genuinely nice person and great teacher. Many though I hate to say felt very differently. Some felt he was insane and lacked the credentials to be a teacher. I as well as many others disagree and feel that these accusations were mad because of a lack being able to connect to him. They could not be personable with him and did not understand a new teaching style. In retrospect it was really just a personality clash, not with just students, but with department heads and administration.
After having him as a teacher for several months some of us started to hear things said by other teachers about ours. After several more days of this we decided to confront our teacher and ask him if he was really being fired. When he replied “Yes” we were all shocked. We made a promise to him that we would try all we could and make our point known that we wanted him to stay. He told us that he would not stop fighting because he saw how much we cared. Over the next few weeks words flew around the school on what was being planned. The issue was then made public. The local paper picked up the story. Who would have thought that a bunch of students could already have this much of an impact? After the story went public the then current chair of the science department and the Vice Principle were exposed as the two leading a charge to get him fired.
Several more weeks went by and the students held meetings with our ousted teacher as well as a few reporters. We were planning a sit-in or a protest. Over the next days we wore shirts flaunting our cause. We started to get in trouble say that we were causing “distractions” and that it was clearly against the rules. The next day we planned to not go to certain classes. This included those of the people trying to get him fired. When she realized there were several missing from class she walked next door to find us all sitting listen to our teacher do what he does best, teach. She was infuriated. Early that next week came the moment of truth. Would the school board carry through with the school’s plan? About 20 students including myself went to the school board meeting and flooded the request to speak box with our names. This all proved to be too late. By the time they allowed us to speak the deed had been done. He was officially fired.
The fight carried on between our teacher and the school system, but now there was a larger power involved, the teacher association. After several more week of fighting reality set in and we came to realize he would not return the next year. Over that next summer I learned many more things about the situation. Come to find out that both people leading the fight left our school and moved to the Indy area. But even though the battle had been lost we were proud and so was our teacher. I got a call from him that summer saying he had been offered a job at a local private school and that he would have the choice of his classes and be with other teachers who cared like he did.
I came to learn many things through this whole experience. First of all, never take on the school board, they may listen to you, but they do not care. Second, do not expect all involved to even know the story, this includes the school board. One of the most important things I learned though is to never give up on what you are fighting for. All of our hard work may not have paid off at our school, but it made a difference. The administrators now see that we have opinions as well as they do. Just think if a group of high school students can make statewide publications, what can the rest of the world do? I may not have a voice as a single person but I matter, my thoughts always matter and if to no one else, they matter to me. I am proud to say I stand up for what I believe in and one day I will have a more defined voice in our world.
I went through many bad teachers in my educational career. Many of these same teachers maybe should not be teaching, not because of personality clashes or character differences, but because of the disassociation with education or just plain bad teaching. This is how things should work in a “normal” school society. But this is not how everything always works. In some schools, such as mine everyday logic and reason are thrown out the window and a new outlook on education rules. While attending Bosse High School here in Evansville I had never felt so disgusted and ashamed to say I went there during this past event.
During my junior year in high school I had come to honor and respect my chemistry teacher. He came to our school as a chemist-gone-teacher fresh back out of college. He carried with him a new way of teaching and a fresh face. He was not different than us but one in the same. He was able to connect with his students and able to teach them in a way to make things “stick” in our minds rather than just memorizing for a test and forgetting it the very next morning when we wake up. His way of teaching was “revolutionary” to our school, but not the world. Bosse was stuck teaching in the Stone Age. If it was not traditional, it was not right! Many teachers and student liked him very much, not because he was cool or contemporary, but because he was a genuinely nice person and great teacher. Many though I hate to say felt very differently. Some felt he was insane and lacked the credentials to be a teacher. I as well as many others disagree and feel that these accusations were mad because of a lack being able to connect to him. They could not be personable with him and did not understand a new teaching style. In retrospect it was really just a personality clash, not with just students, but with department heads and administration.
