Journal 8

I have honestly enjoyed this class. Having had Professor Warren for my ENC1101 class made this class a little easier since I knew what to expect with her teaching style. I actually enjoyed the films we watched, as they really opened my eyes to things I wouldn’t have normally paid attention to. I would have to say the films Dive, Waiting for Superman, and Forgiving Dr. Mengele really touched my heart. I think being able to pick a topic from the films we watched also helped in my writings. For me, it is easier to write from my perspective rather than being given a topic and writing from that.

            The only thing a little challenging about the class was keeping up with the blogs. I didn’t mind posting and it was great to read other peoples perspectives, but keeping track of who and what essays I commented on was a little challenging. I’m still not sure I’m caught up on the comments! Overall I think the class went well. I believe if there were an easier way to track the comments, the class would have been perfect.

Teacher's Matter

I can recall every single one of my elementary school teachers. These particular teachers had such a huge impact on my learning experience. My favorite teacher was Mrs. K. Davis; she taught my second grade class. Mrs. Davis was very tall with long blonde hair and always dressed to impress! She was creative, a ton of fun, and most importantly, she truly cared about her students. She went out of her way to make every student feel accepted and to make sure everyone was on the same educational page. Mrs. Davis was an exceptional teacher. I can remember going back to visit her every year until my family moved across town. The teachers of today do not carry the same qualities as Mrs. Davis did, and sadly it reflects within the students. I am a firm believer that teachers make lasting impressions on their students. An exceptional teacher will make for an exceptional student.   

            Education is the most valuable tool a person can own. The higher the education, the further one will excel in life. America is not receiving the education it deserves. There are many factors that play into why the education system is failing Americans. First, I believe it starts at home with the parents. The parents have to do their job in helping to ensure their child is studying, doing their homework, understanding the work, and getting the help needed if their child doesn’t understand the work. The parents have to be involved in their children’s academics in order for their child to succeed. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to be actively involved in your child’s academic life. It’s easy to get too busy in life and expect your child to take it upon themselves to get their homework or their studying done on their own. The reality of it is, without the push from their parents, chances are the child will only dedicate half the time needed, if at all to their schoolwork. If the parents aren’t involved, the kids assume their parents don’t care and that’s where the downward spiral begins.

            I also believe teachers play a huge part in how successful a student can become. There are plenty of exceptional teachers out there such as Mrs. Davis, but there are just as many mediocre teachers. I can recall a teacher in middle school telling the class that she will get paid whether we pass the class or not. I now know this is true compliments of teacher tenure. “Teacher tenure is the increasingly controversial form of job protection that public school teachers in all states receive after 1-7 years on the job. As of 2008, 2.3 million teachers have tenure. Proponents of tenure argue that it protects teachers from being fired for personal or political reasons, and prevents the firing of experienced teachers to hire less expensive new teachers. They contend that since school administrators grant tenure, neither teachers nor teacher unions should be unfairly blamed for problems with the tenure system.” (Procon.org) While I certainly understand why teacher tenure was started in the 1800’s, I also know this is a different day and age and if teachers aren’t preforming then neither are the students they teach. Teachers of today have to be creative in their teachings if they want to make a difference and see their students excel. With our schools filled with a variety of students, we need quality teachers. Teachers, that truly care and not just there for a paycheck.

            “It is estimated that 7,000 students drop out of school every year, teachers account for about 60% of a student’s ability to succeed and students with higher performing teachers progressed three times as fast as those with low performing teachers (Oprah.com).” Given those statistics, it seems as though something needs to be done to fix our system. What I find even more shocking is that in 1971 it cost $4,300 per student and in 2010 the average cost per student has risen to $9,000 and yet there has been no improvement in reading and math scores since 1971!

            Now, I may not be a genius when it comes to fixing our educational system, but as a parent with two children in public schools, I do know that having an exceptional teacher matters. I also believe that the elementary and middle school teachers are the most important and influential teachers in our students lives. It is during this time our students are growing up and if the teachers can get them interested in learning and keep their attention, they have a more successful chance in excelling in their education. Teachers make more of an impact in our children’s lives than we realize. I know I had several teachers throughout my life that really inspired me to learn and I also had many teachers who didn’t. The one thing I do know is that teachers truly matter.

Journal 7

Wake up America

            Education is the key to a successful future. America needs to wake up and realize the future of the United States lies in the hands of our youth. It really saddens me that little can be done in our educational system to ensure our children’s future. America seems to think we are invincible and still the greatest nation, but if we are behind in our education, how can that be so? Education is the heart of our success.

            When it comes to education I am somewhat passionate. I wasn’t always as passionate since I am a statistic. I dropped out of school when I was only sixteen years old. My nana was sick, my sister lived in Tallahassee, and my mom was trying to work full time and take care of my nana. So I thought it best I quit school and do my part to help out. Now, here I am at the ripe age of 34, trying to finish my education.

