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In Class/OutClassed
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Welcome to InClass/OutClassed: On the Uses of a Liberal Education, an Emily Balch Seminar offered in Fall 2011 @ Bryn Mawr College. This is an interestingly different kind of place for writing, and may take some getting used to. The first thing to keep in mind is that it's not a site for "formal writing" or "finished thoughts." It's a place for thoughts-in-progress, for what you're thinking (whether you know it or not) on your way to what you think next. Imagine that you're just talking to some people you've met. This is a "conversation" place, a place to find out what you're thinking yourself, and what other people are thinking. The idea here is that your "thoughts in progress" can help others with their thinking, and theirs can help you with yours.
So who are you writing for? Primarily for yourself, and for others in both sections of our course. But also for the world. This is a "public" forum, so people anywhere on the web might look in. That's the second thing to keep in mind here. You're writing for yourself, for others in the class, AND for others you might or might not know. So, your thoughts in progress can contribute to the thoughts in progress of LOTS of people. The web is giving increasing reality to the idea that there can actually evolve a world community, and you're part of helping to bring that about.
We're glad to have you along, and hope you come to both enjoy and value our shared exploration of class, in education and outside it. Fee free to comment on any post below, or to POST YOUR THOUGHTS HERE.
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Expectations
After all the stories/articles etc, on what we read about education, I view school in a different way. Going to this public high school where you have to take a test to get in, is different. At least it's different, from what my public high school was like. Every school is different and so I don't know what I expect from going to the high school. After the silent board activity that brought up more questions about the high school were visiting. Questions that have to do with their education and how it differs from my mine is what peaks my curiousity the most. I'll be curious to see how their opportunities differ from mine, and how the high school views us.
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Anxiety and Expectations
I'm feeling very anxious to visit the high school. Not only have I always been pretty socially unsure, but despite coming from an economically disadvantaged background, I've been separated from "city kids" for a long time and don't know what to expect when it comes to their behaviour, attitude, and language (eg, will they be laid-back? Use a lot of slang? Be open to our visit?). I think that a lot of this anxiety comes from our use of the term "inner-city," which has a mostly negative connotation, to describe the school. I've worked at an "inner-city" charter school before, albeit one which was kindergarten-8th graders, and what I saw there was a little disheartening.
While I consciously recognise the potential of the economically disadvantaged and those from the city, I hope that this trip can change my subconscious feelings, showing me that there is hope for more of us than I had previously imagined. Their policies seem fairly strict, so I'd imagine that the majority of the kids will be well-behaved, and I'm interested to learn about their "school selves" as opposed to their "home selves." I also think this will be an interesting place to observe how the educational system enforces "middle-class values" onto the other classes.
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My expectation of High School visiting
Education, access, poverty and resources… In previous weeks, we have read so many real-life stories and analytical articles about education. Meanwhile, we have concentrated on the limitations of public education recently. It would be very interesting to visit a high school since I’ve never got a chance to know high school life in the U.S. By comparing the public school in the U.S. and in China, I think it can help me to think more deeply. Our discussion on the topic of “In class/ Out class” is limited since we are literally “in class” previously on Tuesdays and Thursday. Visiting a high school could be a nice complementary experience as a part of our seminar. I am curious about students’ attitude about going to colleges as well as how their school performance affect their anticipation about going to colleges. Meanwhile, I am curious about to what extent can Friere’s or Noguera’s thoughts are applicable towards the real-life situations. It could be a nice chance to evaluate whether “Pragmatic Optimism” would function well in high schools. Finally, it would be good to keep an open mind and treat this trip as an experience of learning and teaching.
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Trip to High School Expectations
I think, like many other students, I am not really sure what to expect when we go to visit the high school. Though in part, I think this is because I am still not very clear on what we will be doing at the high school, I also feel that my lack of expectations relates to a comment that someone made during the silent blackboard discussion – that she wants to go into the school with an open mind and take the experience as a learning experience. I completely agree with this idea, and I too, hope to go into the school with this mentality. I know that no matter what we will be doing with the students, it will prove to be a fun, learning experience for all of us.
As we enter the high school, however, I wonder about some of the comments that were made during our silent blackboard discussion, relating to the way in which socio-economic background might play a role in these students’ lives and schooling. I also wonder if there will truly be that sense of students feeling burned out due to the pressures of trying to succeed in school and as a bi-product of teachers feeling burned out as well. It will be interesting to me, to see if these particulars of our blackboard discussion are present in the school.
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High School Expectations
Like many of the people who have previously posted, I'm not sure what to expect. I went a urban/suburban public high school so I'd like to see what it's like for students who go to a special admit public high school. I'd like to know more about how the selection process works. The pictures of the students that were shown during the presentation made them look like a fun bunch! I wonder if I'll be able to relate to them when we compare our high school experiences. I expect that they'll be open to talk about their experiences at their school and their interactions with their teachers and fellow students. I wonder if they'd be able to point out flaws about their school (if there are any) and if they have done anything to address any issues that they see. My high school was nice and all but I had no problems pointing out what could be changed. I also expect them to talk about college plans and possibly ranting about SATs and the Common App (it'll make me cringe) but it'll still be nice to reminisce about such a stressful time and know that I don't have to worry about it anymore...