After having him as a teacher for several months some of us started to hear things said by other teachers about ours. After several more days of this we decided to confront our teacher and ask him if he was really being fired. When he replied “Yes” we were all shocked. We made a promise to him that we would try all we could and make our point known that we wanted him to stay. He told us that he would not stop fighting because he saw how much we cared. Over the next few weeks words flew around the school on what was being planned. The issue was then made public. The local paper picked up the story. Who would have thought that a bunch of students could already have this much of an impact? After the story went public the then current chair of the science department and the Vice Principle were exposed as the two leading a charge to get him fired.
Several more weeks went by and the students held meetings with our ousted teacher as well as a few reporters. We were planning a sit-in or a protest. Over the next days we wore shirts flaunting our cause. We started to get in trouble say that we were causing “distractions” and that it was clearly against the rules. The next day we planned to not go to certain classes. This included those of the people trying to get him fired. When she realized there were several missing from class she walked next door to find us all sitting listen to our teacher do what he does best, teach. She was infuriated. Early that next week came the moment of truth. Would the school board carry through with the school’s plan? About 20 students including myself went to the school board meeting and flooded the request to speak box with our names. This all proved to be too late. By the time they allowed us to speak the deed had been done. He was officially fired.
The fight carried on between our teacher and the school system, but now there was a larger power involved, the teacher association. After several more week of fighting reality set in and we came to realize he would not return the next year. Over that next summer I learned many more things about the situation. Come to find out that both people leading the fight left our school and moved to the Indy area. But even though the battle had been lost we were proud and so was our teacher. I got a call from him that summer saying he had been offered a job at a local private school and that he would have the choice of his classes and be with other teachers who cared like he did.
I came to learn many things through this whole experience. First of all, never take on the school board, they may listen to you, but they do not care. Second, do not expect all involved to even know the story, this includes the school board. One of the most important things I learned though is to never give up on what you are fighting for. All of our hard work may not have paid off at our school, but it made a difference. The administrators now see that we have opinions as well as they do. Just think if a group of high school students can make statewide publications, what can the rest of the world do? I may not have a voice as a single person but I matter, my thoughts always matter and if to no one else, they matter to me. I am proud to say I stand up for what I believe in and one day I will have a more defined voice in our worlFighting for an Revolutionary Educator
I went through many bad teachers in my educational career. Many of these same teachers maybe should not be teaching, not because of personality clashes or character differences, but because of the disassociation with education or just plain bad teaching. This is how things should work in a “normal” school society. But this is not how everything always works. In some schools, such as mine everyday logic and reason are thrown out the window and a new outlook on education rules. While attending Bosse High School here in Evansville I had never felt so disgusted and ashamed to say I went there during this past event.
During my junior year in high school I had come to honor and respect my chemistry teacher. He came to our school as a chemist-gone-teacher fresh back out of college. He carried with him a new way of teaching and a fresh face. He was not different than us but one in the same. He was able to connect with his students and able to teach them in a way to make things “stick” in our minds rather than just memorizing for a test and forgetting it the very next morning when we wake up. His way of teaching was “revolutionary” to our school, but not the world. Bosse was stuck teaching in the Stone Age. If it was not traditional, it was not right! Many teachers and student liked him very much, not because he was cool or contemporary, but because he was a genuinely nice person and great teacher. Many though I hate to say felt very differently. Some felt he was insane and lacked the credentials to be a teacher. I as well as many others disagree and feel that these accusations were mad because of a lack being able to connect to him. They could not be personable with him and did not understand a new teaching style. In retrospect it was really just a personality clash, not with just students, but with department heads and administration.