            The school system has certainly changed since I was in school. I have two children in public schools and I’m very fortunate that one is in a magnet school and the other had the option to attend a somewhat passing school across town. Before my kids were sent to other schools, both were in failing schools. I can honestly say that the teachers my kids had weren’t that fabulous. Most were first or second year teachers who just didn’t have the patience to deal with the students. It takes a special kind of teacher to get through to the students of today. A teacher needs to be inspiring, caring, compassionate, patient and most importantly, have the passion to really want to teach and make a difference in a child’s life. With that said, having just learned about tenure, well, that really upsets me. Something needs to be done to rid the schools of the teachers who don’t care, the teachers that are just there for a paycheck. Because at the end of the day, our children are our future and if they aren’t properly educated, America will fall.  

Portrayal of Women

         The media, in its many forms, is a great way to stay up to date on current events around the world. However, the media is also responsible for its influence in the way women are portrayed. Society is easily influenced and the media is the greatest influencer. Women are told through the media that in order to be accepted socially, one must maintain their appearance. Women are under constant scrutiny to always look beautiful and to be thin; and if you aren’t thin enough, you aren’t attractive.  The portrayal of women in media is quite discrediting. Women have fought long and hard to have a voice, to be respected and to be considered as equals; and yet in the eyes of the media, we are no more than our physical appearance. What’s even more disheartening is that when a woman is considered “beautiful” and “intelligent,” her intelligence is overlooked because of her beauty.

            As a woman myself, and a not so little woman I might add, I do feel a constant pressure to look younger and be thinner. Most commercials are aimed at women with the next new thing in beauty products, or the next new diet fad. These same commercials feature mostly younger, thinner women and sometimes even celebrities selling the product as a way to make you want to try their products. The media has shaped the way we are supposed to look and completely overlook our brains.

            I remember my mom saying “you can only get by on your looks for so long, but your brain my dear will take you further than you ever expected.” Women have fought fiercely since the early 19^th century to be accepted as equals. Women have fought to prove that we are not just the pretty little housewives of the kitchen, but that we have brains that can be used to contribute to make our country more successful. However, the media doesn’t see women for their brains, only their beauty. Let’s take Sarah Palin for instance. She is a beautiful, intelligent woman who started her political career in 1992 earning a seat on the Wasilla City Council. From there she went on to become Mayor and eventually Governor of Alaska. Sarah was picked to be the Vice President running mate on the John McCain ticket in 2008. I think it’s safe to say, the media picked her apart with every mistake that may have been made and concentrated on her appearance. One day Sarah would be made fun of  in the media because of the way she spoke, criticized for her clothing the next day, and objectified as a sex object another day. It didn’t matter what she did, she was constantly under the eye of the media. Most of the media was negative, never concentrating on the good, positive, intelligent decision making that she had done as Governor. There are many more examples of this happening, this is just the most recent I can think of.

            The media shows you what it wants you to see. I understand that is their job. It is their job to promote all kinds of products, but being that they are highly influential they should also promote positive images for the young people of today. There should be some kind of balance. If the media insist on portraying women based on their physical appearance, they should also portray women based on their intelligence. Women are not the only ones the media targets. They portray men as the strong, masculine type, the money-makers of the family. If men don’t display this type of image then they are considered not manly enough.

            The media isn’t all bad they’re just out of balance. There are so many beautiful, intelligent women in our world, but they are short changed over their appearance. Condoleezza Rice, Hilary Clinton, and Brownie Wise are just a few that are very successful but often don’t receive the credit that’s due. Women may have fought long and hard to become accepted in a man’s world and sadly it seems we still have a ways to go.

Journal 6

Portrayal of Women

            After watching the movie Miss Representation, I had a lot of mixed emotions.  First, women have fought long and hard to have a voice, gain respect and be considered as equals, and yet the media continues to portray women as they see fit. It’s really quite concerning. As a woman, it’s hard enough living in these times of hardships, but then you have the media constantly reminding us that we have to look a certain way or act a certain way. It’s almost degrading.

            One of our classmates pointed out that women who enter the media field, whether it be film, modeling, or journalism, knew what they were getting into and therefore can’t be upset for the way they are portrayed. I can see why this classmate would think that, but most women don’t sign up to become sexually objectified, they sign up because they want to become rich and famous and some even hope to change the world by using their celebrity status. So what about the women in politics? The media objectifies them just as they do the women in film and modeling. My thought is this; women, no matter what profession they enter will always be scrutinized. Women have come such a long way since the early 1900’s, but still have a much longer way to go before we can truly be accepted for our brains, not just our beauty.