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?