After having him as a teacher for several months some of us started to hear things said by other teachers about ours. After several more days of this we decided to confront our teacher and ask him if he was really being fired. When he replied “Yes” we were all shocked. We made a promise to him that we would try all we could and make our point known that we wanted him to stay. He told us that he would not stop fighting because he saw how much we cared. Over the next few weeks words flew around the school on what was being planned. The issue was then made public. The local paper picked up the story. Who would have thought that a bunch of students could already have this much of an impact? After the story went public the then current chair of the science department and the Vice Principle were exposed as the two leading a charge to get him fired.
Several more weeks went by and the students held meetings with our ousted teacher as well as a few reporters. We were planning a sit-in or a protest. Over the next days we wore shirts flaunting our cause. We started to get in trouble say that we were causing “distractions” and that it was clearly against the rules. The next day we planned to not go to certain classes. This included those of the people trying to get him fired. When she realized there were several missing from class she walked next door to find us all sitting listen to our teacher do what he does best, teach. She was infuriated. Early that next week came the moment of truth. Would the school board carry through with the school’s plan? About 20 students including myself went to the school board meeting and flooded the request to speak box with our names. This all proved to be too late. By the time they allowed us to speak the deed had been done. He was officially fired.
The fight carried on between our teacher and the school system, but now there was a larger power involved, the teacher association. After several more week of fighting reality set in and we came to realize he would not return the next year. Over that next summer I learned many more things about the situation. Come to find out that both people leading the fight left our school and moved to the Indy area. But even though the battle had been lost we were proud and so was our teacher. I got a call from him that summer saying he had been offered a job at a local private school and that he would have the choice of his classes and be with other teachers who cared like he did.
I came to learn many things through this whole experience. First of all, never take on the school board, they may listen to you, but they do not care. Second, do not expect all involved to even know the story, this includes the school board. One of the most important things I learned though is to never give up on what you are fighting for. All of our hard work may not have paid off at our school, but it made a difference. The administrators now see that we have opinions as well as they do. Just think if a group of high school students can make statewide publications, what can the rest of the world do? I may not have a voice as a single person but I matter, my thoughts always matter and if to no one else, they matter to me. I am proud to say I stand up for what I believe in and one day I will have a more defined voice in our world.
Public Discourse
I participate in public discourse all of the time. I am not afraid to speak my mind and have the rest of the people around me know how i feel. Many people get offended by what others say or feel but why should they? Evereyone has a right to their opinion and should not feel scared to share it. If arguments are caused by it, it is because people let it effect them too much. Not only do I speak my mind but I write letters, hang flyers, and wear clothing supporting a team, person, or cause.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Blog Review
Maggots and Tenderloins
It is not every day when you come across youth that will actually speak their mind. In "Maggotsandtenderloin" the blogger (a youthful rebel) speaks about many things on their mind. This blog covers everything from art to talk shows. The blog gives many new perspectives on current events and culture. The writer goes about confronting issue with a sarcastic and alternative attitude and the occasional (more profuse) expletives.
The writer expresses himself as a college student. It is unknown what their name is or even what gender they belong to. I believe the writer is more than likely male due to the tone of voice the blog portrays. I also think that where the write comes from economically and socially are very important. Although these are not directly addressed in the posts I determine that the writer comes from a middle class family with strong views on society. I also think that the writer is black or someone close to that culture. Many things they discuss are about African American culture. I also think that the writer feels somewhat disassociated with the rest of the black culture. The writer many times talks very bad about the African American population and is very harsh in his language.
This leads me to my next point; this blog is focused to people with similar views. Color is not important but the language clearly is intended for similar minded people. I would imagine that most people who read this blog are not black. The writer is trying to attract and audience that sees his views as "new". If the write himself feels strongly about the way certain groups see societies why not write to people who also think the same. The way the writer blogs is also clearly for enjoyment. There is no importance to it except to please the audience.
I think the main message of the blog is to get people to laugh and look at things with a different approach. I think this blog is great and l will continue to read it. Even if I disagree with some of the views, I will get a laugh or two. The blog gives a great view on society and the mentality of some of the people that live in it. “Maggotsandtenderloins” is an overall funny and semi-informative blog that is worth reading.
