why are there no brothers?

The article's commentator discussed the racial makeup of the school, which allowed us as the readers to better understand the school that was being created. In doing so, we learned that people may have been similar at the different levels of intellect, but were struggling to understand their own personal identities.
Understandably, teachers whom tend to be of the upper racial hierachy tend to stumble when it comes to displaying ideas about reacial identity. These members of staff at this school, as for many schools, do so because they are either ignorant or because they are uncomfortable discussing racial identity in front of all members of society. This example of unknowlegdeable biasness to let some lesson on racial difference go by the wayside has proven to upset the members who are most unclear about themselves and their personal roles in their educational community; the members of racial minorities.
Staff meetings should have been the place where these issues are discussed about; like how to manage that football situation, or Lisa and her irritable attitude towards her writing lesson. It discusses how members of the faculty that were minorities would express their disgrutleness about a situation when they were not in the formal meetings. Well, what good can be done over an instance when it is not discussed.
I fear this very example for when I go into a classroom, I am not afraid to discuss any issue over race, but I fear that when I am to spark an understanding over the issue, I will do so incorrectly.

pbl reading

How interesting!!!
This reading actually excites me because as a history teacher, PBL can be used to express certain aspects of lessons. I agree with the students, especially ryan who said that students do not want to take out their social studies books and outline everything. I truely feel, that in a manageably controlled environment, the students will react in a more ethical way. When students are challenged with a project, no matter what age, I believe they would rather work on a project than be lectured to for an hour.
Power to these students seems to be their essential tool. They call it power, I call it freedom. They have the ability to leave the classroom anytime they want, it is impressive that they all do stay in line, not all students behave so ethically or responsibly. I mean I understand that maybe the teacher told them this project will only happen this once if every one does not stay on task, but I was that age once, not all students are going to follow directions. Hurray for these students who do behave exceptionally, and all averaged higher than their previous tests.
I do not agree to standards and standardized tests, because certain students just cannot do well on tests; but they do seem to be necessary, they give educators a guideline, something they understand the students should learn by the end of their school year. In saying that, PBL's are a great idea, but if educators are to follow standards while educating their students, how on earth will even a majority of these standards be met if a classroom performs these projects at a higher frequency? Will they not fall behind?

English Only

What are conservative educators thinking? To believe that students can all form into a melting pot when they are not allowed to share their own experiences, cultures!!! English only classrooms in Boston are creating an atmosphere for hate. English only creates an atmosphere where students may learn proper English, which I believe is important, but as the reading points out, it creates an idea that English is a superior language to all others, and that our society is "classless and race-blind."
How can students fully understand the lessons they are expected to learn in these classrooms when their own experiences cannot be shared. Students often relate certain lessons to their own experiences, at least I know I did. The lessons being taught at this school are said to be discussing Eastern European History. This covers such a small portion of the students in present day urban classrooms. As is in the reading, Africa and many other nations are not even covered except for how they relate to Eastern European history.
English may be an important tool to succeeding today in our nation, but as is proven, it is not the only necessary tool to obtaining a better education. 60 million Americans are illiterate, Black Americans, of whom have been speaking English for over 200 years are still regulated to the ghettos. When are conservatives going to realize that teaching concepts need to change. Parents, such as the African American ones discussed in the reading, need to bring light upon their experiences to see change. Their children are dropping out at such high rates because of racial ignorance and then are being labeled as "unmotivated." Social injustice cannot be ignored, as seems to be the case in these Boston schools. Racism, inequality, subjugation all must br brought to light sooner rather than later for a full understanding of how to change what has been occurring since the dawn of man. Im just concerned because as it says in the reading, even middle to upper class students who do not deal with racial discrimination are beginning to fail, what chance do students from poverty and do deal with discimination have at succeeding in an educational system that is set to limit their education to English only?

