“Dual Existence”
My most recent opportunity to observe student interaction was at Bradley Academy here in Murfreesboro. I have a friend who is the literacy coach at the school. She invited me come and work with some of the ESL students in one of the sixth grade social studies classes. The class was a mixed group of Caucasian, African American, and Latino students. The races were pretty evenly distributed. Approximately, 2/3 of the class were American born and about 1/3 of them were children of immigrants. As I waited each morning for class to begin, I had the opportunity of observe the students as they prepared for the day. All the Latino students sat at the same table. They spoke very softly and seemed almost invisible in this rather exuberant class of adolescents. There was very little talk or interaction between the American born students and the Latinos. I never witnessed any kind of warm exchange. There seemed to be a quiet tolerance of each other’s presence. For group assignments, students partnered with their own kind unless the teacher grouped them differently. I’m sure that language and cultural differences played a big part in this. It would have been nice to see more of a relationship between the two groups.
How can the teacher help to dissolve this “dual existence?”
As a teacher, I have come to realize how important it is to make conscious commitment to build a community of learners who sincerely care about each other. In order to do this, I need to communicate my values and expectations. Often, values and expectations have to be openly discussed so students clearly understand what is appropriate and acceptable, and what is not. It is equally important for me to model the behaviors I would like to see. I think students need to know me and their classmates. Being open and willing to share some information about who I am can help students do the same. In fact, there are many class and team building activities that can help students get to know each other. Celebrating diversity is also important. Focusing on the individuality of each student and emphasizing how every student contributes to building community is essential. Breaking down the barriers of fear and misunderstanding can go a long way in building a community of learners. That is why it is so important to help student learn how to interact and work cooperatively.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Blog #3
After reading the two stories, I think the effects of immigration have been worse for the people of Atolinga. The village of Atolinga is just another example of the economic fallout experienced in many Mexican villages that have lost a large percentage of their population to the dream of making money in the U.S. Most leave out of economic necessity, but this exodus has a devastating effect on the local economy. Those who remain find the cost of living too much for their peso salaries, so they too think about leaving. Alejandro Castaneda, the mayor of Atolinga, says that this situation is debilitating for those who remain because they come to believe nothing is possible without outside help. Many have grown dependent on the U.S. dollars being sent back and refuse to work for lower pay. It is difficult for local businesses to find people willing to work. Castaneda himself has looked in vain for people to help him on his farm. Those who have left may cling to the dream of returning home, but as time passes that too changes. They grow more accustomed to their American lifestyle. New possibilities open up making it difficult to go back. Family and business obligations steal their time. Many who have remained grow resentful of their onetime neighbors who return once a year to flaunt their success. This alienation is another symptom of the disease. Unfortunately, many Atolingans have become painfully aware of the ever growing social and economic gap – a gap that divides families, villages, and nations.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Blog Entry #2
After reading the chapters, what are your thoughts regarding this art form and how it relates to economic conditions?
I remember seeing a black velvet bandit with his menacing look and wondering why anyone would want to buy that. I never questioned what lay behind it or thought about the artist who created it. I had no understanding of how black velvet art had altered the lives and economy of so many people until now. Sam Quinones has given me a new appreciation of the art. What began with one man’s accidental discovery mushroomed into a global phenomenon. What intrigued me the most was how the network of trade evolved. Quinones even attributes the expansion of intra-American trade to black velvet art. He claims that the factories that Harden and others had set up to produce velvet served as prototypes for maquiladoras churning out car parts and televisions for the U.S. today. Perhaps he’s right. All along the Mexican-American border people were drawn to the industry in the hopes of making money. Sleepy border towns exploded. Northern Mexico experienced rapid growth and economic expansion. As long as demand was high, there were people more than willing to fill the orders. Unfortunately, interest in the paintings has faded, but its legacy remains.
Think of the culture tied to the paintings. How would you respond to an ELL who is ridiculed when he or she shares this family tradition with the school environment?
How I would handle this kind of situation would depend on several factors including the context of the event and the age of the offending students as well as their understanding and intentions. I never like to see anyone ridiculed. For this reason, I would feel the need to address the issue as soon as possible. If the situation involved older students or the abuse was flagrant, then zero tolerance might be the course of action. With younger students, the situation might be handled more discreetly involving a conference with the students or even a class meeting where the issue could be addressed more generically and used as an opportunity to build greater understanding, mutual respect, and a stronger sense of community.
