We keep talking about what's wrong, adding more and more sticks to the fire...and I'm glad he's opening our eyes to the problems out there, but we should spend time brainstorming and talking about how we can make it right.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Where Do We Go From Here?
I'm still thinking about Zaher's class today. It was a very hard lesson to swallow, kind of earth shattering actually. I'm talking about how Zaher said "we" (society/humans) always need a class on the bottom, that there always needs to be a minority for us to function properly. And we cited how it happens here in America, the "free society", it happens in Socialism, it happens in Communism. Apparently it's always happened and always will happen. There is always one dominant group who "rules", and the minorities we struggle and serve this dominant group. Under this reasoning (which I still can't get myself to accept) if we fight and win for something, like equal schools for all races and classes, will it not just lead to another group being ostracized? Is it an endless cycle? How can we look forward to having world peace one day when we can't even achieve one town or city having equal schools for it's children?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Wow, it is great to read all of the blogs. I have to agree Aaron, it would be great to brainstorm some ways we can turn this new knowledge and angst into positive motivation.
ReplyDeleteI love integrating all the classes and feel like there is so much we can do. We have the whole year! I know it will go by so especially fast. I think there are some huge possibilities with the technology today and what a civil rights movement in the 21st century might look like. We know we can contact Kozol!! I want to read his book during our down time in August. Speaking of books, has anyone read "Blessed Unrest." The author escapes me. I have it at home if anyone wants to borrow it. It has an inspiring spin on things. Another book that really made me think about myself as a learner and how to teach all people was "Walk on Water" - and again the name escapes me but I have that one at home too.
I also want to comment on all the awesome feedback we are getting from each other. The honesty in our cohort is very refreshing.
To get back to your blog - I really like the last question you ask, where to do we go from here? It isn't about just teachers and schools making a difference but how can we connect with other cohorts and colleagues to brainstorm effective actions we can make right here and now in our daily lives.
Aaron -
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you that it seems incredibly disheartening and overwhelming to continuously read all of this material and feel like there are no answers being given. When the injustices and inequities are tangled up in the law they seem more tangible; although the legal system in our country can be daunting and confusing, laws are something that can be changed. I find the systematic inequities - those that are not made by any law, but rather by the people themselves and only upheld because of their beliefs, even more troubling because I'm not really sure what to do about that.
I wish I could speak to every single person in the country and give a passionate plea for our children, schools and the future of our education, but that just isn't feasible. So, like Jen Marie, I think it's important to focus on what we can do, and one thing we can do is make connections.
Along with possibly scaring and totally overwhelming us, learning about the inequities can introduce us to people, groups and ideas that are being formed and want to make change. I think Zalika's class is a good compliment to Zahers class in this respect. One amazing resource that has connections to the Lewis and Clark campus is Rethinking Schools, who can be found here: http://www.rethinkingschools.org
Now that we know this information, the only choice we have (if we don't want to aid those perpetuating the injustices) is to do something.
This is one of my favorite quotes and often makes me think of situations like this...
If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.
Desmond Tutu