And here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26_57BE-Wr4
Monday, March 19, 2007
IP Report #6
I just finished up my actual TE inquiry project by creating a movie. I decided to close in on sexual orientation in the classroom because I felt like I was trying to cover more ground that I would be able to in less then a semester.
I'm glad I chose to do my project this way and I think that this project turned out well. My next post will be the URL to the video once it's uploaded.
I'm glad I chose to do my project this way and I think that this project turned out well. My next post will be the URL to the video once it's uploaded.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
IP Report #5
So, I was doing some research and checking out google news and my reader to find out if there have been any recent incidences of racial/homophic problems in schools around the country.
I found one article about a Port Huron school where the "n-word" was used at a basketball game after school. Here's the opinion article, which was a letter sent to the Times Herald about the incident.
--So now we bring in the question about what teachers can do to prevent hate crimes after school but on school grounds.
-- Is it our responsbility?
-- And if we're not around, how can we address this later in class? The teacher that helped write the opinion letter to the Times Herald I think had a good idea -- getting her students together to help her write a letter about their emotions and reactions to the after-school incident. I think just bringing it up in class and having a discussion about it so that the students (most) affected know that they have peers who care (including their teacher).
I found another article from the Hertfordshire Mercury -- apparently 8 students made anti-semitic remarks towards a teacher at his going-away gathering.
This brings up another question -- what happens when students make prejudiced,racial, homophobic slurs towards their teacher? How does the school take action? How does the teacher react? etc.
As I was reading through Melissa's blog, she posted an interesting article about the phrase "that's so gay," from CNN.com
The term "that's so gay," is always a heated topic in public schools I've noticed. When I was a junior and senior in high school (2001-2003) , our newspaper covered different stories about the phrase and I remember, personally, covering a story about the newly formed gay-straight alliance at our high school and writing a lead that talked about a student who walks into the classroom and hates the assignment on the board and goes: 'aw man, that's so gay!' ... and then went into the reaction and how this affects students at our school, etc.
I think it's interesting that the student in the article on CNN, Rebekah Rice, was sent to the principal's office after using the phrase and given a warning and a notation in her file. That's the most I've ever heard of any school taking action against a homophobic remark. I also find it even more interesting that the parents are sueing the school -- not even taking into account the fact that their daughter is homophobic (which may have offended other students in the classroom at the time that she said 'that's go gay').
This article is really frustrating because I see both sides of the story... I mean I do believe that putting a notification in the students' portfolio is a little excessive, but I also thinking sueing is just as excessive.
Maybe schools should look into ways of educating both the students and parents at the same time about homophobia and even race concerns. In episode 7, of the latest season of the L Word, two of the characters on the show addressed their childrens' classroom because of a fight that broke out because some of the kids found out that the other students' parents were lesbians. Here's what happened at the school on YOUTUBE.
.... Now that we're on the last post and the final presentation is due next Tuesday, I'm nervous because I don't fully know how I'm going to put this together. I've come up with a lot of questions and maybe not enough answers. Maybe I should create a guideline or packet to present of ways to help prevent race and sexual identity issues in the classroom?
I found one article about a Port Huron school where the "n-word" was used at a basketball game after school. Here's the opinion article, which was a letter sent to the Times Herald about the incident.
--So now we bring in the question about what teachers can do to prevent hate crimes after school but on school grounds.
-- Is it our responsbility?
-- And if we're not around, how can we address this later in class? The teacher that helped write the opinion letter to the Times Herald I think had a good idea -- getting her students together to help her write a letter about their emotions and reactions to the after-school incident. I think just bringing it up in class and having a discussion about it so that the students (most) affected know that they have peers who care (including their teacher).
I found another article from the Hertfordshire Mercury -- apparently 8 students made anti-semitic remarks towards a teacher at his going-away gathering.
This brings up another question -- what happens when students make prejudiced,racial, homophobic slurs towards their teacher? How does the school take action? How does the teacher react? etc.
