Crossing Cultures: Class, Race & Culture

"A Talk to Teachers" by: James Baldwin

 "Creating Culturally Relevant Education " Youth in Action (video)

 I found this article extremely interesting and at the same time taken back by what the author had to say. I was taken back because what he said about a black man in a white society was true, sad but true. Oppression is real and people of color deal with it everyday. The article and video really focus on how culture plays a big part in a persons life. While the article focus on how society is menaced... "A whole country of people believe I am a nigger and I don't." it offers multiple examples how African Americans are born into a society that leaves little room to grow. the video focused on how students and parents approach to help create a culturally relevant education. Many of the students and parents felt like teachers didn't take the time and day to get to know them. As if they were just another face, another number, statistic in the crowd. I think many people experience this everywhere. I know being in college when I have a lecture of 200 people I feel like I don't matter. Its a horrible feeling and not how education should be taught. One should not go through school feeling as though they don't matter to the people trying to teach them. I think both the article and videos point to get across was that teachers need to take the time to connect with their students. Get to know them, where they come from, who they really are, and maybe just maybe the end results will be different.


This article made me think of something I did in the first grade. My teacher had every student color a picture of a person who was from a different country. When everyone was done we hung them all around the classroom. The point was to get across that everyone is different, we all came from somewhere and its not the same as our neighbor. I think Diversity should be brought to children's attention and should be taught and here's a link to teaching it.

http://www.uww.edu/learn/diversity/dozensuggestions.php

Aside from this weeks assignment, something the author said that really stuck out to me was..

"The purpose of education, finally, is to create in a person the ability to look at the world for himself, to make decisions, to say to himself this is black or this is white, to decide for himself whether there is a God in heaven or not. To ask questions of the universe, and then learn to live with those questions, is the way he achieves his own identity".

To me this statement is the ultimate truth and It could not have been better said. This explains life itself and the purpose of not only education but how one will find who they are. But in order to find out who you are in life I think it stems from education what you learn, how you learn, and what you take from all the experiences you endure.

Open House (Event)

Rhode Island College hosted an open house on Saturday October 8, 2014

 

When I first walked up to the Murray Center I wasn't sure what to expect at all because I had never been to the college's open house before. I was freezing and a little thirsty so on the way in I grabbed hot chocolate they had outside. I also noticed that a bunch of things were happening on the quad and from what it looked like were different tours. As I walked inside the gym I noticed a bunch of tables set up with professors, students, parents, and possible future students. I walked toward the back where I knew the Youth Development table would be. Our table had a bubbles, pencils, candy, and brochures with Corinne and other students behind the table. I took a walk around with Regina to get a look at other tables and check out what was going on. There was a good amount of people walking around but not packed so people couldn't move. As I came back to the table Corinne didn't hesitate to put us to the test of explaining our major and the future possibilities. I told the possible future YDEV major the courses involved in this major and how I felt they give someone a huge opportunity. I explained that this major really gives someone more than just one area of expertise. You get the advantage of taking different studies and putting them all together. I explained that YDEV is really what you make it and used everyone’s career goals as examples. The possible RIC students relate to Nakkula Toshalis's reference to moratorium identity. Moratorium identity "is a developmental state in which one actively explores roles and beliefs, behaviors and relationships, but refrains from making a commitment". The students walked around open house exploring the campus, gathering information on different majors but have not fully committed to coming to RIC yet. 

I enjoyed attending this event and not just for the free candy. I was given the opportunity to project my passion onto others. I was able to advocate for myself and the Youth Development major that many people are not familiar with. It was a great experience to see students interested in some of the things I was but also the overall well being of youth. I realize that this is the beginning of the Youth Development major, which I love being a part of. I truly believe this major is so much more than what people project it as. in my opinion it is what you make it and it gives students the opportunity to take their own believes and turn them into a dream that best fits them.  

LINKS:
 http://www.ric.edu/futureStudents/  <----- RIC future students information page 
Nakkula Chapter 1 <----- Four Identities recognized
http://www.ric.edu/educationalstudies/youthDevelopment.php <----- Youth Development Page

Identify in Context

Nakkula Toshalis 2010 Understanding Youth: Adolescent Development for Educators

Chapter 2: Identify in Context
 

Context Mapping helps individuals really figure out who they are. It identifies identity vs. role confusion. Mitch asked Julian to list various spaces and relationships he negotiates with each day. In doing that he asked him to note when he feels safe and when he feels anxious. Mitch got Julian to recognize all the experiences that made him feel a certain way and asked him to create a superhero that could navigate through these challenges.

The Four Identities
 

foreclosed identity: "is one in which an individual has committed to a life direction or way of being without exploring it carefully and without experimenting with alternatives".

diffused identity: "is a state in which there has been little exploration or active consideration of a particular identity and no psychological commitment to one".

moratorium identity: "is a developmental state in which one actively explores roles and beliefs, behaviors and relationships, but refrains from making a commitment".

achieved identity: "occurs when the identity crisis is resolved and the commitment to the selected identity is high".

My Context Map

 

RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE

Student

Professors

Youth Development

 

HOME

Mom & DAD

Siblings

Rocky (puppy)

 

TEAMWORKS

Soccer

Teammate

Friends

 

YMCA

Co-workers

Children

Parents