Gentrification’s Impact on Schools Kelley Martin

While walking down Auburn Avenue today, it appeared to be such a shadow of what it was in the 1950’s and 1960’s.  Half torn down buildings, boarded up windows, buildings for lease that were once part of a vibrant thriving business and community center.  Many urban cities go through cycles of prosperity, then decline, and then years later may be the next area of real estate development.  The schools in the area are affected not only by the fluctuations  in funding and resources, but also in the students and the economical effects on them and their families.  The children will bring different baggage with them to school from their worries about possibly having to move to not having enough to eat or getting enough sleep.  All of these things affect their ability to think and learn.  School needs to be a safe place, not only physically but mentally for these children.  It’s up to us as teachers to make our classrooms a community where the children can feel safe enough to share so that we can help them learn the academics but also how to get along as a community.  It won’t be easy, but I’m hoping that through this program to learn some more strategies and find resources that can help me to accomplish this in my future classroom.

2 comments May 14, 2008 kelmart26

Reflections – Kelley Martin

Reading through the articles on children’s literature has really been a thought-provoking exercise. I never thought about the implied stereotypes of gender, the purpose of the main characters, and the roles that minority have served in children’s cartoons and literature. I personally have always loved The Little Mermaid, but I believe the next time I watch it, it will be with a more intent review. All along, I’ve viewed it as different from the Disney norm, in that the heroine was a red-head not a brunette or blonde. Another “stop in my tracks” moment occured while reading Linda Christensen’s article and how she had her high school students review cartoons with regards to cultural, racial, and gender stereotypes. Her summarization of Justine’s journal regarding the need to liberate women’s roles and how difficult and overwhelming that seems especially in light of how it affected her view of herself. If she strips away all of these stereotypes, what will she have to hang onto. I really relate to that, because I believe that’s why I don’t like to make such a deep look at my own beliefs because I’m afraid of what I will be left with. I know it’s important so I will continue to look at myself to cull away the old-school thoughts that are damaging my view of myself as well as those around me.

2 comments May 13, 2008 kelmart26

Blue Eyes – Kelley Martin

I can understand why some people have an issue with the method that Jane Elliott uses in the experiment of brown eyes versus blue eyes.  At first glance, it appears to be harsh although the lesson is very thought-provoking, and I believe full of truth.  In dealing with children we have to be extremely careful, and  I saw in the video that she explained it as an exercise to the children in the class before conducting it.  In considering the age of the children in her class, and presenting it as a time-constrained exercise she showed responsibility in conducting the experiment.  I think the moral of the lesson showing that people of color are judged and treated differently due to outside appearances is an awareness that I as a white woman often never consider.   I’ve never walked “in their shoes.”

In comparison, she could conduct a similar experiment in her workshop with a little more harsh reality since she was dealing with adults.  The group knew this was a workshop and a learning setting.  It didn’t make their feelings any less valid; her no-nonsense, no sugar-coating approach appeared to get the “blueies” to think.  Also, she briefly addressed issues concerning women and how they are often treated as children.  I agreed with her comments that as a woman I need to be competent, confident and forget about cute.  Knowing my emotional nature, I would have been one of the ones crying both out of sadness and anger at the injustice of knowing people do suffer from discriminations every day.  Awarness is only one small step toward ending stereotyping and unintentional discrimination in my own life.

4 comments May 12, 2008 kelmart26

Retreat Thoughts

Wow, there was so much information at this retreat. What’s history? What’s the best way to teach history to elementary age children? What is our responsibility as teachers? A lot to think about. I think one of the most eye-opening topics of discussion concerned the efforts of QECR. I had absolutely no idea that there was no federal mandate or right to public education. I guess I assumed because there is a Federal Department of Education with a Secretary of Education that a right to public education existed. I agree that standardized tests are not a good means of establishing a country-wide standard or base-level of guaranteed provisions for public education. They are not true indicators of knowledge because they don’t take into account test anxiety nor do they test in general enough fundamental educational concepts according to what I heard this weekend. I know that I want to check out the QECR website and look at what they’re doing and the information they’re gathering to promote a constitutional right to a quality education for all students. I’m looking forward to reading the next two articles and see where they lead us next.

1 comment May 9, 2008 kelmart26

Viva La Mexico

I thought it was really great getting to talk with the teachers from Jalapa (don’t know if it’s spelled correctly). Jorge was a lot of fun and very willing to share his hopes for his school. I believe he would truly welcome any of us to visit his class. From his description of his class, I think it might look a little like controlled chaos. Lots of talking, laughter, and ability to move as part of the learning process. I believe the typical American classroom might appear much more structured, even rigid.

See y’all at Serenbe. – KAM

Add comment May 7, 2008 kelmart26

Mission Statement for Class

I was thinking about our class mission statement and the rules, guidelines, standards that we are trying to establish.  Following is my attempt at a mission statement:

Our mission is to promote a positive forum for discussion that will lead to personal and community growth that will positively impact our future classes and students.

2 comments May 6, 2008 kelmart26
Tags: Mission Statement

This is a Test

Here’s my first test on my blog. 

Add comment May 5, 2008 kelmart26

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1 comment May 5, 2008 kelmart26