http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/school-air1.htm
http://content.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/smokestack/interactive/4
There are schools nationwide that are located around industrial factories. The factories are emitting toxic pollutants into the air. Guess who's breathing in these toxins? Yes, you guessed correct. The children, teachers, and everyone else in the surrounding areas.
I believe the EPA needs to do more to regulate the the emission levels of these factories. The problem is who's going to regulate the regulators? It is a crime for people to be exposed to these toxins.
In most minority communities you can easily find industrial factories nearby. The flipside to this is that throughout the rest of the U.S. where there aren't any minorities there are Caucasians being exposed to the same toxins. Exposing people to toxins is a crime. These companies slowly killing people, they are also killing the earth with their toxic fumes and waste.
Schools shouldn't be built by these factories. The schools that are within a 4 mile range of factory that emits toxins should be closed.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Social Justice High School
News Article:
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/oct/09/business/chi-gay-school-09oct09
Social Justice High School Website
http://sj.lvlhs.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=54003&type=d
GLBTQA want their own high school for various reasons. Some of the main reasons is violence, mistreatment from students and teachers, and absentee rates. I've always been opposed to this type of school opening. My reasoning is that if you let people have the ability to leave the regular schools and have their own school because of their social/sexual status that's not fair. It's not fair to those who leave, nor the students who'd still be attending the school.
I think GLBTQA and heterosexual students should be required to take classes the address the questions and or issues that they may have about each other. When I was in high school from 1993-1997 there were GLBTQA's that attended my school and they got along with the majority of the students. The major difference that I see now amongst GLBTQA youngsters of today in comparison to those when I was in high school is some of the outrageous behavior that SOME of them display. Displaying this type of behavior in front of SOME heterosexual high schoolers they tend to speak disrespectfully and or use violent behavior toward the GLBTQA's. Every day schools should have social time where 10 minutes is taken for all the children to interact with one another and highlight 5 kids to say a little about themselves. This isn't a lot but it may help others to see something special in them and want to befriend them.
By educating both parties about one another they can see how they have much more similarities than differences. Your sexual preference and outward display doesn't dictate who you are or what kind of person you are. However getting that point across to a kids ages 13-17 is very hard especially since they tend to judge their peers on outward appearance.
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/oct/09/business/chi-gay-school-09oct09
Social Justice High School Website
http://sj.lvlhs.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=54003&type=d
GLBTQA want their own high school for various reasons. Some of the main reasons is violence, mistreatment from students and teachers, and absentee rates. I've always been opposed to this type of school opening. My reasoning is that if you let people have the ability to leave the regular schools and have their own school because of their social/sexual status that's not fair. It's not fair to those who leave, nor the students who'd still be attending the school.
I think GLBTQA and heterosexual students should be required to take classes the address the questions and or issues that they may have about each other. When I was in high school from 1993-1997 there were GLBTQA's that attended my school and they got along with the majority of the students. The major difference that I see now amongst GLBTQA youngsters of today in comparison to those when I was in high school is some of the outrageous behavior that SOME of them display. Displaying this type of behavior in front of SOME heterosexual high schoolers they tend to speak disrespectfully and or use violent behavior toward the GLBTQA's. Every day schools should have social time where 10 minutes is taken for all the children to interact with one another and highlight 5 kids to say a little about themselves. This isn't a lot but it may help others to see something special in them and want to befriend them.
By educating both parties about one another they can see how they have much more similarities than differences. Your sexual preference and outward display doesn't dictate who you are or what kind of person you are. However getting that point across to a kids ages 13-17 is very hard especially since they tend to judge their peers on outward appearance.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Poverty and Potential
In http://epicpolicy.org/publication/poverty-and-potential Berliner outlines as factors that affect student success in school: 1) low birth-weight and non-genetic prenatal influences on children 2) inadequate medical, dental, and vision care, often a result of inadequate or no medical insurance 3) food insecurity 4) environmental pollutants 5 family relations and stress and 6) neighborhood characteristics 7) extended learning opportunities such as preschool, summer school and after-school learning. These factors are being addressed in schools but the truth of the matter is that not all parents tend to take advantage of the resources at hand. I recall when teaching in headstart that there were actual headstart community personell that held monthly meetings that would address these 7 and other issues that affect the school and community. On average from 40 students. 20 in two half day classes only 2 parents would participate in the meetings. Others simply didn't care or signed in and left after a couple minutes. The personall couldn't force them to stay so they spoke to those parents who did attend.