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Upcoming Trip
I can't wait to visit the high school later this month. I definitely think I've had a rather sheltered high school experience and I'm curious to see how the students' experience here compares. Though like the students we'll be visiting, admission to my (public) high school was through application, I believe the process is a little bit different, which I'm sure affects the way the students interact with one another and the backgrounds from which they come.
During our silent discussion on Thursday, one of the topics that interested me was burn out (of the teachers and students). I'd be interested in speaking to students about their experiences of this, particularly because I saw it happen often among students – and sometimes also teachers – at my own school.
I was also curious about the senior writing project that Sarah spoke about in class. Though we won't be working with seniors, I'd love to know how much of the school is built around this expectation and how much a part of school culture it is. At my high school, students taking senior english APs were expected to end the year with a writing portfolio called the "Senior Portrait" and I know for many of my friends and myself, the expectation of the project was nearly as consuming as the project itself.
I'm looking forward to learning about different high school experiences from the students, and can't wait to meet them.
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Upcoming visit to the high school
I'm really excited to visit the high school in a couple of weeks. We've talked so much about education in class and about different teaching methods such as banking and problem posing. I hope we get to sit in on classrooms and see what kind of methods they use in their classrooms and how students respond to them. It'll be interesting comparing the different teaching methods from a liberal arts college to a public urban high school.
To be completely honest, I'm not sure exactly what we'll be doing during our visit to the school. Will we just be hanging out and talking with students? Or interacting with them in classes? Either way, I hope that I'll be able to form some kind of connection with students at the high school. It would be really awesome to eventually be able to make a lasting connection, even though I know that won't be feasible in one visit! I would have looked to have a college student connection when I was in high school. Since I went to a public school I'll be able to relate to their educational experience, but not in the same way. Since my public school was in a rural setting, it'll be much different from theirs in an urban, and also because of expected differences in socioeconomic class.
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The Silent Board & The High School
I thought the slient board was a GREAT discussion tool. It really made me start thinking about the high school. I like to come into a new environment with out expectations except the expectation to learn from it. But when we were writing on the board someone put on the board 'I wonder how it would have been if we had gone to another school without the high school's resources.' I think that would be a very different experience. Even though we're going to a high school in Philadelphia, this specific school requires entrance exams and has a strong partnership with a Liberal Arts College. I wonder if our presence will make more of an impact at the high school or would it have made more of an impact on a more disadvantaged school?
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Counting down to the high school
I have so many expectations. I wanna see what an American public high school looks like. I would love to discuss their curriculum, pedagogy, teacher student relationship, challenges and views on the SAT testing, which i enjoyed proctoring and tutoring kids for.
I will also ask them about the situation on drugs, crime, dropping out etc in their school and since they are predominantly black, the relationship between black and white kids in the school and neighborhood. If I feel like it, I might seek their views on the use of the word we discussed in class last Tuesday.
I will describe a typical Nigerian public high school to them, contrasting the differences and noting the similarities if any. I would appreciate their thoughts on the issue of equal educational opportunities and then share my access story with them.
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The high school
Going to the high school, I want to expand my knowledge about different academic situations and the impact they have on students’ lives. Having gone to the same school for 12 years, I haven’t had much exposure to different academic cultures such as public and urban schools and thus, I am curious about the way the different backgrounds of the students in contrast to those that made up my class will have shaped the students’ expectations for their academic and vocational futures. Since I will be volunteering at the high school in the near future, I would also like to take this as an opportunity to observe the situations that the seniors I will be working with have faced in order to be able to understand them better and become the best help I can be for them. I would like to learn about the overall perspectives of the class, about how they see themselves in relation to their peers, the world around them and the authority figures that shape their lives; however, concurrently, I also expect that my questions won’t be definitively answered as the students may not open up as easily. I can’t just come into the school expecting that they will tell me everything about their lives, especially when I am a stranger asking about their personal academic and home life. I also can’t just make assumptions about aspects of their lives which may not be true. In any case, my main goal is to make a human connection, to have this be a learning experience that will not only benefit me but most importantly, benefit them.
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THE HIGH SCHOOL!
