Reflection paper 12

What does the future hold?

After Sputnik the National Defense Education Act took place which revolution schools curriculum everywhere. Sputnik shared a common vision; things must change for the better. This is why the replaced the current content of topics and information with curriculum based on ideas and the modes of scientific question and mathematical problem solving. In past generations, only writing, and reading were important to the towns’ people. They only needed to learn to communicate with higher authority, and become priest. Society needed a change, they needed to better themselves and improve to benefit themselves. They learned that history shouldn’t repeat itself, and instead of learning about writing and reading. They could put logical thinking and create a solution to life’s problems. And what better way to do it, then introduce background knowledge and a hypothetical problem to kids in classrooms. While adding the curriculum they had also added supplies replacing textbooks with instructional materials that included films, activities, and readings. This would allow students with hands on activities allowing the students to get a real feel of the work that they could be doing. This revolution was an upgrade for education, meaning it was an upgrade for society. Kid’s were usually born into a family business and never had a say in what he or she wanted. Now that the schools are giving them a variety of activities and curriculum is allowing kids to see different sides to a job. This is also allowing them hands on action to become more experience and more knowledgeable to their career and take their liking and go further with their research and skills. The Sputnik was an improvement for education in the U.S. it allowed us to better ourselves so we can have more variety jobs, and more experience workers. It also allowed the kids to get a feel for what different jobs are out their and presenting them opportunities also presents possibilities of a better future. Allowing certain activities and criteria is giving children the possibility to create goals and expectations to look forward to in the future. What they do in the class room, is to improve and duplicate what they do in real life. Just giving them more time to practice and really know what they want to do in life.

Reflection paper 11

What does it have to do with you?
History is always repeated, because we let history repeat itself. The Socrates believes that the justification of their life is life and death. There is no I wish I lived longer, or I wish I could have done something different. Their apology to the world is life and death itself. Socrates has given the modern western education their philosophies to use and expand on. One philosophy that Scorates brought to western education was “The necessity of doing what one thinks is right, even in the face of universal opposition.” Unfortunately this has not impact the western education, in fact society itself has no room for individuality, because everyone is grouped up either way. Although you do not have to be an individual to believe this philosophical idea, what you think is right, might be right. Many people actually might think its right, and there you have reformed another group with ideas to follow, and that is all Scorates did, used their knowledge to help them grow. To grow is to question, and even though the Scorates believed they are not knowledgeable, they question the unthinkable just to make a point. Back then that was immoral and was punishing for, now it is creating better solutions for life’s problems. Everyone needs happiness, it’s what we strive to find as individuals. Scorates saw happiness as “What kind of person should I be” rather than “How I can succeed?” This strengthens our mentality as mankind to come together as a society rather than an individual. Such as survival of the fittest, they were taking back into how to work with one another, rather than how can this benefit me. In modern education, we are dependent on one another, to learn things we can not teach our selves. Skills are mastered over practice, and in our society we practice what we are good at daily and that is our job. We then venture off into different fields depending on what we like to view other skills to our liking. Happiness is also life, “The most important thing is not life, but the good life.” A large amount of us will take life for granted, never living in the moment, and always wondering the “what if’s”. People have even gone so far to be frozen when they die, so they can be born again. The Scorates has taught us to embrace life, take it as it comes; once your life is gone there is no turning back. The Scorates also lived by not believing in G-ds or setting up false G-ds. They believed that to believe in such corrupting matters went on through the youth. One example would be Callias it was wrong to not be moral and philosophical, worst of all he was sexual too. Now a-days talking about sex is still an awkward conversation to bring up it is also very conservers. This also related to western education, where religious views are also a very conservers subject. Everyone has their own beliefs and we should end it there, that what the Scorates taught us, to learn from their mistakes, not remake them. The Socrates believed that what their beliefs and morals were confusing even to them. This stands true today, with religion, sex, and identity roles. We talk about our morals and what is right and what is wrong. Yet people will still believe what they want to believe. What could be put on paper, doesn’t change how they feel about the subject. Words are only words until you give it a meaning, though people have different interpretations towards everything. So in reality we are confused about our own beliefs and mortality. It’s what we make of it that brings us together, and as long as we have a group who follows us, we have a strong moral, or belief.