I remember seeing a black velvet bandit with his menacing look and wondering why anyone would want to buy that. I never questioned what lay behind it or thought about the artist who created it. I had no understanding of how black velvet art had altered the lives and economy of so many people until now. Sam Quinones has given me a new appreciation of the art. What began with one man’s accidental discovery mushroomed into a global phenomenon. What intrigued me the most was how the network of trade evolved. Quinones even attributes the expansion of intra-American trade to black velvet art. He claims that the factories that Harden and others had set up to produce velvet served as prototypes for maquiladoras churning out car parts and televisions for the U.S. today. Perhaps he’s right. All along the Mexican-American border people were drawn to the industry in the hopes of making money. Sleepy border towns exploded. Northern Mexico experienced rapid growth and economic expansion. As long as demand was high, there were people more than willing to fill the orders. Unfortunately, interest in the paintings has faded, but its legacy remains.
Think of the culture tied to the paintings. How would you respond to an ELL who is ridiculed when he or she shares this family tradition with the school environment?
How I would handle this kind of situation would depend on several factors including the context of the event and the age of the offending students as well as their understanding and intentions. I never like to see anyone ridiculed. For this reason, I would feel the need to address the issue as soon as possible. If the situation involved older students or the abuse was flagrant, then zero tolerance might be the course of action. With younger students, the situation might be handled more discreetly involving a conference with the students or even a class meeting where the issue could be addressed more generically and used as an opportunity to build greater understanding, mutual respect, and a stronger sense of community.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Blog Entry #1
What is your position on the current state of immigration?
Immigration, especially illegal immigration, is a topic that stirs strong feelings among Americans. Many see it as a threat to our economic and political stability. I think the unchecked influx of illegal immigrants, especially from Mexico, does put an extraordinary strain on our society. The problems we are experiencing with immigration need to be addressed. It will be interesting to see how the president and congress handles immigration reform. Unfortunately, reform needs to happen on both sides of the border. The political corruption that plagues Mexico and drives people north is a huge problem that must be addressed by the Mexican government. I think Quinones is right when he says that immigration is not just an American problem. Mexico’s economic and political instability fosters an efflux of people that has left many communities abandoned to the old and very young. Since 9/11, I think I have grown more uneasy about security along our border with Mexico. The more recent bloodbath among the drug cartels in northern Mexico has heightened my concern. At times, I feel like we really have lost control of our borders. I find it disturbing.
Do you have any suggestions about immigration reform?
I know some people advocate amnesty. My sister-in-law, who entered the United States legally and waded through the long process of becoming a citizen, deeply resents the idea of granting amnesty to those who are here illegally. I can empathize with her completely. I’m not sure if amnesty is the answer, but I do know there are millions of illegal aliens living in the shadows often suffering long separations from family, earning lower wages, and in constant fear of being found. In “The Saga of South Gate,” Quinones talks about the awaking of the Hispanic community to their rights and responsibilities as citizens. Many of these people became citizens after being granted amnesty.
Perhaps U.S. law enforcement agencies helping to train and professionalize their Mexican counterparts could help stem corruption. This could make life more acceptable in Mexico and reduce the need to cross the border. Congress could also reconsider our quota system by allowing more legal immigrants per year and creating a temporary work visa program.
Immigration, especially illegal immigration, is a topic that stirs strong feelings among Americans. Many see it as a threat to our economic and political stability. I think the unchecked influx of illegal immigrants, especially from Mexico, does put an extraordinary strain on our society. The problems we are experiencing with immigration need to be addressed. It will be interesting to see how the president and congress handles immigration reform. Unfortunately, reform needs to happen on both sides of the border. The political corruption that plagues Mexico and drives people north is a huge problem that must be addressed by the Mexican government. I think Quinones is right when he says that immigration is not just an American problem. Mexico’s economic and political instability fosters an efflux of people that has left many communities abandoned to the old and very young. Since 9/11, I think I have grown more uneasy about security along our border with Mexico. The more recent bloodbath among the drug cartels in northern Mexico has heightened my concern. At times, I feel like we really have lost control of our borders. I find it disturbing.
Do you have any suggestions about immigration reform?
I know some people advocate amnesty. My sister-in-law, who entered the United States legally and waded through the long process of becoming a citizen, deeply resents the idea of granting amnesty to those who are here illegally. I can empathize with her completely. I’m not sure if amnesty is the answer, but I do know there are millions of illegal aliens living in the shadows often suffering long separations from family, earning lower wages, and in constant fear of being found. In “The Saga of South Gate,” Quinones talks about the awaking of the Hispanic community to their rights and responsibilities as citizens. Many of these people became citizens after being granted amnesty.
Perhaps U.S. law enforcement agencies helping to train and professionalize their Mexican counterparts could help stem corruption. This could make life more acceptable in Mexico and reduce the need to cross the border. Congress could also reconsider our quota system by allowing more legal immigrants per year and creating a temporary work visa program.
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