As I was reading through Melissa's blog, she posted an interesting article about the phrase "that's so gay," from CNN.com
The term "that's so gay," is always a heated topic in public schools I've noticed. When I was a junior and senior in high school (2001-2003) , our newspaper covered different stories about the phrase and I remember, personally, covering a story about the newly formed gay-straight alliance at our high school and writing a lead that talked about a student who walks into the classroom and hates the assignment on the board and goes: 'aw man, that's so gay!' ... and then went into the reaction and how this affects students at our school, etc.
I think it's interesting that the student in the article on CNN, Rebekah Rice, was sent to the principal's office after using the phrase and given a warning and a notation in her file. That's the most I've ever heard of any school taking action against a homophobic remark. I also find it even more interesting that the parents are sueing the school -- not even taking into account the fact that their daughter is homophobic (which may have offended other students in the classroom at the time that she said 'that's go gay').
This article is really frustrating because I see both sides of the story... I mean I do believe that putting a notification in the students' portfolio is a little excessive, but I also thinking sueing is just as excessive.
Maybe schools should look into ways of educating both the students and parents at the same time about homophobia and even race concerns. In episode 7, of the latest season of the L Word, two of the characters on the show addressed their childrens' classroom because of a fight that broke out because some of the kids found out that the other students' parents were lesbians. Here's what happened at the school on YOUTUBE.
.... Now that we're on the last post and the final presentation is due next Tuesday, I'm nervous because I don't fully know how I'm going to put this together. I've come up with a lot of questions and maybe not enough answers. Maybe I should create a guideline or packet to present of ways to help prevent race and sexual identity issues in the classroom?
Monday, February 26, 2007
Inquiry Post #4
It seems cyberbullying is like the new generation of bullying... kind of interesting, I wonder if anyone is looking into more research on that.
I have an article on it in the "Teaching Tolerance" magazine that I have.
Some resources:
Stop Text Bully
The Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use
Wired Safety
Cyber Bullying
I have an article on it in the "Teaching Tolerance" magazine that I have.
Some resources:
Stop Text Bully
The Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use
Wired Safety
Cyber Bullying
Inquiry Post #3
hmmm... I'm not sure where to begin with this one. I was going through my stack of resident mentor paperwork that I have collected over the past three years of participating in this job and I came across a few of my booklets on tolerance.
First, before I continue, I want to reiiterate the fact that I severely dislike the word "tolerance."
Think of it this way -- When you live a roommate who you just "tolerate." Or how would you feel if you overheard a friend of your say "Oh yea, I just tolerate her/him."
Tolerance is not what I want in my classroom, although it's the first step to the goal, my goal in my classroom is to create an atmosphere of... ACCEPTANCE.
Now, moving on...
One of the booklets I have is called "Responding to hate at school." It's published by "Teaching Tolerance," www.tolerance.org.
The booklet has guidelines that a teacher, counselor or adminstrator can follow to help combat hatred within the school...
The following guidelines are ones that an individual, such as a teacher, can work for:
1.1 - Create an unwelcome environment for hate speech and symbols.
1.2 - Put the lid on hate graffiti and other vandalism
1.3 - Take a stand against hate literature, music, web sites and e-mail.
1.4 - Be alert to signs of student alienation.
1.5 - Speak up when bigotry comes from colleagues.
1.6 - Respond to community and national hate incidents.
I researched more about this STOPBIAS web site and apparently it was kicked off by the attorney general's office (hmm ... maybe Michigan should look into it)... anyways, I found a decent essay from a high school student who wrote about the STOPBIAS program... CLICK HERE TO READ IT.
Returning back to the booklet, I wanted to make note of the fact that there are several small blurbs on the sides of each page that describe incidences of harrassment within a school or classroom... it's surprising to me, because I guess I just didn't notice a lot of harrassment based on race or sexual identity in my high school, but I'm sure it was there.