Reflection paper #9

Only you can judge.
In Ancient Egypt, their education was based on what you would give back to the community, this does not different much now a days. Considering we teach our children to succeed and be the best that they can be, and the only way they can accomplish that is giving labor and work hours into our community. Another similarity is how the young imitate adult behavior, it might not be as severe as it was back then, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Kids imitate sign’s like food, and water, they later grow up to manipulate these meaning into what they want, and how they can get it. As for the Ancient Egypt their kid’s new right from wrong, and right from rude. Their parents kept them in checked doing anything to stay out of trouble, and looked down on from other tribal members. Home schooling came natural for Egyptians they had no other choice, depending on their status or rank was whether or not they received an education. Unlike now, were it is mandatory to install your kid into school at the age of six. They also teach different curriculum, the Egyptians would teach then how to do their day to day “job”, Were as in our school system we are required to teach Math, English, Science, Social Studies, Art, and Music. These subjects allow students to see the academic and creative side of work, allowing them to use their left and right side of the brain, to process more knowledge and more creativity. Instead of memorizing what they learned and reciting it, they had to learn the material and practice what they learned. Both boys, and girls are allowed to attend schools in the new age, were as in Ancient Egypt elderly would only teach the boys. Even though our technology and laws have change, allowing everyone to get an education, not everyone can afford it. Just because the opportunity is given to you, doesn’t mean you have the finances to run with it. School’s still offer fee’s and special shot’s to even consider being allowed into school. You have to see a doctor and make sure you have all your shots, then special fee’s like science, and computer are given out each year for lab supplies, paper and ink. Nothing is free in society, if you want to better yourself you must have the money to do so. Which is what Ancient Egypt had to go through; their lower class didn’t have enough money for education or even for scribble school. Instead their kids had to learn what they catch is what they eat, and how they make their money.

reflective paper 10

A believer in me.
I believe the statement “The teacher is the gatekeeper.” Is a very accurate statement, and hold true. Elementary teachers especially hold the title “gatekeepers” to high standards, as they should. Being an elementary teacher you have to teach kids the basics, the beginning to no end. You teach your kids what they’ve never been taught, and you install in them the right and wrong. You remember your elementary teachers if they hold a significance in your life. Most teachers don’t but there are a few that do. These teachers are the “gatekeepers” to the schools. If your teacher has successfully taught you everything she knows and you are able to use it in everyday life, the “gatekeeper” has done its job. Our job as teachers isn’t to let you eat us out of our misery. We must teach you and inform you on things you don’t know, but will learn and be able to put them into good use. What is the point in reading, if you don’t apply it by reading menus, books, magazines, articles? What about math, why teach you numbers if you can’t add, subtract, divide, multiply, or even count money. I believe being a gatekeeper is to show you beyond your schools setting and allow you to use your knowledge outside of the class room. You are in elementary for only so many years, once you get out what will happen then? You continuously grow, and continuously gain knowledge for your benefit. How am I to not let you expand your knowledge and impact your own life? The gatekeeper has an impact because they teacher holds the key to your future. Even though you send your kid to school to learn, unfortunately there are only a few who can grasp the information, and let the “light” shine on a student. Of course since all teachers can’t all be “gatekeepers” we have standardized test. Third grade students recently have been failing the FCAT because they can’t read. Is it because teachers aren’t doing their job, or is it because the student’s aren’t retaining the knowledge? Either way, our “gatekeepers” are slowly disappearing, without new ones to replace them. It’s hard to find a good teacher now a-days because of the passion and knowledge about a classroom, and how students react towards their teachers. Being a teacher isn’t a walk in the park, it’s as if you have three jobs on your shoulders, a teacher, parent, and day care. Yet half of the teachers out there don’t even do the teaching part. There too busy being a day care then giving the children the knowledge that they need. Hopefully we can get back our “gatekeepers” and shine some light on what our next generation has to offer us.

