Blog Post 10

After reading Kelly Gallagher's Readicide I came to really enjoy the text for what it is and the information that it posits as being the death of deep and enriching reading in the public education system. At first, like most things, I was hesitant but I came to develop a deep appreciation for this book because it shares similar sentiments about education, reading, and public education that I do. But even more importantly is it gave me a way to confront and, in a way, battle what she calls readicide. This is a book that should be a requirement for all future teachers to read because it so articulately describes the differences that we all share as learners and educators, and how we interpret a text can be very different; either for enjoyment or value. That is what is important, being able to decipher yourself what you're reading as being enjoyable or something that you can get value out of. I am sure educators out in the field, right now, have to make students read certain texts that they themselves are not fond of. How can someone teach a novel or play when they themselves have no interest in teaching it? That only breeds lackadaisical educators that go through the motions day in and day out and benefits nobody. Something that attests to this as well as a takeaway for me personally was when Gallagher writes, "students may or may nor like the novel, but I want all of them to understand the value that comes from reading it- a value that will help them become smarter people long after they leave school" (57). While I agree with this sentiment, what happens when the educator has no drive, no passion, and is lukewarm with their instruction? The important aspect of this to me is that yes, students will read texts that they hate (I've done it and I am sure you have too) but I like to think I had some pretty damn good educators. I cant imagine being placed in a class where the teacher just does not care about you, or your education.  

Blog Post 8

I feel like the term "social justice" is thrown around a lot in our contemporary society, so, lets define it right now before I officially begin this blogpost. The definition of social justice is "the fair and just relation between the individual and society" which seems like a pretty fucking rational thing to be asking for as a society. In general, social justice is an interest of mine because of the American philosopher John Rawls who once stated "Each person possesses an inviolability founded on justice that even the welfare of society as a whole cannot override. For this reason justice denies that the loss of freedom for some is made right by a greater good shared by others." (A Theory of Justice, Rawls, 3-4). Each person has these innate rights that have been founded on the principles of justice, yet the greater good of society has the tendency to marginalize and oppress those that do not come from great beginnings, yet great things are bestowed on those who come from small beginnings. Basically, what I am trying to say is that all human beings should be given the right of an educational system that truly has the student’s best interest at heart. For example, Rawls created a fun thought experiment that he called "The Veil of Ignorance", but before I get to that imagine yourself in two standings. One where you live in poverty stricken areas, are harassed by the public for various reasons, are looked down upon because of the color of your skin, and your education doesn't care about you because you are not seen as being important enough for attention. Now, on the other hand imagine yourself living in wealth where you are able to be free from the judgments from society, and you attend the highly lauded private school. What position would you want to be in? And what if you could change the way that society looked at social justice and reform. The veil of ignorance wants you to imagine yourself being, almost like, a tabla rasa but Rawls says that, "no one knows his/her place in society, his/her class position or social status; nor does he/she know his/her fortune in the distribution of natural assets and abilities, his/her intelligence and strength, and the like.". The main point is for you to stop and think about "those personal considerations that are morally irrelevant to the justice or injustice of principles meant to allocate the benefits of social cooperation.". This is important to social justice. This idea is important for the establishment of a just relation between the individuals and the society that they inhabit. 

Post 7

Right from the beginning I liked what I was reading because it felt tangible, it felt like something that a lot of students face as they become older and realize how they fit into the society at large around them. The focus on dialogue is of major importance in facilitating individual student empowerment, social change, and can lead to a better understanding of how we, as humans, operate throughout our society and how we are influenced by our culture. I found it interesting that new methodological approaches to teaching the way that race operates was being implemented, and working. The authors discuss how movies and powerful visual imagery are more practical ways to teaching and educating students on race relations rather than Huck Finn. I understand though because who really wants to read Huck Finn and be able to discuss all of the nuanced sociocultural issues raised, when you can be exposed to visual imagery and the point is right in your face. It is something you can't avoid. As educators we should be able to bridge the gap between what students want to learn, why they want to learn it, and be able to find canonical texts that fit neatly into the world of the students. It doesn't always have to be the same method of teaching for every class, every year, but rather seasons of teachings where the methods you employ are ones that are tailored to the advancement of your class and of your students. Whatever benefits them the greatest is what you should instill. The curriculum should not be dictated by what social conventions are placed upon teachers and pedagogical approaches to teaching. Teaching should be mellifluous, it should encapsulate the feeling that a teacher should have after every class, and that is one of knowing that you're doing all that you can for these students. I think that inequalities exist all throughout the educational system where some schools get better funding than other schools. Students receive a better education depending on how much money their parents have. The unequal pedagogical treatment of students only creates a broader gap between the transition from high school to college because while some kids are prepared, some are not and are forced to go into debt, dropout, and not fulfill goals because their high school did not have enough resources.