Anyways, I will bring this booklet in if anyone's interested in looking at it.
I also have a booklet called "10 ways to fight hate on campus," "ten ways to fight hate" - which is a community response guide (less school related), "101 Tools for tolerance," and "101 ways to combad prejudice."
I also have a collection of posters that are good to put up in the classroom that have great quotes/sayings that deal with prejudice, hatred and tolerance.
First, before I continue, I want to reiiterate the fact that I severely dislike the word "tolerance."
Think of it this way -- When you live a roommate who you just "tolerate." Or how would you feel if you overheard a friend of your say "Oh yea, I just tolerate her/him."
Tolerance is not what I want in my classroom, although it's the first step to the goal, my goal in my classroom is to create an atmosphere of... ACCEPTANCE.
Now, moving on...
One of the booklets I have is called "Responding to hate at school." It's published by "Teaching Tolerance," www.tolerance.org.
The booklet has guidelines that a teacher, counselor or adminstrator can follow to help combat hatred within the school...
The following guidelines are ones that an individual, such as a teacher, can work for:
1.1 - Create an unwelcome environment for hate speech and symbols.
1.2 - Put the lid on hate graffiti and other vandalism
1.3 - Take a stand against hate literature, music, web sites and e-mail.
1.4 - Be alert to signs of student alienation.
1.5 - Speak up when bigotry comes from colleagues.
1.6 - Respond to community and national hate incidents.
"I find most defendants are not bigoted in their hearts but are acting out, using hate words but often not knowing why they are hateful. You want to create an environment in which the student can grow from this," - Rabbi Steven Moss, Creator and director of stopbias, a rehabilitation program for hate-crime offenders in Suffolk County, N.Y.
I researched more about this STOPBIAS web site and apparently it was kicked off by the attorney general's office (hmm ... maybe Michigan should look into it)... anyways, I found a decent essay from a high school student who wrote about the STOPBIAS program... CLICK HERE TO READ IT.
Returning back to the booklet, I wanted to make note of the fact that there are several small blurbs on the sides of each page that describe incidences of harrassment within a school or classroom... it's surprising to me, because I guess I just didn't notice a lot of harrassment based on race or sexual identity in my high school, but I'm sure it was there.
Anyways, I will bring this booklet in if anyone's interested in looking at it.
I also have a booklet called "10 ways to fight hate on campus," "ten ways to fight hate" - which is a community response guide (less school related), "101 Tools for tolerance," and "101 ways to combad prejudice."
I also have a collection of posters that are good to put up in the classroom that have great quotes/sayings that deal with prejudice, hatred and tolerance.
Friday, February 9, 2007
Inquiry Post #2
So, I saw this facebook advertisement 2 weeks ago about doing a research study ON research. SO I applied to do it and was immediately asked to do it today from 12-1:30pm. Basically, the research group (which apparently is part of PROQUEST), logged onto my computer via this software called USERVue and watched me as I researched for an hour and a half. Then afterwards they asked me some questions. So I decided to do the research for my inquiry project (which they thought was an awesome research idea -- I showed them the rubric for everything as well).
Anyways, the following is the research I found and the bottom of this are the questions that I came across for myself as I did this research...
Focusing on harrassment in the classroom, I've found a great resource from Teaching
Tolerance:
http://www.tolerance.org/rthas/section1_1_1.jsp
"The social strata are very, very real during adolescence. It is so difficult to change your peers' perceptions of you once you have a "reputation." -- page 2 of "Be alert to signs of student alienation."
Interesting article on racial harrassment within a white classroom - interesting dynamic to think about ... is there racism in a classroom full of all white students? Click Here for JSTOR Article
Sexual Identity in the Classroom
GLSEN - Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network has some resources/research on this topic.