reflective paper 8

Waves that reform education
The waves that reformed education, the goal of the first wave was to raise educational quality by requiring more courses and more testing of students and teachers performance, this continues to be the strongest wave. The second wave was again to state governors who promoted “improvement” and “accountability.” Teachers were to be empowered, and given more control over their schools. Children facing racial and educational barriers were addressed. The third wave which was the most determined wave. Reformers calling “reformulating” our nation of schools, schools should be seen as more than educational facilities. They should provide health care, social services, and transportation. The services that need to bring the child into successful adulthood should be offered at the school. I believe that the most determined wave holds more dominate because many people wish to meet these expectations. Yet these expectations aren’t realistic. Education isn’t paying enough attention to how they should support their teachers. Recently they have gone back on their agreements to pay higher pay which was a sign agreement. In all economical needs educations funding get cut first. Medical insurance you can get else where for cheap if you have the right insurance, or if you don’t have enough money to pay for these things there are other ways to get it. Child care takes real good care of their children, it isn’t until children turn eighteen when things stop being cheap. Schools are already looked as a social, cultural, behavioral, and teaching environment. But schools shouldn’t take care of the basic necessities that a parent should have taken care for their kid. Parents leave to much responsibility to the schools and most important to the teachers. How do you expect your children to get a decent education, when we have all these other barriers that are distracting them from their education? Parents need to start taking in some responsibility they had kids for a reason, now they need to man up and pay for what ever is needed for their children. Heath care and social services shouldn’t be done through the school. If you are in dire need for such things, you should take the time out of your busy life and get what you need situated. It’s ridiculous how parents are placing their needs and responsibility on the school. Schools operate eight hours in a day, where teachers are educating and teaching their kids about social life, cultural experiences, and exploring the educational system, while relating it to life. We already have numerous interruptions with kids getting picked up, or someone needs something, which is taking valuable time away from the learning environment. Transportation has already been given to those who need it most. I believe if you live a few blocks away from school, you can walk there! If you parents don’t agree there are other arrangements that you can make to arrive safely at school. Society is trying to make necessity needs from schools who can barely afford hiring high educated teachers, never mind living to their promises of giving the teachers a raise.

reflective paper 7

Where the young die trying
The Egypt education came easy, most male children were educated. They learned the jobs that were past down from generation to generation, the type of jobs they soon would with hold in the future. Young men where home schooled by their fathers, they learned “on the job training” day in and day out. They never took on their own careers, because they never had the choice. Their choices consist of education, and on the job training. Of course these weren’t really a choice, more of a mandatory need for survival. But the sons never questioned it, they did as they were told, and never looked outside the box. As for the middle class they learned their education from elders who learned from noble men. Their concepts were familiar to all levels of the Egyptian. They learned life lessons which related to society in that “truth-telling and fair dealing” which were beneficial and desirable habits to obtain rather than be deceitful and be injustice and to lie. They also learned “justice, wisdom, obedience, humanity, and restraint” these were offered to Egyptians as “The way of life’, and a simple routine. These educational principles were summarized in “ancient Egyptian treatises.” the advice that was given in the “ancient Egyptian treatises’, were to ensure success and have the states needs met. Citizens did not disrespect or become rebels of their society, they knew what was to become of them and they did so. As for the king, he was the only one who did not personally tutor his children. The king had royal tutors tutoring the princes and princesses who also learned literature, mathematics, writing, and grammar. Depending on what type of upper or lower class you were born into, was whether or not your received your education. Unfortunately for woman this was not the case. Women were not schooled, they learned house hold jobs, and also learned how to sing, dance, and play musical instruments. The musical industry was implanted on woman in case they were to work in the temple or become a singer, or a musician. Women were taught from an early age that their importance were not as great as men. In their life time they must depend on men, so that they can survive. And as for men they were not allowed to explore the outside, of their society and have choices as to what job they would desire. The only boys who were to go out of their family profession were adopted boys, who had to learn the ways of their new family profession. In Mesopotamia, formal education was practical and aimed to train scribes and priests. Their education taught them basic reading, writing, religion to higher learning in law, medicine, and astrology. Young children from the upper class were prepared to become scribes; they ranged from copyists, to librarians and teachers. As fro priests it was said “that they would be teach in numerous temples and one priests for each temple”, being allowed in the temple shows the “supremacy” of priestly education. The methods of teaching and learning were memorization, oral repetition, copying of models, and individual instruction. To copy an exact script was the hardest thing to do in education, and therefore if you mastered it you would receive “excellence” in learning. Their life style was the same as the Egyptians. They were taught at a young age what was to become of them, their parents taught them, habits, religious beliefs, and on the job training at a young age. They were taught never to question the things they do; just to do it. If not they would be frowned upon.

