Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Talking Points # 10 = Johnson

Johnson argues that those who are aware of the inequalities, oppression, and privilege in America, but do not speak up and take action to help are more assistance to the problem rather than the solution. Both those with and without privilege in America need to actually do somehting to start making a change and begin working towards the solution.

1. "Very often those with privilege dont know it, which is a key aspect of privilege."

Johnson argues that we must first acknowledge that privilege exists. Some dont ackowledge it becuase they dont know they have it, but another point of hers is that we have to make these individuals who are oblvious aware to the fact that they are contributing to systems of power.

2. "Privilege exists when one group has something that is systematically denied to others not because of who they are or what they’ve done or not done, but because of the social category they belong to"

Privilege discriminates on the basis of what social group people are part of. People can not help what class system they fall into, so many are innevitably placed into systems of power that are below another group. The group in power attains and holds this power ov privilege over the other group as a means of controlling them, and keeping them below.

3. "Don't let other people set the standard for you."

Johonson argues that we must fight to eliminate privilege, oppression, and systems of power regardless of what others may say or do to stop you. Also, do not let the contributions of others make your contributions feel any more/less important, becasue every little bit matters.

Talking Points # 8 - Kliewer

Kliewer argues that students with disabilites or considered "special education" should not be seperated from those students without disabilities. When students with disabilities are seperated they are labeled less valued by the rest of the student body, and less valuable by society also. By integrating both students with and without disabilities, it would create a sense of community within the student body which would create a better learning environment for all students, and at the same time, valuing every student equally.

1. "Community requires a willingness to see people as they are -- different perhaps in their minds and bodies, but different in their spirits or in their willingness and ability to contribute to the mosiac of society. It requires the 'helper' to have the humility to listen for what the person says he or she needs. Also, the 'helper' mus see that the interaction helps both ways."

This quote shows that Kliewer argues that a sense of community within the classroom creats a special learning environment where every student is equally important.Every student contributes to each class. Some students help those who need it, and very student plays their part. Everyone wins, and learns more. Their overall willingness to learn and help brings the class together in a small community.

2. "Menocino is what John needed -- it's what he never had in North Hollywood. It's safe -- what he calls a 'safe space.' Like a lot of people in Mendocino, he's accepted for what he is, not what he isn't. And he can concentrate on what he can do, instead of being shown or being told what he can't do."

An accepting environment, which would be created by having both integrating disabled students into the classroom, enables those with disabilities rather than holding them back. Disabled students can realize their potential and maximize their learning abilities when being embraced by society. With help from others, they can be as productive, if not more, than those around them without disabilities. In short, when given the chance, students with disabilities are part of everyday society when not threatened by feeling different.

3. "John's dramatic shift in persona is an example of altered social place -- from a location of hopelessness to one filled with possibility. Both his social network and role within the web of relationships from which community is formed were fundamentally transformed on his move to Mendocino. He left behind his community status of disconnected alien for a location of value and community membership. His experience demonstrates the power of context in recognition of individual uniqueness and, in turn, how such recognition further recontextualizes one's social place."

I want to address another quote about John because the story about his move is the perfect example of why students with disabilities should not be seperated from mainstream classrooms. When given a role in the community, or for the sake of my arguement, in the classroom, their actions have more meaning. The sense of feeling and belonging exemplifies their abilities rather than focusing on their disabilities. This, in turn, creates a more accepting and productive learning environment for the student body as a whole.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Talking points #7 Lawrence

Lawrence argues that the desegregation of schools set forth by Brown vs Board of Education was not as much of a success as it seems to be, and that blacks are still labeled as inferior to the rest of society. Segregation left African American with less educational opportunities than white students and has scarred them although the schools have been integrated. Segregation created a system of power that shows that blacks will always be seen as inferior to some white Americans, even in its absence in present time.

1. "It is the thesis of this paper that the Brown decision fostered a way of thinking about segregation that has allowed both the judiciary and society at large to deny the reality of race in America, that the recognition of that reality is critical to the framing of any meaningful remedy -- judicial or political-- and that Brown may ultimately be labeled a success only insofar as we are able to make it stand for what it should have stood foor in 1954."

This excerpt states Lawrences arguement that the Brown decision may be a failure in the long run. ALthough it gives "equal" opportunities to both black and white students, the decision may not be as successful as it was meant to be. Although this decision sparked many of the actions of the Civil Rights Movement that followed, those events can not be what is used to measure the successfulness of court's decision to desegregate schools.

2. "Many black school that existed within the segregated school systems of the South were in fact superior to their white counterparts. It is ironic that most of these schools achieved thier excellence as a direct result of the discrimination inherent in a segregated society, in that the best black professionals were forced into teaching by their virtual exclusion from other feilds."

I am not sure that this excerpt helps/hinders my arguement, espcially becuase it seems to be pro-segretation in some aspects which I am not. but this excerpt shows that some blacks students were given better education opportunities than their white counterparts, and these opportunities were taken away by the Brown decision. Althouh it was not very common that the seperate but equal facilities favored African Americans, this quote proves that in some cases they were in fact better than equal to those of white students.

3. " Followeing the rule that the remedy must match the injury, judges have ordered that schools be desegregated if there is evidence of school segregation, that Blacks be given access to housing if there has been proof of discriminatory real estate practice, that Blacks be given jobs if there is sufficient evicence of discriminatory real estate practices, and that states that have engaged in practices denying Blacks the vote cease and desis from engaging in those practices."

The Brown decision addressed merely only seperation in school systems, but sparked the equal rights in those other areas too. Students who were denied housing in certain areas were indirectly denied better schooling. It is the remedy that segregation be destroyed in every aspect of life, not just schooling, to help address the overall problem.

This was a very hard read for me.....so i am not sure if this arguement is even in the ballpark but i think i made somewhat of a arguement.