2005 Research Study on Harassment of students age 13-18.
***Side note: Is anyone in my class doing anything on sexual harassment in the classroom?"
***What do schools do about online/internet harassment amongst student peers?
***How often is it that teachers are trained in dealing with harassment in general -- and then more specifically with racial harassment and sexual identity?
***How does one break down their own racial stereotypes while teaching so that it doesn't (negatively) affect his/her dynamic and diverse classroom?
***Institutionalized Racism
Anyways, the following is the research I found and the bottom of this are the questions that I came across for myself as I did this research...
Focusing on harrassment in the classroom, I've found a great resource from Teaching
Tolerance:
http://www.tolerance.org/rthas/section1_1_1.jsp
"The social strata are very, very real during adolescence. It is so difficult to change your peers' perceptions of you once you have a "reputation." -- page 2 of "Be alert to signs of student alienation."
Interesting article on racial harrassment within a white classroom - interesting dynamic to think about ... is there racism in a classroom full of all white students? Click Here for JSTOR Article
Sexual Identity in the Classroom
GLSEN - Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network has some resources/research on this topic.
2005 Research Study on Harassment of students age 13-18.
- Specific research information on the state of Michigan
- Statistics from GLSEN.org:
- More than a third (35%) of all Michigan students thought that bullying, name calling and harassment was a somewhat or serious problem in their schools.
- The most common types of bullying, name calling and harassment were based on appearance, actual or perceived sexual orientation, and gender expression. A majority (71%) of the students were harassed due to appearance, two-thirds (67%) were harassed because they were or were thought to be lesbian, gay, or bisexual, and 60% were harassed due to their gender expression.
- A vast majority (90%) of Michigan students reported hearing homophobic remarks such as, “that is so gay” to indicate bad or worthless; and derogatory terms like “faggot” were heard by 82% of students.
- When teachers or other staff heard derogatory remarks or biased language, intervention was not as common as expected. There was no correction or consequences when racist, homophobic, or sexist remarks were made as often as 30%, 27%, and 25% of the time respectively.
- A majority (67%) of students who experienced harassment or assault at school did not report it to a teacher, principal or other school staff person; More than a quarter (26%) of students said they didn’t report incidents because they believed that school staff would not care or believe them, or that it would only make the situation worse.
- Apartheid Schooling - what?!
- http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/2005/American-Apartheid-Education1sep05.htm
- TEACHER Magazine - Some interesting viewpoints and feedback from other teachers
- Question of - why would a teacher want to even teach in an inner city school if it's "SOOO DANGEROUS?"
***Side note: Is anyone in my class doing anything on sexual harassment in the classroom?"
***What do schools do about online/internet harassment amongst student peers?
***How often is it that teachers are trained in dealing with harassment in general -- and then more specifically with racial harassment and sexual identity?
***How does one break down their own racial stereotypes while teaching so that it doesn't (negatively) affect his/her dynamic and diverse classroom?
***Institutionalized Racism
Monday, January 29, 2007
Inquiry Post #1
As I begin to start posting on here, I'd like to introduce to you, my reader, the topic at large for this TE 408 inquiry project. As a student who belongs to several different minority groups, I feel that as a future teacher I would like to use my minority background to help connect with my future students. As I've attended different seminars and participated in on-campus groups at Michigan State University (or MSU), as well as worked as a resident mentor within the residence halls, I feel that it's an important factor for any person, especially a teacher, to understand issues involving race and sexual orientation within the classroom.
I plan to cover things such as harrassment and how the teacher can facilitate a positive classroom atmosphere where students respect each other (as well as the teacher and other faculty); as well as discussing topics of inclusion of racial and sexual identities within the curriculum and the classroom in general.
As I've gone through the teacher's education program at MSU, I've come across quite a bit of information involving this topic and through this project I'd like to group it together and make it more clear to myself and hopefully make it public to other teachers as a resource for dealing with the issues that involve race and sexual identity within their classroom settings.
After reading from Weinstein's book on classroom management, I was touched by something that was said...