reflection paper 6

Writing began 40,000 years ago, but it was not sentences, or even paragraphs. It all started with symbols and pictures. In Southwest Asia their simple pictures were used as labels for basic farm production. This was helpful so they could teach the other citizens how to practice the same structure before they got into the business. Kind of like teaching, we are taught different subjects before we go into our jobs, and learn hands on experience. Southwest Asia had developed out of economic convenience. They used their symbols to show other factories in the town how to run the way they do, because they are more efficient at what they do, and get things done. These ancient cavitations had changed the way how others looked at communication. Communication was not only done by conversing with one another, but they could also drawl things and as long as it had the symbol that everyone will recognize they could converse through that. What they didn’t know is later down the years other towns and societies would be able to use the same message. They would take there experience and expand on their knowledge. The more complex pictographic tokens who also devised to label manufacturing goods were the Sumeria. The Sumeria was also used for their writing for economic data purposes. They maintain their society in pictographic token, what they need, what they were running out of, and what they should invest more in. Sumerians developed a writing system known today as cuneiform. These two great ancient cavitations helped established the invention of writing by putting it down whether it was writing or symbols. There was documented proof of what other societies went through, whether it was their struggles or times that simply eased by. Later on we learned to make symbols into sounds. Different symbols had different definitions from what the world originally meant. English spelling is unbalanced and often dependent on semantic factors as well as phonetic factors don’t make it any less of a true writing system.

Reflective paper 5

When a culture goes through their rights of passages ceremony this is when a boy becomes a man, and from then on his whole world changes. This relates with teaching, because every culture is in your class room. The things you teach may relate to one kid but not the other. Teachers are not here to give special attention to every single kid in her class. Still as teachers we are meant to respect other cultures beliefs even if we don’t agree with them. Their cultures shape a person from who he is to what he wants to become. Being a teacher we play a major role in what our future generation wants to become. Depending on what we teach them, how we teach them and a big impact on guiding them in the right direction, the rest of the journey is up to the student. During the rites and rites of passages ceremonies, these students have been put through fear, courage, and bravery. While fear was installed at such a young age, bravery and courage take a main role in how a man is to represent himself to his society. This role is also played in schools. A man with pride and courage must be dealt with different care than a man raised in a different background. Teachers are not their just to teach, they also deal with social aspects in society in their classrooms. If you think going into teaching is just giving a child an education and moving them on in life, you have another thing coming to you. Teachers are built with charismatic care, courage, and the strength to know when the teacher can not help the student anymore and must send the student to hire authority. Teachers are presented with hundreds of kids each year, some teachers make a lasting impression on a kid, and therefore they go above and beyond. But, the reality is half of your students will go in and out of your classroom without a care in the world. The initiation rites and the rites of passage ceremonies students have gone in and out of their society just like any other kid that grew up in their culture. Their teaching ended when they went out through those forest doors, just like those students end their journey with you once they walk down the stage and receive their diplomas. It doesn’t mean life stopped, it just means they have moved on to bigger and better things.