It is not every day when you come across youth that will actually speak their mind. In "Maggotsandtenderloin" the blogger (a youthful rebel) speaks about many things on their mind. This blog covers everything from art to talk shows. The blog gives many new perspectives on current events and culture. The writer goes about confronting issue with a sarcastic and alternative attitude and the occasional (more profuse) expletives.
The writer expresses himself as a college student. It is unknown what their name is or even what gender they belong to. I believe the writer is more than likely male due to the tone of voice the blog portrays. I also think that where the write comes from economically and socially are very important. Although these are not directly addressed in the posts I determine that the writer comes from a middle class family with strong views on society. I also think that the writer is black or someone close to that culture. Many things they discuss are about African American culture. I also think that the writer feels somewhat disassociated with the rest of the black culture. The writer many times talks very bad about the African American population and is very harsh in his language.
This leads me to my next point; this blog is focused to people with similar views. Color is not important but the language clearly is intended for similar minded people. I would imagine that most people who read this blog are not black. The writer is trying to attract and audience that sees his views as "new". If the write himself feels strongly about the way certain groups see societies why not write to people who also think the same. The way the writer blogs is also clearly for enjoyment. There is no importance to it except to please the audience.
I think the main message of the blog is to get people to laugh and look at things with a different approach. I think this blog is great and l will continue to read it. Even if I disagree with some of the views, I will get a laugh or two. The blog gives a great view on society and the mentality of some of the people that live in it. “Maggotsandtenderloins” is an overall funny and semi-informative blog that is worth reading.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Comments, Comments Galore....
These are the blogs i find interesting....check em out!
http://studentchristianfellowship.blogspot.com/
http://donafree.blogspot.com/
http://cdill362.blogspot.com/
http://studentchristianfellowship.blogspot.com/
http://donafree.blogspot.com/
http://cdill362.blogspot.com/
Monday, February 16, 2009
My Concerns
OH where do I begin? There are so many things in this world that concern me. In other words this is what stresses me out to the max!
UNEducated Population
Size and role of Gov.
If i will have money in a week
If i will have a job this time next year
Getting lost in a big city.
Homeless people
dropouts
people who have babies at age 20 or under
my friends
underpayed workers
immigration
american rights(constitutional)
crazy people
the economy
my car....it's dying...faster every day...
if ill ever get caught up on everything i have to do
tine management
being carefree...it is harder than it seems
Nancy Pelosi- she must be stopped...shes like Hitler without mass murder!
Getting lost in a NYC Subway
my plane crashing :(
justice to those who have lost their lives due to unfortunate events...such as 9.11 and The USS Cole attacks and the war)
it goes on and on......
UNEducated Population
Size and role of Gov.
If i will have money in a week
If i will have a job this time next year
Getting lost in a big city.
Homeless people
dropouts
people who have babies at age 20 or under
my friends
underpayed workers
immigration
american rights(constitutional)
crazy people
the economy
my car....it's dying...faster every day...
if ill ever get caught up on everything i have to do
tine management
being carefree...it is harder than it seems
Nancy Pelosi- she must be stopped...shes like Hitler without mass murder!
Getting lost in a NYC Subway
my plane crashing :(
justice to those who have lost their lives due to unfortunate events...such as 9.11 and The USS Cole attacks and the war)
it goes on and on......
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Public Spheres
There are many places in the world where you can make your thoughts known. These are called spheres. Anything where you can speak your mind, post your feelings, or write how you feel is considered a public sphere. This blog is my public sphere. But other areas that you and I can express ourselves include newspapers, community calandars, chatrooms, messegeboards, websites, debates, forums, walls, grafitti, art, song, poems, books,school, chalkboards, and the list can go on seemingly forever. All of these places let you be yourself and hopefully with out objection or nasty or hateful response. Public sphere are at the center of life. You are in one at virtually all times.
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