Reflection paper 2

The world is how you see it, through your own eyes.

The world as we see it was never as it was once seen. A wise man once said “History will forever repeat itself.” I believe that those noble words can only go so far. In the 1970’s we’ve had love and peace. All we heard about was just to forgive and be loved, though what was going on in the world to bring up these feelings was the war. Yet in 2003 when we went to war with Iraq, love and peace was not a mind set everyone had. The event was similar; another country came and destroyed a monument that we held dear to us. Why were people more forgiving, than now? Even though history had repeated itself, what makes you think reactions of other people will be the same? Generation after generation has an effect on what we think, and how we see things and events the way we see them. More so, we have our own set of rose colored glasses. Viewing a human structure, how we think, and acts today is viewing a paradigm shift constantly. About 1.8 million years ago, the Homo Habilis made stone tools and weapons. This was just the beginning of the paradigm shift, man had to evolve. Knowing what he needed to survive and turning it into a way of different survival techniques. We once lived in a time where sticks and spoons were our greatest weapons; we dug soil and used the plants for soil. Man evolved and saw new ways of hunting and more efficient ways for survival. Their body changed, they had to have strength to capture their food, and the technique to bring the food back. I believe we change for the better. We understand that things change, so we are more inclined to change with them. Hunting was only the beginning of paradigm shift, fire and tools like communication came into play as we developed better ways to improve our lifestyles. Though not everything is a paradigm shift, people are used to what they grow up with, and most don’t take well to change. Whether its fear or they are not comfortable with the shift, most people will not change. This comes typically from religious beliefs, people often go by what he said or she said. In religious communities their bible is the written proof to their society, though even the bible had to upgrade. They follow the words of their priest, knowing it’s what was taught to him and he speaks from the church, so it must be true. Church’s don’t form by the media; they don’t change because of facts. They form to what they believe, and change will come over time, dedication, and when some one is about to get fired. Change will only come after their bubble has been tampered with. In the new generations kids and teenagers are more likely to conform to society’s belief. Rather adults have grown a liking to what their used to and wont change for society, because what they are doing works for them, and what they are comfortable with. I see no wrong in being comfortable in your own skin and what you do in your everyday life. Most things are worth the change, because it allows you to skip a step or two. But I believe some task you learn more with every step you take.

Reflection paper #1

I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, I have the passion. But there’s a whole another meaning to hands on when you look back at history and what teaching was really like. In the colonial times being a teacher wasn't a privileged, or a career. Being a teacher was like being an immigrant at a sweat shop. I guess education isn't mandatory when you are just programmed to function, and when you’re program to do your everyday job. Becoming a teacher didn't take four years to accomplish, you were lucky if you even took a year or two. Most teachers who taught in elementary were teenagers who were only teaching one or two years. Teachers never had the learning process, we have now. There were no preparation, no secondary school, and teaching skills were not necessary. It was found that most teachers were there to pay for their passage to America. People in the colonial times thought of teachers, as a joke. Teaching was never a career, just a temporary employment. Even today, we do what we love, what were good at. But if what you're doing isn't what you really want to do. How will others learn from your system? That's where the "sink or swim" system comes to play. Many teachers sank, along with their students during the colonial times. In 1823, Reverend Samuel Hall changed that. Students had a chance at a real education because Reverend Samuel Hall had established a "Normal School"; this includes Private schools, and elementary school grades to produce formal training in teaching skills. In 1839, Horace Man, established the first state support for "Normal Schools" in Lexington, and Massachusetts. This was a begging of a better future for our education system. Even though the school system changed for the better only so much good deed can go so far. Students were getting the education they deserved but what about the teachers? Don’t they have a say in this. In the 1920’s sexism was at its all time high. Even though teaching became a career it wasn’t fit for men. Men where known to do the handy work, or handle money. They had no reason to be in a classroom teaching students. Not only was it frowned upon for males to be doing a “woman” work, woman were not treated right either. The “Miss” had to sign a contract binding them to their studies. Their obligation to the school was a list that had to be followed or their contract didn’t mean anything. Teachers were not allowed to get married, have contact with men, not allowed to leave the house from 8p.m. until 6 a.m., not allowed to leave town without asking the permission of the chairman, and if they were caught drinking or smoking they would be let off at once, and we thought we had it bad. Never mind their salary, we complain about getting an average of 30,969 a year. In the colonial times they were only given 900 a year. Times could only get better, that’s why in the twentieth century the professional teachers training had gained support and were accepted population wise. In the 1900’s, elementary, and secondary education gained popularity, as well as the demand for better trained teachers. As for the “Normal Schools” they had expanded there teaching requirements to a three to four year programmed. In the 1980’s, this marked the beginning of the modern effort to “reshape” education. A highly publicized report which went by the name of Tomorrow’s Teachers and A nation Prepared, called for higher standards and increased professionalism for the nations teachers. They also called for an end to the undergraduate teaching major, to be replaced by master’s level degree in teaching. Still to this day, teachers don’t get the respect or the hard earn cash for what they do. Educating student’s to become high paid business major’s or lawyers, isn’t what life it’s about. Knowledge is the key to success, and your school system contributes to your life learned lessons, and accompanies you with the knowledge to be who you want to be and do what you love. In return we still suffer from lack of support and lack of funds.

Allow me to introduce myself.

Hello, my name is Catherine Mitchell. I just graduated high school, and came to Miami Dade because it was cheap, and Bright Futures covered all of it. Not to mention, I literally dread the day I have to pack my bags and leave Miami. I want to Major in Education and Minor in Sociology or Psychology. Both of my parents were teachers, my mother was a math teacher and taught at Barbra Golmen for fifteen years. As for my father he switched from teaching to engineering. He was a history teacher, and a good one at that. Even till this day he rambles on about the war, and what the Boston Tea Party was really like. I would love to become an English teacher, even though English isn't my strong suit. I know I would like to work with kids, it's a passion I've always had. In the beginning I wanted to be a consoler it was something I was good at, whether you asked or not. I would still love to do so, but I have to branch out to different opportunities and see where life takes me. During the summer, I was asked countless amount of times what my major was. As soon as I replied "Teaching" a negative response was soon to follow. I was never in it for the money. I do what I do because I'm happy doing it. Because in the long run I'd rather be doing what I love for less money, than getting myself into a degree that will make me money, yet my happiness isn't at its full potential. During my freshmen year in high school, I was introduced to a Youth for Christ organization. Since then, my opportunities started to open up and my passion for teaching grew stronger. Youth for Christ sponsors a teenage youth group called Campus Life. This isn't a normal youth group; it's the kind that keeps teenager out of trouble. With friends, games, knowledge, and a new lesson to learn every time you come back. Being a part of Campus Life has allowed me to show my true compassion and understanding for the cycle of events that happen daily, and how some events are beyond your control. Unfortunately Campus Life has a way of taking control of your life and has a way of getting in the way of my priorities. Looking at the past and seeing how easily life takes away your time is the reason why I learned to question almost everything I do. For in the long run, I like the challenge. Not so much to challenge G-d himself, which I've done. Yet to challenge my beliefs and my opinion on what I really do think. Information is given on a daily bases whether we chose to listen to it, or set it aside like it doesn't matter. Though it will affect us in the long run. I have taught myself to be very open minded to almost everything, though the tough part is being open minded to close minded people. I like to hear other people's opinion and see how they back their beliefs up, and see their passion. Because in the eyes of the beholder is the eyes of the receiver.