Reflection paper 4

What we see, and what they want you to see.
What I learned from Early Human Phylogeny is that everyone will adapt and become more knowledgeable then the previous species. We are taught to better ourselves and to our run the person next to us. Though there will always be a few missing parts for example in the Phylogeny the “Sanhelanthropus tehandensis, and the Prrorin tugensis” weren’t linked with any particular group. Could this be that what they had to offer wasn’t passed on because of lack of communication. Or was it because our first species skipped a step because what they had to offer wasn’t at a greater power from what they originally know. We learn that as we grow our information doesn’t die, we pass on our legacy and hope that some one else can benefit through our trouble, and provide a safe way of surviving. In Hominids after each generation they saw the difference whether it was the brain, the body, or how they used different tools for survive. They were still evolving generation after generation, improving what they already know, and learning what has not been taught. In Lucy case I believe that back then our communication wasn’t as keen as it is today. What if we were in the same community just never meet? Chimps waddle as Lucy walked. What if our ancestors had a mutation and that was how our chimp became a Lucy. A mutation or a virus which our body accepted and slowly changed our body structured. No two humans are identical, even when they produce an offspring you have your father, mother, and your own fragment and DNA that makes you, who you are. It is known that AIDS came from a virus or a mutation what makes you cancel out that maybe we were mutated along the line. That we are originally supposed to look like Chimps, but have some type of virus in us that label us as humans. Lucy is also an example of a midget, what if we originated from midgets though our chromosomes decided to mutate with what ever our environment was feeding us and took an adaption to allow us to have growth spurts. We all know that human migrate where they once live isn’t where they always lived. It was proven that our ancestors were originated in Africa and then migrated to Europe and Asia. Where we originated is not always what we learned and how we evolved from our beginners point. I believe we migrated to better ourselves. Africa probably didn’t have all the resources we needed or wanted. Or perhaps it might have been too dangerous as the population grew. Wild life came into play because expanding out means other parts much reach further out or have a mutual boundaries. The key point is not to look at where they originated from but why did they migrate and how did they survive.

Reflection paper 3

What we know, and what they want you to know.

During elementary and secondary education, you are either born prejudice or adapt to the difference of society. Luckily you don’t know the difference until you reach high school. In elementary I realized that the competiveness came out in both girls and boys. Sure when it came to lunch “Woman were from Venus and Men were from Mars” just like 1+1=2 the equation was as simple as that. The competitive side usually stopped when we got out of math or spelling bees. Even when it came to physical education we had competition. We had a girl name Victoria E; she was the fastest runner in PSN. The second best was a boy named Stephan R, can you believe that! With all that physical strength and competitiveness a girl beat a guy? I guess we can’t take all of the credit; she later became involved in cross country and was naturally a runner by birth. Even though it’s one of those rare cases, boys are usually better at physical and competitive sports and activities. Now when music or art came along, I never heard a boy say I can sing better or higher than you can. Or I can drawl a perfect circle better than you can. The boy’s stuck to their elements as well as the girls stuck to their creativeness. No lines crossed, no questions asked. My experience with my teachers learning style was more on the transformation approach. We learned our multiplication by sitting down in a group and memorizing a song in a rhyme, exactly how it was 3x3 is 9 3x4 is 12. Of course it sounded more sync and cool back when I was 8. I realized female teachers have a more social and expressive way in teaching the class rather than males. My 5th grade teachers made us memorize our time tables, every Friday we had a sheet of paper handed to us, and only had a minute to complete as much as we could from 1 through 12 at what ever number you were on. If you could finish all of them and correctly you would move on to the next level, for example instead of being on your ones time table you advanced on to twos. This killed me, I couldn’t think everything so crammed in and rushed. I knew my multiplication, but when I was put under pressure, I cracked. If I were to go back in time I would have my teachers use the social action approach. Some kids don’t know the basic of being a kid, their parent’s pressure then straight into intelligence and learning that they skip their childhood, which could emotionally affect them in the long run. Not every student will learn how you teach on what they’ve learn. But they will learn what they know on how you teach.