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Our visit to the High School
I am very much looking forward to our visit to the high school. I am honestly not sure what to expect because having gone to high school outside of the U.S. the only idea I have of what public school will be like is from movies and TV shows, which is probably not that accurate. I am interested to see if the fact that a test is required for entry will make a difference in the motivation of the students. Also, if there are teachers and students who are burned out I would like to know specifically what causes this. I agree that this trip should be one of equal exchange, but I am not completely sure what I bring to the visit besides a “college outlook”. It will be interesting after my visit to reflect on what I felt they learned from me, because it will most probably not be what I originally expected
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The High School Visit
The question I asked myself was not what about what I want to learn, but how much I can learn. Like Shannon said, I would love to know "everything". I want to know what its like going to a public school that you have to be accepted into, going to school in the city, and what their life is like at home. Since we are visiting sophomores and juniors, I want to hear some feedback on standardized testing because sophomore year and junior year are considered the "important years". I would also love to hear about their ideas for the future, what they hope to do, where they hope to go etc.
Since this is a mutual learning experience, I hope I can give them some feedback on what high school was like for me, how I felt about testing, what I was thinking at the time about my future plans and so on. I also hope to share my background and where I come from. I also hope to give them a sense of going to a non-selective public high school in the suburbs. Hopefully we can discuss some of the topics we discuss in class get new ideas thrown into the mix.
Let's just say, I can't wait to go to the high school.
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More fun!
Hi again,
This is the second video I thought would be great to show everyone. Many of you may have seen it already since it's huge on youtube, however, for those who haven't, it's pretty valuable to watch (as are all the videos from RSA Animate).
This video talks about reshaping educational paradigms. It discusses why our education system today doesn't work and urges us to rethink what education should look like and how we should be educating children in the 21st century.
Again, I hope you enjoy!
-Jillian
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Fun Videos to Expand your Thinking!
Hey guys!
Since the topic of language and the power of language (what we can, cannot, should or should not be able to say) has become a larger topic in class, I thought this video was fitting to share. We've been discussing how our language is shaped why white dominance and how our language online and in class is shaped by "politeness" and the fear of offending others. Here's another take on why we say "n-word" instead of "nigger" and veil our language with inuendos even though in the end, we all know that when you say "n-word," we hear "nigger."
I have an even more fitting video I'll share to you in the next post :)
Hope you enjoy it,
Jillian
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My hopes for our visit to the high school
In thinking about what I hope to learn from the students of the high school, my gut answer is "everything". I hope to learn what their lives are like, how they see education fitting into those lives, what they hope to gain from their education, and how they'd like to see their education change or grow.
In terms of what I'd like to take to them, I'm even less certain. Looking back on myself at their age, one of the things that no one ever told me is that there is no single way to have a successful and happy future and what works for one person may be fundamentaly impossible for another. I was also never told that one misstep, or even many, doesn't mean that one is doomed or that all possible doors to a fulfilling future are closed.
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My Direction
So after today's class I went to lunch and began to think what direction I want to go in for this week's paper. I think I have formed two thoughts on how to level the education's playing field.
My first idea.
In order to level the playing field of education the Community and School CANNOT be two separate entities they must become one.
I believe this because schools try to create their own culture without factoring in all of the cultures they're trying to assimilate. Communites begin to become distant from the schools and as their own educational tool. Most people like Ricardo Rodriquez had to choose between the two. If they because one big unit each one can work off from each other collaborating to create an even more broader well-rounded education for their students.
But this is not the only thing needed which leads me to my second idea.
While society has become more preoccupied with individual needs and wants such as customized cars, houses, ideas, cable packages..etc. the istitutions of this society such as health, education, etc. remain generalized.
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point of info for our field trip!
Hey everyone,
I heard some thoughts today about working with high school seniors. Just to clarify when we go to the high school we'll be with juniors and sophomores! Idk if that makes a difference, but just thought I would clarify :).
-Sarah
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Our future trip to the high school
We have talked a lot in class about education , access, and so on. I wonder how going to the high school will change our thinking. So far in class all of our experiences so far have been based on either our own individual experiences or those we have found in the reading. Going to the high school is essentially the first educational experience that we are sharing together. I wonder if this communal experience will give us new or contrasting views and insights into education. I am really looking forward to the experince and having the chance to confer with everyone about the things we noticed and how they deeper (or in some cases confuse) what we know or should I say what we think we know about standard American education.
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Protest Over Bake Sale?!
This week at UC Berkeley there was a huge controversy surrounding an affirmative action-like bill called SB 185 passed by the Senate in California that I think relates a lot to our conversations about class, access, and education so I wanted to share it with y’all.
Basically, this bill would allow public universities in California to consider an applicant’s race, ethnicity, and gender in the application process and on Tuesday, there was a phone bank on Berkeley’s campus to call in to support the signing of this bill. In response, the Berkeley College Republicans (BCR) hosted a satirical “Increase Diversity” Bake Sale opposite the phone bank with pricing based on one’s race, ethnicity, and gender. Based on statements the group posted on Facebook (links below), they felt the legislation was intended to increase diversity and fill quotas, which officials say is not true. The bake sale offended a ton of students who then protested in the main plaza on campus.
I read one opinion piece that I felt spoke to some of feelings in our conversations in class. Here are some excerpts and the link to the article: