Last Class Reflection 8.2.11

Thank you Professor Grandson for such an awesome semester. This summer course went by way too quickly and we obviously did not get to have all the discussions that I’m sure we all hoped we could, but I still learned so much from you and the rest of the cohort. Some of the concepts that we covered through the readings were completely new to me and definitely served to open my eyes to different realities. These concepts will stick with me forever and I thank you for giving me that.
Thank you also, Melissa, for suggesting the final projects idea. I’m so glad that I got to share a little bit more about myself with my group and learn about them as well. It takes a certain about of courage to let people in, and I feel so lucky to be part of this cohort of accepting individuals. As I continue through my Donovan experience, I hope that I always remember the topics that we covered throughout this course that will undoubtedly give me the strength and direction that I will need as a teacher in the future.
Thank you also to Chuks for sharing your song! It was amazing. Just like Chuks, I am positive that all of us possess unique talents that we bring with us in everything that we do. Throughout this year, I encourage everyone to nurture those talents and reflect on how you can use them in your classrooms. Not only will they serve as potential inspiration for the students we teach, but sharing these talents with each other will allow us to learn and be able to use one another as resources in the future. Bye for now-and thanks again Professor Grandson!

Double Trouble!

Alright yal, so I slacked on blogging after class on July 28, thus I will write about that class before going into an emotional rant about our final ED435 Social Context class!

Shout Out to Nathalie Ais, my favorite Smith Graduate Ever!, and her leadership role throughout the class. She prompted us with a great discussion about Freire. Everyone at my group had experiences and ideas which engaged the theories espoused by Freire thus making for a lively chat - as is typical when Jeff and Miranda are together ;)

Watching the documentary - It's Elementary - was also a wonderful thing. I am so glad that Nathalie engaged our class in the topic of the LGBTQI community as a it provided a new perspective (other than racism) to think about oppression in classrooms, schools and society. I think it's important to think about all of the 'isms' within our society and work as a group to deconstruct them within the learning communities that we'll be apart of in the future. Everyone in the class has their strengths and weaknesses in different contexts of oppression (or privilege), so to move beyond race and class - especially under the guise of Freire's work - was great...

(smooth transition into 8/2 reflection)

...like Ms. Aloe had mentioned in her reflection, I too feel that we should try to find time and space to continue these empowering, insightful, and exploratory discussions about race, gender, age, sexual-orientation, etc. I recently spoke with my aforementioned favorite Smith College Grad about setting up times in August to meet in safe environments to continue the dialogue that we just barely scratched the surface of in ED435. In addition to the continued conversations, I have heard rumblings about people sharing books, movies, etc. so as to continue the learning we've all just recently started with the Donovan Program.

The Final Presentations were amazing! I am so glad that we had the opportunity - and encouragement - to go beyond a written or power point formatted presentation. Mad-Kudos to those who stepped out of their comfort-zone to express themselves for the project. For me personally, there were a lot of ideas, experiences and hopes that I had wished to express in my collage, but ultimately, as I mentioned to my group, the take away from my art was in their eyes and interpretation. I know that I'll be reflecting on a lot of the readings, lectures, videos and discussions from this class for the next few weeks, before my brain gets crammed with other stuff, so to let out a bit of what I was thinking/feeling through this final project was a great opportunity for me. I hope to continue developing my artistic abilities through photography and other mediums of expression over the course of this next year.

Hello All!

I just wanted to post a speech by Dr. Joy DeGruy entitled, "Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome". The speech is very good and I would highly recommend taking the time to check it out. She also has a book addressing the same themes.

I'm going to post Part 1 of the speech. The rest can be found on the side tab. She begins formally talking at around 2:21, so if you're not into lengthy introductions, just skip ahead.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QolmVWudFc&feature=related

Maria Valarezo's Final Class Reflection- August 2, 2011

Dear Donovans,

Wow! I am so sorry I missed the majority of our last class with Professor Grandson. I had some health matters to take care of, but this is not the place to speak about them. Regardless, I am truly blessed to be part of such an intelligent, awe-inspiring, devoted, unique and passionate group.

Before I left, I browsed around the classroom and I made a cursory at the posters that you all created. Brie's, obviously, reflected her love for sociology and early childhood education. Dana's mirrored the love she has for her grandmother, her experiences, and her strong connection to her Korean roots. Additionally, I heard about Roma's wonderful tree poster as well. I was touched at the fact that she did this. I think that the tree is a perfect symbol that we should recur to in all of our years of teaching. While our leaves fall off, in the cold or in difficult moments, they will always bloom again! : )

In addition, I am glad I was present for the conversation about role models. I think it is important, as Matt S. explained, to know who our students role models are and why they admire them. Once we have that information, we can determine whether they are worthy of idolizing and assist our students in finding the right role models. Like I stressed in class, I don't think it is so important to have an idol that looks like you or look up to a person of your same race. In my mind, what is most essential is that they share your values and accomplish/ed goals you would like to accomplish/had accomplished.