I feel that articles like this paint a perfect picture for politicians to see what is wrong with the Education system within the United States of America. However, what are they going to do to change these factors? Teachers do everything they can possibly do help raise test scores, raise student morale, and raise productive citizens of this country. Politicians and administrators should be held accountable for not doing enough to correct these inconsistensies. Who will hold those who make the laws and sit on the sidelines accountable? Teachers Union's, parents, students, and the local school councils must all work together in order for a change to happen. The available data has to be reviewed and grassroots programs must be put in place to make an actual "change" in poor school and poor neighborhoods. Parents must also take responsibility for their childrens future and living conditions. If a person refuses to work and chooses to collect a check, there should be prequisites for them recieve any form of government given monies.
"Family violence is much more likely to be directed at females than males, and it occurs more
frequently among the poor than the middle class and wealthy." http://www.abanet.org/domviol/statistics.html. Violence is yet another factor that floods into the school. Neighborhood affairs, family feuds, and gang battles/wars are an everyday reality. Students cant learn when they know there is a 90% possibility that they will get jumped on when it is time to change classes. Gang ties through your family is another problem. I know of students who cant go around or talk to other students due to the gang ties of their older siblings. It's a "respect" issuse of the streets. Kids are taught to only deal with members that associate with the family gang or dont speak at all. So if you have a couple students in your class that score high on tests but dont talk, it doesn't necessarily mean they are introverts.
In the public school rankings article I learned that "due to the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act, and the 2007 reauthorization of that Act, parents of students who are attending low-performing schools at the bottom of Public school rankings have the right to withdraw their children from said schools and enroll them in places that are on the top in regards to Public school rankings." http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/public-school-rankingshowpoor-neighborhoods-affect-placement-208604.html This is absolutely wondeful, however I'm pretty sure that most parents from low income areas take advantage of this loophole.
As far as the "Minority proximity to environmental dangers in the USA" from the Berliner article I can think off hand of the landfill and paint factory within a 3 mile proximity to my home and I'm like WOW. There are so may factories and industrial businesses amongst my community and the surrounding that I never paid attention to. Carver high school is a prime example. This school is located with city blocks of a huge landfill.
There are so many factors that affect minority students. Mr. Berliner made a start by providing us with detailed data that can be used to help correct these atrocities. The question is, what will you as an individual do to help those in need?
I feel that articles like this paint a perfect picture for politicians to see what is wrong with the Education system within the United States of America. However, what are they going to do to change these factors? Teachers do everything they can possibly do help raise test scores, raise student morale, and raise productive citizens of this country. Politicians and administrators should be held accountable for not doing enough to correct these inconsistensies. Who will hold those who make the laws and sit on the sidelines accountable? Teachers Union's, parents, students, and the local school councils must all work together in order for a change to happen. The available data has to be reviewed and grassroots programs must be put in place to make an actual "change" in poor school and poor neighborhoods. Parents must also take responsibility for their childrens future and living conditions. If a person refuses to work and chooses to collect a check, there should be prequisites for them recieve any form of government given monies.
"Family violence is much more likely to be directed at females than males, and it occurs more
frequently among the poor than the middle class and wealthy." http://www.abanet.org/domviol/statistics.html. Violence is yet another factor that floods into the school. Neighborhood affairs, family feuds, and gang battles/wars are an everyday reality. Students cant learn when they know there is a 90% possibility that they will get jumped on when it is time to change classes. Gang ties through your family is another problem. I know of students who cant go around or talk to other students due to the gang ties of their older siblings. It's a "respect" issuse of the streets. Kids are taught to only deal with members that associate with the family gang or dont speak at all. So if you have a couple students in your class that score high on tests but dont talk, it doesn't necessarily mean they are introverts.
In the public school rankings article I learned that "due to the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act, and the 2007 reauthorization of that Act, parents of students who are attending low-performing schools at the bottom of Public school rankings have the right to withdraw their children from said schools and enroll them in places that are on the top in regards to Public school rankings." http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/public-school-rankingshowpoor-neighborhoods-affect-placement-208604.html This is absolutely wondeful, however I'm pretty sure that most parents from low income areas take advantage of this loophole.
As far as the "Minority proximity to environmental dangers in the USA" from the Berliner article I can think off hand of the landfill and paint factory within a 3 mile proximity to my home and I'm like WOW. There are so may factories and industrial businesses amongst my community and the surrounding that I never paid attention to. Carver high school is a prime example. This school is located with city blocks of a huge landfill.
There are so many factors that affect minority students. Mr. Berliner made a start by providing us with detailed data that can be used to help correct these atrocities. The question is, what will you as an individual do to help those in need?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