Lesbian and Gay Adolescents

With the increasing amounts of media and exposure of the gay community, i do not find it at all surprising that more and more students are identifying themselves as homosexual at earlier ages than in the past. Gays have a better opportunity to be open about their sexual orientation than ever before because although many people still fight against it, support for the gay community is rising. Awareness of one self is important for any person, no matter their orientation, it just may be more difficult for homosexuals during their middle school years because they are somewhat unsure about whether they are gay or straight, and many also worry about whether or not their peers will accept them. Being gay may be hard on some because they want to "come out" to their friends when they desire the right time is. It is understandable that many gays and lesbians try to hold their cover, because they do not wish to be ridiculed, but acceptance has to increase and be taught that it is okay to be different from a very early age in order to rid a person of any fear to express their true feelings.
I do find it interesting that the numbers are as high as they are about sexual experience in the middle school years because personally I was not even aware of any gays in my school until around my junior year of high school. Even though the saying goes women mature before men, it is interesting that gay men seem to be realizing their orientations and expermenting sexually earlier than their lesbian counterparts.

Bad Boys

I would have to agree, from experience, with the radical schooling theory, in believing that the schooling system reflecting the interests of the dominant groups in society. Tests have been used for I do not even know how long, but they tend to be the deciding factors of who goes where. The dominating class, though, may truly create, a hidden curriculum, one which defines the many inequalities in our society in its current state. Like read in our previous weeks, inequalities come about because of dominant classes views about society being passed down from parent to child, in which the child then uses to judge the fellow students around them. In turn, this creates a society in the school that could reflect the society of the one outside the school doors.
School disciplinary rules come to classify each student as a “case” rather than as an individual? These individuals are depicted as “cases” in which based on how well they behave in the classroom can determine their societal status. There is no “truth” to who students are in the classroom, they are being classified based on what others depict of them. It can be a harmful process if certain terms such as “troublesome” become a students label. These students may not have the ability to express their uniqueness in a classroom because they are being previously slated as someone who needs to be held to a short leash.
The black adult male body depicts fear? The body language displayed in a classroom is always supposed to be relegated as one that is respectful to the instructor. However, this highly expected posture can in all actuality be highly uncomfortable, and if the instructor has to feel obligated to maintain it in the classroom, how much time is that taking away from learning time to correct the situation. As seen in our college classes, posture is not always held as the most important means of respect, or it does not mean the student is not holding an awareness to what is going on in the classroom. I do not believe in creating a fearfulness in the classroom towards myself.

The Identity crisis

I must disagree with Erikson's translation of Identity from Jame's perspective. What James declares as being "character" should be exactly left as such. He describes that experiences, and the way one handles themselves in such situations, whether chosen of forced upon would depict one's character, not their identity.
I do believe however that identity is correctly termed by Sigmond Freud, who states identity is a common mental construction. Identity to me is a member of society that feels that they belong to a groups or multiple groups based on shared experiences and beliefs. Identity-consciousness can be a conflicted terminology because consciously being judged by others in negative terms creates an us verses them atmosphere.
The reading of Identity is relevant because as students become the age of early adolescents, they begin to create their own self identity, or at least the transition from their childhood identity to their adult one. The problem for students at this age is that they create their identities towards how others judge them rather than standing strong for their own beliefs. It may be natural to be conscious of others, but ideally breaking the status quo would create the best atmosphere. This to me could be best achieved by Ward's idea of each student proclaiming what they are not before they express who they are. Doing so could help a student realize what their self image is from others perspectives.

The middle school experience

Their are many issues to consider when a student is in middle school, and how progress to creating a developmental concept that meets the needs of the "middle" schooler is needed. I went to a school that began as junior high, so i started their when i was a seventh grader. Then during the summer before 8th grade, the school was changed to a middle school. I would have to agree with William Alexander that there needs to be a recognized "in-between-ager" institution. Students emotions run are completely at all different levels, and a middle school is the level where they are supposed to be able to learn to manage their widespread maturity levels. Also these institutions are great for giving students an opening to working on "an individualization of curriculum." Opportunities are more accessable for students to better understand their roles in their social environments, what they bring to the big picture.
Middle school is also very important for keeping a student in line, or so that the student does not feel as though they are left out to dry. I say this because competition for jobs, with an emphasis on technology is at an all time high. Students need to learn the skills, or they will fail. Feeling like they cannot succeed causes many students to try other things, like drugs, alcohol and such. A middle school is an atmosphere that prepares students to be able to handle what is needed to succeed as an adult.