Rodriguez (Reflection)

Reading Aria by Richard Rodriguez actually surprised me. I could not believe that these nuns went to this child's house and asked them to basically start speaking English fluently so that he could participate and understand in class. I work at a daycare. We get a lot of children who are Spanish, Asian, and white. But when we give tours to the parents of these children we do have to ask "does your child speak english". We do not have any teachers that speak a different language other then english so it would be hard for the child to learn. Some of the children we have had come from foster homes and have no choice but basically learn english from us because they need a daycare to stay throughout the day. I know that it could be very frustrating on the teacher and the children trying to understand one another but sometimes you just have to work through it. Even though his school was a catholic school I do not really agree with the nun going to their house telling the parents to basically stop speaking Spanish. Today I am pretty sure more people speak spanish in the US then people speaking English so  to me I would not completely change and just speak English if I spoke Spanish and was my first language. That is their first language and will always be their first language. I think I would do the same thing and keep my child in that school so they could learn a second language but I would still continue to speak spanish and english. I would not just take away and forget about my first language. I believe Lisa Delpits #2 rule saying "There are codes or rules for participating in power; chat is, there is a "culture of power" could fit right in because in this case the nun has the power I believe because they are telling his family to only speak English at home so he can speak english at school.. Overall I believe Rodriguez's main point was that to always keep your first language and your traditions throughout your entire life and to never completely change them.

Richard Rodriguez - here is a little bit about questions and answers with Rodriguez (youtube)

McIntosh, White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack (Connections)

Reading McIntosh's article was truly incredible. I never really realized how much "power" we as white people have until reading this article. For personal experience I have black children at my daycare and just the other day I was putting on a bandaid on a black child and was thinking to myself there really aren't black colored bandaids. It is sad that this is the way it is. Why wouldn't they make there colored skin bandaids. Nobody wants to change anything to make society more about black people. Why can't everything just be equal?  I really think McIntosh did a great job writing this article. There are a lot of things that black people can not do but white people can. Many examples include, white people getting a job faster then black people, seeing toys, dolls and picture books being mostly "white" then black dolls and pictures, also being able to go out alone in the streets where I live. These black people have many disadvantages and it is so sad. McIntosh had said "If I should need to move, I can be pretty sure of renting or purchasing housing in an area that I can afford and in which I would want to live."(McIntosh 2) Most black people would not be able to choose where they want to live. Most of them live in tiny houses because they can not afford a nice house because they can not get a job. I think White people over power black people. One of Delpit's aspects of power say The rules of the culture of power area reflection of the rules of the culture of those who have power. In this she said "Children from middle-class homes tend to do better in school than those from non­ middle-class homes because the culture of the school is based on the culture of the upper and middle classes - of those in power. The upper and middle classes send their children to school with all the accoutrements of the culture of power; children from other kinds of families operate within perfectly wonderful and viable cultures but nat cultures that carry the codes at rules of power." (Delpit 27) So, because these people can not afford a nice house and do not have a job, or if they do making very little money, these children can not get the help from their parents. But, a lot of white people have nice houses and take the time with their children to help them with homework. I really feel like white people should help out black people more. I am glad we are going to these Providence schools to interact with the children because I am sure some of these children do not get much interaction with their parents from home. 
Mcintosh also had said, "For this reason, the word "privilege" now seems to me misleading. We usually think of privilege as being a favored state, whether earned or conferred by birth or luck. Yet some of the conditions I have described here work systematically to over empower certain groups."(McIntosh 4) I agree with this. But I also question if we are privileged because we are white. Is she basically saying white people are more privileged then black people. If anyone could maybe let me know in a comment I would love your input on this part. 

Questions/Comments/ Points to Share
I have to agree with Jessica's question and going to share her question again. How could we fix this? I feel like I am learning new things in this course already. I am glad I am taking this course but if white people are racist and against black people I don't know if they should be teaching because a teacher should love their children no matter what race they are. I am not sure if I am being harsh saying this but it is what I believe. 

    

Amazing Grace ~ Jonathan Kozol (Quotes)

As soon as I started reading Amazing Grace by Jonathan Kozol I immediately felt so sad for these families with their living conditions and health. Up until now I never knew that it was this bad down in the South Bronx of New York. Now I know why my parents get so nervous when my brother visits his friend in the Bronx. My brother has told me before that his house that he lives in is as big as a dorm room and his parents need to work around the clock along with his friend to live at URI and be able to live off campus. Reading this article knowing that this young child see's dead bodies burning makes my stomach turn. For these children they are used to walking around their neighborhood seeing all these horrible sites. During the winter months, there are houses freezing. Only sometimes the city hands house blankets and extra sleeping bags but sometimes they run out. A father says, "You just cover up... and hope you wake up the next morning"(4). I would be so scared to fall asleep at night knowing I may or may not wake up the next morning. The place these families live in is one of the most poorest and abandoned places. When I go visit New York I stay near and around Times Square and my mom has always told me never to give a homeless person on the street anything because you do not know what could happen to you. It is different for the children living there because they are so used to this lifestyle. The little boy in the story was having a conversation with the priest and he gave a homeless man pizza. "He looks surprised by this."Why would they be mad?" he asks: "God told us, 'Share!.'""(8) This little boy has religion in his life. God told him that was the right thing to do. I don't think that his parents would of liked him to give the homeless man pizza alone but to this little boy he had done the right thing. One last thing I was completely shocked about is that this poor woman who was sick could not even go to to hospital because it was disgusting and unsanitary. "The bed is covered with blood and bandages from someone else. Flowers are scattered on the floor. Toilet's stopped with toilet paper. Bed hasn't been made"(15). It was better for her and other people to basically stay in bed and sleep all day then to go to this hospital where there was only a few doctors and low staff. I do not think I or any of us could handle this. There are so many medications out there today to get us better faster then to just lay in bed. I can not believe how bad this area of New York really is. This has opened my eyes a little more.

St. Anns Church 

Questions/Comments/Point to Share

One thing I would like to bring up in class is some of these families go to church every weekend and have God in their life. I think their lifestyle is very hard and I am proud of these people for always believing in God and trusting him along their way. I think the children believe more in him because they do not know how bad their life really is compared to their parents. 

About Me!

Hi, My name is Karissa and I am a sophomore here at RIC. I am 19 years old and will be 20 on January 23rd. This past summer was fun and very busy. I have worked at a daycare called The Gingerbread House for 4 years now. I mostly work with the after school program that ages 6-12 years. I think working with these kids has made me realize I really like to work with younger children better and that is why I have chose to go into Early Education. On my days off from work I had to study for summer classes and I also squeezed in some beach time. Who doesn't love the beach!! I am taking this class because it is a requirement for the school of ed. I do have to say that I am enjoying it so far. While I am not in class I have to work. It does get a little stressful for me but I am managing my time for homework, work, and school equally. I hope everyone had a great summer!