blog #3 by Scott

Reflecting on last Fridays class, I enjoyed the different topics we covered and discussed. Writing down my goals and sealing them in an envelope was a first for me, I believe. I liked the idea that it made me think hard about what some of my most important goals are. I think it helped me by making me step back and re-evaluate what my goals are at this time of my life. I also liked the fact that we were able to share are personal goals with the class, as I need all the practice I can get at conveying my thoughts to a group of people, as I plan to teach math to a group of students someday. I find this class very comfortable to discuss things with and I think that this class will help me become prepared for the future situations I will encounter. I also enjoyed discussing the no child left behind program and the new program recently implemented in our public educational system, common core. I feel the standardized testing of no child left behind held schools accountable and improved education, however, if that led to schools just cramming their students with the necessary tools to master these tests, and not actually learn all of concepts of these particular subjects as well as many other subjects not being tested, then that would be good reason to abolish this program. I like some of the things I have heard about common core, such as the increase in the teaching of critical thinking in the subjects. I hope it is a great success. During the last part of class we discussed some of the greatest cases ever decided by the Supreme Court. I had heard about most of these cases for many years and I thoroughly enjoyed reading and discussing these cases.

It is hard to believe that as recently as 1962, people rioted at a university in this country because a black man enrolled. It is equally hard for me to believe that as little as 139 years ago it was illegal to teach a black person to read or write. Have we come a long way in this matter? I think so.  Do we have a long way to go in becoming an assimilated and civil country? I think so, as well.  By reading the perspectives of other African Americans, it has helped me to understand their struggles with getting an equal education. Even after the legal end to segregation in 1954(Brown vs. Board of Education), the process of integration was very difficult and uncomfortable, as Nathan McCall mentions in the readings. He notes that his white teachers didn’t make eye contact with him and made him feel like he was not involved. I also learned how important the factors of African Americans past treatment has helped lead to these struggles. Frederick Douglas points out that it was common practice for Mom’s and their children to be kept separated, in order for the Mom to be a better servant.  Booker T. Washington makes a great point that the lack of a strong ancestral influence and knowledge holds black students back in the way that they do not have the expectations and role models that a white student most likely does. The educational experience for African Americans have come a long way and there are plenty of success stories out there, but for the main core of African Americans, we have a long way to go, I believe.