I think somebody said it in class: It’s about survival of the fittest.  There’s opportunity in some students, but not for the little ghetto poor kids in public schools, or should I say the Black students in public schools.  Although it seemed a little far-fetched earlier, but I bet there are some students that are suspended for wearing a hat.  They probably make little rules like that because they know that students feel that its stupid and rebel by consistently wearing hats to school. To me, this is a very sneaky way of targeting certain students and setting them up for failure.  School was designed to produce the same kind of people that have all jacked up in the first place: designed for middle class people to learn the rules of society and be successful.  We all know that middle class is totally different from living in poor and poverty stricken enviornment.  Further, some children have realized (most of the time, kids are smarter than we give them credit for, even the poor Black ones that most people think know absolutely nothing) that school is not designed for their culture, but rather for a culture that seems so far away and untouchable.  Therefore, the mentality that “this isn’t for me” comes about.  Then comes the domino effect: they start being disruptive in class and engaging in attention-seeking behavior.  This is their coping skill for a stressful and somewhat uncomfortable situation.  Breaking rules is a prime example of the “this ain’t for me” mentality; children feel that if Im not getting something realistive out of this, why should I follow these rules I think are stupid anyway.  Soon enough, they are suspended, sent to ISS, or expelled: Pushed away from the learning enviornment and safety that schools have for kids.  Where else can a child who doesn’t have support from many different angles of their life end up but prison.  I believe that school is set up to get rid of all the “rotten apples” as there are sub-consciously referred to before they hit mainstream society, hopefully.  If we get them out of school and in the streets, they’ll end up in prison making one less ”bad” person in society; Those who fit the what and where society wants them to be, and those who have the resources to do so are able to survive.  But those who don’t fit in, must vanish.  Why not start early?  My mission is to help each and every one of my students “fit in” so they can survive out here, because so many people don’t think they will.

I like the way one of the groups in class described how I was in high school: Socially Elite!  The words are a magnificent description of a person who is extremely high on the social bar, and I can honestly and proudly say that I was one of those individuals.  Social Elites are defined (by the members of this group in my class) as a person who can fluctuate successfully between the many groups that are formed in high school.  For example, A Thespian who gets invited to party with the Mean Girls, listens to music and poetry with the Artists, is a memeber of the Honors Club, and attends the games and after game celebrations with the jocks, cheerleaders, and dance team.  Well, I wouldn’t say that this is me exactly because at an all girls private Catholic High School, surprisingly we didn’t have many “groups” but we definitely had “clicks”.  Clicks included people from all groups, but they only associated with the individuals in their click for the most part.  Of course there were cool clicks and sort of un cool clicks, but clicks included members from several groups.  As a minority in a predominantly whie school, I was able to hang out with many different clicks and form different bonds with many different people.  I could sit at a different lunch table everyday, and it wouldn’t make a single difference.  I appreciate this experience because it shaped my outgoing personality as it is today.  (I was however, and honorary member of “The In Crowd”)!!!!!  Ha Ha!

I must say that Gardner has made me feel a lot better about myself in that he has classified 9 intelligences, several of which I fit in to.  I’ve always thought I was intelligent, I feel that I am smart and talented in many things (not just music).  However, I knew that math/logic, or even creative writing is not something that I have in me.  Therefore, my intelligence is hidden to most people, particularly teachers at my school, being that they are mostly looking for those two mentioned above in determining intelligence.  I thank Gardner for giving me something, my part in the intelligence circle.   Even though musical intelligence is one of two that I can relate too (the other being interpersonal intelligence) I am very much relieved that I fit in some how as “intelligent”.

After today’s exercise, I began to really think about and imagine just hard it is in America for children of a different culture.  Just knowing that you’re different, especially when it’s perceived in a negative way, can make you feel less of a person.  And then the possibility of coming into the classroom, which is supposed to be a safe and secure learning environment, and being treated as if you were less of a person by not only your peers but your teacher.  I really thought about what Mr. Dr Williams was saying about stripping them of what they know and are comfortable with and trying to make them something else (American). Telling a child, whether they speak with a Spanish accent or Black English, that they are not allowed to speak the language of their culture is sending the message: If your not like me, your nothing–So get like me! It’s no different than when the Europeans brought slaves from Africa.  We as educators should not strip our children of their own important and long-lived language and say that standard English is the only way to be.  What we should do however, is educate them on the when’s and where’s while building standard English skills.  I use the word building because our reading explained that an effective method would be to build on a language that they’re already comfortable with and just strengthen the skills.  If they can understand that while their language is important and valuable, so is standard English.  Therefore, in places such as school, work, or even talking with strangers standard English is important.  But, they should be free to talk as they will in places such as home, neighborhood, or even church!!  As for people who feel that accents, in particular Spanish, are low status, we just gone have to pray for ‘em