While I feel that we have learned so much in these 11 sessions, I feel there is a wealth of more information that we need to cover. With that being said, Donovans, I leave you a challenge... Read one of the books mentioned in class during vacation or become immersed in a scholar that has made a difference in inner-city/urban education. The point is task to not only gain more knowledge, but to learn more about the experiences of our future students!

Sincerely,

Maria Valarezo

PS. Thank you for everything, Professor Grandson!! You're wonderful! : )

C. Aloe- 8/2 Reflection

Enough is as good as a feast. Plain and simple. Or is it?

I'd like to have some more time in Social Contexts of Education, since there is still much to be discussed. However, we have much to look forward to, and a whole school-year to make more meaningful connections between our schools and society. More importantly, as expressed during our final meeting, we now have an obligation to remember the passion with which we left class today. I also think we should be cautious about perpetuating generalizations about specific populations (based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual-orientation, etc...). As educators working towards a common goal, let's strive to keep each other in check. We will rely on one another throughout the year, and such commitment needs to start at the individual level. So, I challenge our cohort to push the limits, question the status quo, and remain humble (especially when it feels like we know the answers).

August 2, 2011

The "Raid" has been sprayed and now it is my turn to see if I can withstand the toxins of truth or not. Grandson spoke about the minority of white students we will have in our urban classes who may eventually explode due to an overwhelming focus on race, oppression, and themes of inequality from within the classroom. As teachers how do we circumvent these explosions while allowing students to express their frustrations in healthy and safe ways?

In all honesty, today's focus on race and role models left me a bit frustrated and conflicted. Growing up as a gay male I found it difficult to relate with people who looked like me. Instead, I looked up to people of color and women for inspiration and leadership, for one reason or another I felt as though they understood me more than my own kind. Additionally, I cannot seem to readily think of a homosexual in society that I consider a role model. Call it white privilege but I have never been too concerned with the physical appearance of those whom I admired. Why then, do we have to put such an emphasis on color when speaking of role models?

As a white teacher in an urban setting should I surrender any hope of being a role model to a student of color? Is our skin pigmentation too much of a barrier for us to cross? Perhaps I cannot understand this cultural role model idea because I lack any type cultural community. What group do I belong to? Italian Americans? Irish Americans? Homosexuals? I don't fully feel as though any of these identities make up my "culture" and encompass me in their community. Even within Delpit's text she places such an emphasis on this color line and silenced dialogue from within the school system. Speaking as a white male, I feel as though I am forced to constantly be affirming my integrity in the classroom by saying "Yes, that is a white trend, but I'm not like THEM."

(Without sounding like David Christensen)When can we start talking about people interacting with other people? Why does there have to be a racial wall standing in the way of human interaction? Why do some people cringe when hearing that a white person, like myself, could possibly be a role model for a student of color? Please do not read into this statement any lack of understanding or ignorance, for I am keenly aware of the effects of racism, both institutionalized and ideological, in our society. But I am getting tired of hearing about all the ways in which I will or will not be able to relate, understand, or even be a role model to my students because of my color. I guess the "Raid" worked and here I am gasping for air.

On another note, thank you to everyone in my group (and Chuks) for sharing their wonderful presentations. They were brave and powerful and I am learning more from you all than I learned in the last 8 semesters in NH. As the final week of the Summer Session approaches I cannot believe how quickly I came to feel like a part of the Donovan Community. So thank you all for being so friendly, compassionate, and welcoming. As the Fall craziness ensues I only hope we will all be able to maintain this sense of community and unity!

08.02 reflection

Today was a nice little closer to our class, thank you everyone!

The videos were extremely powerful and made me ask, "Who would be the role models for Latinos?" "What would be our fruit--our Latino legacy?

People need to know that our culture is MORE than just reggaeton and Sofia Vergara. We share a culture that widely extends to Puerto Rico, Mexico, Central and South America; different skin tones, different accents, but similar history of colonized people. We may not all look the same, but we share a language, el espanol, that are captures oral narratives, dichos, that get passed down through generations. From my personal experience, this camaraderie under our language and cultural roots are what knit us together as our community negotiates issues of patriarchy, religion, bi-cultural experiences and political issues.

Despite oppression and divide in our community, there is a legacy that can help inspire our urban youth. There are amazing and influential Latino poets, singers, actors, activists, and now Supreme Court Justices.
Below: (L-R) Jose Feliciano (Puerto Rican singer), Cesar Chavez (Mexican-American civil rights activist) and Celia Cruz (Cuban-American Singer).

With that said, I would love to embark on a film project that projects our Latino legacy and history. I would start it with this dicho:
“Dime con quien andas y te diré quien eres (Tell me who you associate with and I'll tell you who you are).”

Here are two links I came across that I saw fitting.

The link below describes accomplished Latinos that have made their mark in our history:
role models for latinos

The link below has snap shots of immigration, Latino discrimination and action:
images: the immigration battle