Kohn's Wonderful Way of Thinking- AP

 

A classroom has been an absolute prison for me my entire academic carrier, up until I stepped foot on a college campus. I feel extremely claustrophobic, it is never a comfortable temperature, the walls are boring, and the decorations are bland; overall not a good time. A dull and lifeless environment causes students to not want to learn, which is what this small reading is about. Ever since the recollection of time, classrooms are designed as a way to keep students contained in their learning environment, but quite frankly I have had more of a hard time learning than success with classroom learning. Classroom physical environments affect student achievement. The facility's structural features, such as inadequate lighting, noise, poor air quality, and deficient heating can undermine learning. The classroom's symbols, such as objects and décor, also influence student achievement. I have noticed that classrooms with LED lights, inspirational quotes, and student art work have better student success rate in classrooms; my friends and I thrive more in calm environments. A structured classroom, and a 'sense of purposeful clutter' often translates to a safe classroom. Kohn makes an interesting point that desks in a row, side by side from each other is the worst way for students to sit in a classroom. Students do tend to speak more in small group or pods in comparison to assigned seating. I noticed that as a college student, we speak more in groups of three or four, which Kohn also agrees is the best method of learning between students.  How Classrooms are Designed:

Troublemakers- Shalaby

Quotes from Troublemakers from Shalaby: "Our children are learning that only some lives matter, that only some deaths are tragic, that only a precious few get relief from suffering". A quote such as this one is going to be brought up constantly. The news is constantly flooded with white washed, recycled news until riots start because there is no justice being done for colored individuals. Look at what happened with George Floyd; not one person from the media or government cared about what happened regarding the white cop standing on that mans neck until the black community went wild. We are teaching kids to not care until you're dead, but what about all that in between. Children should know and understand the struggles that African Americans faced in this country and also the rich contributions they have made to its progress. Black history is hard to talk about, but it builds students confidence and coaxes them to take life into their own hands. 

Quote: "In the US department of Education, black preschoolers are 3.8 more likely to be suspended than their black peers".  I recently started working in a kindergarten special inclusion class for service learning and it is a lot different than what I expected. You would think that between 4 teachers, they would have the same patience and kindness towards all the students regarding of their color, considering how young they are. You can blatantly tell the 4 white teachers are so quick to throw out or make the colored boys go for a walk if they have moments, in comparison to the white kids that get to sit on their lap and get babied
. Granted, there are white students that get suspended in that class, but it is absolutely true that black students are more likely to get suspended. Greater school segregation was associated with increased behavioral problems and alcohol/drug consumption among black children, especially for girls. Racial Inequity in Public Classrooms:

Quote: "Criminalizing troublemakers is our historic, cultural routine". It is hard as a future educator to be held to this standard that most teachers are truly not good teachers; they are biased, impatient, and impersonal. More specifically, it is so easy to send someone to the principals office if a student misbehaves, which is how most educators handle situations. For ages, white people used their superiority as a way to criminalize students. 

Ethnic studies and Precious Knowledge- AP

Recently in FNED 246, there have been numerous films we watched regarding the idea that the American school system is not broken, but genuinely designed to be this way. While the reading expresses a story about a boy named Carlos who has little to no interest in school, and finds comfort/ a sense of "home" when being in Chicano studies, a film entitled 'Precious Knowledge' also focuses on how Chicano studies impacted not only hispanics and black people, but those of any race, including white people. These two pieces have the same common ground; white authorities have threatened to overthrow Chicano study classes. I believe that Americans as a whole have abused the fact that others seek safety in their country, which is foreign to them. America realizes that those of different ethnic backgrounds need us more than we need them; they come here to seek safety and support, which is something that often becomes thrown in their face. We as Americans stereotype every race other than our own because we have internal white supremacy that started from conception. Asians are smarter in math, hispanics will not graduate efficiency; those are all titles we have clipped on to those of other ethnic backgrounds based on our own insecurities. Research shows that compared with white students, black students are more likely to be suspended or expelled, less likely to be placed in gifted programs and subject to lower expectations from their teachers. Where you come from or the color of your skin does not determine your academic skills, as stated in the film, kids do not have a disfunction for learning, but for school in general. Take a look at The University of Minnesota's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity. Something that more colleges should provide. UM commitment to diversity