Although I’ve been to the King’s center several times, I’m always amazed!  Just to look at the pictures of African-Americans involoved in the Civil Rights Movement makes me proud to be African-American.  We watched a film on the children of the Civil Rights Movement, and the idea/question came up about whether or not you as a parent would allow your child to protest and march.  It was explained that parent’s had their children protest to protect their parents from going to jail which in turn would result in them not being able to work and pay bills.  The logic behind it makes perfect sense to me.  This issue was so important and crucial in the lives of African-American’s that they sacrificed the lives of their children; and I’m sure that these parents were just as crazy about their children’s safety as we are today If you can just imagine how bad something has to be for you to sacrifice the life of your offspring to make change happen.  It’s easy for us to say now in 2008 that we wouldn’t dare put our children at risk because we are not living the nightmare, we only see it on TV.   Honestly, I really can’t answer the question.

Aha!!!!  I shared with my classmates that I had an “Aha” moment when I realized that I have stereotyped families and individuals living in poverty.  But sadly, one of my stereotypes about poor people was not written on the board with all of the others that often come to mind. However, I know that I am not the only person who feels this way; unfortunately when I think of “poor people”, I think of African-Americans.  Now, (in just a week and a half of culture class) I question where my underlying assumptions (that I’ve never really thought about before) come from.  Why have I stereotyped individuals living in poverty as African-Americans.  So, now that I am aware or conscious about my assumptions I can begin transforming the way I see and think about things.  Now, I realize that a lot of the assumptions that I have (which I’ve never brought to the surface before) are so negative towards people of my own race.  I feel like I’ve almost been brainwashed!  

I enjoyed the conversations and activities today.  I realized that there are a lot of things I wanted to say, but felt a little uncomfortable saying them in class, partly due to my White counterparts.  In the stereotype discussion, I began to think about the stereotypes that we listed and Mr. Dr. Williams question about whether I believed some of them or not.  The answer is yes.  I can witness to several of the stereotypes that describe African-American’s and I can’t honestly say that I call every single one of them negative. But true indeed, there were more negative stereotypes for AA’s than for Whites.   For instance, the stereotype that all Black people are late.  I fit this “stereotype” because true indeed most of the time I’m late.  As a professional, however I know that in certain situation I need to be early and that is something that can definitely be done.  However, in most of my situations I am late.  Now, people can say that that’s negative and that I’m giving in to this particular stereotype, but thinking about it, I’m not late because I am Black, I’m late because I’m Courtney and I am a procrastinator.  The fact that I woke up this morning Black, is not because of my skin color it’s because as a woman who is a chronic procrastinator I woke up too late which in turn made me run late.  Interpret this as you will, this is my opinion!!

As far as the privilege conversation, I appreciate that the idea of privilege not being just a racial issue, but also an issue with socio-economic status, gender, sexuality, religion and so on.  I was privileged growing up in my opinion; I was well rounded with exposure to different things, I went to an excellent private school, my parents supported my in every possible manner, in addition to the financial advantages I had compared to other African-American’s around me.  I was even at more of an advantaged compared to some of my White school mates.  However, I knew that some of them had to bigger and better things than I had.  I don’t neccessarily think that I should have to give up my privileges, or even lessen them just to show that I recognize that others around me aren’t privileged.  I can understand however that since race is so powerful in our society, the fact that White privilege is more profound and talked about makes sense to me.  I can say that one privilege that White people do have is that they are White.  Even White people who are lower in social class than me are privileged because they are White.  So, I’ll probably come back with some thoughts later, but that’s what’s going on in my head now.

Not really sure what to expect, however I’m excited to get away and bond with my classmates that I will have for the next 2 years.  I’ll try to take whatever I can from the experience to help me on this journey. 

Im a little nervous about the coffee house!

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