"It's not about whether or not one is racist, but rather, HOW racist one is and what one can do to change that."
As I educate myself on my journey, I hope to come across some of the answers to the following questions:
- How can a teacher incorporate minorities into the classroom without losing sight of the goal of the curriculum?
- What is race? What is sexual identity and orientation?
- How do these two affect the classroom? And why?
- How common is harrassment based on race and based on sexual identity?
- What are ways a teacher can prevent harrassment?
- Why is it important to be aware of these?
- Why is it important to create a safe classroom?
- What's the difference between racism in an urban setting, a suburban setting and a rural setting?
- What's the difference between sexual identity harrassment in an urban, suburban and rural setting?
... And more... but I'm sure I will try and cover as many of these as I can and probably add and subtract some as I go along.
The following are resources that I've gathered for this first report...
A Class Divided
This link is a 5-part video from PBS about a teacher who did a controversial lesson about race relations. Although the students are elementary-aged, I feel like this could be adapted to older students and make a point to them as well.
Incidents of Harrassment and how they were dealt with
This is an interesting link with different incidences and how the school handled them and how the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory analyzes the situation and how it was handled. It just gives some interesting insight into the types of things that a teacher may have to deal with.
EdChange
This is a great link for resources on eradicating harrassment in the classroom.
Teaching Tolerance
I've used this resource for tools as a mentor. It's got some great information and great tips on creating positive change within the classroom setting.
Multicultural Lesson Plan Ideas
Ideas for teachers to incorporate multicultural identities within the classroom.
Hand-Outs on Multiculturalism and Racism
Interesting hand-outs for teachers on breaking down racism, paradigm shifts and fact sheets.
I plan to cover things such as harrassment and how the teacher can facilitate a positive classroom atmosphere where students respect each other (as well as the teacher and other faculty); as well as discussing topics of inclusion of racial and sexual identities within the curriculum and the classroom in general.
As I've gone through the teacher's education program at MSU, I've come across quite a bit of information involving this topic and through this project I'd like to group it together and make it more clear to myself and hopefully make it public to other teachers as a resource for dealing with the issues that involve race and sexual identity within their classroom settings.
After reading from Weinstein's book on classroom management, I was touched by something that was said...
"It's not about whether or not one is racist, but rather, HOW racist one is and what one can do to change that."
As I educate myself on my journey, I hope to come across some of the answers to the following questions:
- How can a teacher incorporate minorities into the classroom without losing sight of the goal of the curriculum?
- What is race? What is sexual identity and orientation?
- How do these two affect the classroom? And why?
- How common is harrassment based on race and based on sexual identity?
- What are ways a teacher can prevent harrassment?
- Why is it important to be aware of these?
- Why is it important to create a safe classroom?
- What's the difference between racism in an urban setting, a suburban setting and a rural setting?
- What's the difference between sexual identity harrassment in an urban, suburban and rural setting?
... And more... but I'm sure I will try and cover as many of these as I can and probably add and subtract some as I go along.
The following are resources that I've gathered for this first report...
A Class Divided
This link is a 5-part video from PBS about a teacher who did a controversial lesson about race relations. Although the students are elementary-aged, I feel like this could be adapted to older students and make a point to them as well.
Incidents of Harrassment and how they were dealt with
This is an interesting link with different incidences and how the school handled them and how the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory analyzes the situation and how it was handled. It just gives some interesting insight into the types of things that a teacher may have to deal with.
EdChange
This is a great link for resources on eradicating harrassment in the classroom.
Teaching Tolerance
I've used this resource for tools as a mentor. It's got some great information and great tips on creating positive change within the classroom setting.
Multicultural Lesson Plan Ideas
Ideas for teachers to incorporate multicultural identities within the classroom.
Hand-Outs on Multiculturalism and Racism
Interesting hand-outs for teachers on breaking down racism, paradigm shifts and fact sheets.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
