Exploring “Community as Text: Using the Community as a Resource for Learning in Community Schools” Analytical Précis Sociology of Education Lamees Aisami Georgia State University In “Community as Text: Using the Community as a Resource for Learning in Community Schools” Blank, Johnson, and Shah (2003) present a case for the inclusion of the community in the school’s curriculum with the transformative sociological perspective within the critical theory. Theories of social transformation focus on the emancipation from oppression (DeMarrais and LeCompte 1999). In this article, the authors demonstrate this perspective on both a macro and micro level in the way that they join the school, classroom, and society to create a pathway for progress and liberation. The authors (Blank, Johnson, and Shah 2003) argue that learning is most effective when it connects and incorporates the elements of home and community to active learning experiences. The authors go on to describe a coalition of community schools as a model for their argument and the basis for their study (Blank et. al. 2003). The authors define a community school as an integration of the aspects of citizenship in a community such as historical and contextual awareness as well as service, and academic elements such as learning goals in the classroom. The authors detail these community schools to be a before, during, and after school phenomenon. In other words, it works in conjunction with the school, not in
As I mentioned earlier, David writes about how education can change the social behavior of people and have them connect better, as said by Lewis. He says “...an acquaintance with the literature, both sacred and secular, that forms a culture’s legacy and its sense of community” (Downing, pg. 2). He is saying that this view of education and purpose is a moral component for people in communities to stand firm and connect with each other (Downing). This is the main point in bell hooks' text Keeping Close to Home. She says the most powerful resource to study and teach in a school setting is to understand and appreciate the beauty and richness of our family and community backgrounds (hooks). Communities will connect better and diversity needs will
Pedro Noguera, a phenomenal urban sociologist and a professor at New York University confronts the problems which exist in our nation’s education system in his book, City Schools and the American Dream: Reclaiming the Promise of Public Education. Noguera describes what he views to be the main problems facing urban education and suggests strategies for improvement. From years of experience as a teacher and school board member, he reflects on what he believes to be the real problems. Noguera blames the school’s failures on students, parents, and teachers which leads to blame local government officials or policymakers. Noguera states in City Schools and the American Dream, “The central argument of this book is that until there is a genuine commitment to address the social context of schooling — to confront the urban condition — it will be impossible to bring about significant and sustainable improvements in urban public schools” (pg.6). Noguera believes that we must address the central problem to make any type of solutions for improvement.
It has become common today to dismiss the lack of education coming from our impoverished public schools. Jonathan Kozol an award winning social injustice writer, trying to bring to light how our school system talks to their students. In his essay “Still Separate, Still Unequal," Kozol visits many public high schools as well as public elementary schools across the country, realizing the outrageous truth about segregating in our public education system. Kozol, cross-examining children describing their feelings as being put away where no one desires your presence. Children feeling diminished for being a minority; attending a school that does not take into consideration at the least the child’s well being. Showing clear signs of segregation in the education system.
Living Learning Communities facilitate learning, growth, and friendship. LLCs seek students who are dedicated and motivated. Personally, I am both; throughout high school, I have worked hard and studied hard. I maintained a high GPA while participating in theatre almost every day after school. Indeed, I was able to take rigorous Advanced Placement courses along with dual enrollment engineering course while helping to run my school’s theatre company, Lymlight Production. I plan to continue both this hard work while at USF. Thus, living in an LLC will help me meet my goals.
Parent and Community involvement does not occur overnight. I feel that schools must make parent and community involvement a priority, valuing and accepting each other’s differences. Schools, families and communities must work together to support all students in a learning environment to ensure every student is a successful learner. Positive family and school involvement fosters a partnership among my school encouraging students to reach their highest potential academically and in life. Parent and community involvement does not mean stay-at-home mothers coming to school to help as needed, or a businessman stopping by to see events occurring on campus. The role of school, family and community involvement is a partnership incorporating goal-oriented activities for all grade levels linked to academic success and student growth.
Subtractive Schooling by Angela Valenzuela (1999) is a compelling indictment of our American educational system, and the infrastructure therein. The heart of her work is the tragic narrative of Seguin High School, a case study of an American high school that fails to recognize its primary purpose, to educate students. The book itself is a fascinating blend of research. Within her narrative Valenzuela calls in to sharp contrast the sham that is public
Education has begun to be taken for granted, not realizing what an impact it has on culture. In the television show Community, the view of education differs in many of the characters. There are both positive and negative stereotypes revealed throughout the show which were discussed in a way so that the issues present could be changed. Even though the show Community is presented as a comedy, with many mishaps, it presents education as something which is important and should be treasured. Education in our culture is many times underappreciated, looked at as an entitlement rather than a privilege; however, Community, forces the audience to reexamine education and why such a high value is placed on it in our culture.
What do you think about your neighbours? How do you feel about your schools? What do you think about your community? Community has always been a big part of our lives and it has been here since the day we were born. We might even live on the same street, but we grow up in different households and this results in many different views on communities. The many definitions of our community may include our home, our heritage, and even our religion.
It also showed us that value in education comes in different forms. For example, students like DeAndre valued education but didn’t think the education he was receiving was the best approach for him. It may appear the DeAndre was uninterested in learning but in reality he was interested in learning things that could help and resonated with his cultural history. I was enlightened by the way this article helped to highlight different types of students in a positive light. I resonate with this article because I went to a high school where students were labeled as noncompliant or “acting white”. I fell that more educators should read this article to get a well-rounded view of all their students especially those in the minority community. Furthermore, after reading this article I began to brainstorm alternatives to making school more appealing to all categories of students. According to the Boston Globe a new idea called community schools are entering discussions about better school models. The Boston Globe defines community schools as “both a place and a set of partnerships between the school and other community resources. Its integrated focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development, and community engagement leads to improved student learning, stronger families, and healthier communities”. This idea sounds great to me because not only does it address the needs of the student
“Education in our country is the social service equivalent of Katrina. Part of the challenge that we face in this nation is that we have to confront the fact that we have systems that are designed essentially to fail kids,” states Geoffrey Canada in his address at the Social Justice Leadership Conference (Newport, 2011). Canada has an innate ability to blatantly state the problems facing communities in this country. However he is not just talking; he is doing something about it.
Evans Clinchy contends that it is the role of public schools to remain solidly connected to the “will of the citizens of our local communities” (Koonce, 2015,
Many people do not care about where they come from. Many people are selfish with their time and effort, but not me I do care about where I came from and I devote most of my time and effort to make many people happy. I try my hardest to do the right thing and to give back when I know I should. Giving back to my community is an important thing to me. People should care and protect about their communities. Three reasons why giving back to my community is important to me is because my community has done so much for me, I take so much pride in where I am from, and because I want people to see how wonderful my community is.
We examined the issues, problems, and solutions to equitable schooling in a pluralistic society. Viewing schools as social institutions that transform the cultural and political dynamics of society. Some of my favorite activities in that class had to do with the articles of Crystal City and Little Rock Nine. The Walkout in Crystal City article was about how in 1969, Mexican Americans were prohibited from speaking Spanish in school and there were no classes or lessons about Mexican history, culture or literature and how the he Crystal City students came together after the school board refused to hear the students' demands and the walkout remains a high point in the history of student activism in the Southwest. The Little Rock Nine article had to do with the decision that was made on May 17, 1954 due to BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION where the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that segregation of America’s public schools was unconstitutional. That is when nine black students enrolled at formerly all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in September 1957. Even though the students were not wanted their and discriminated against, they were still brave enough to encounter the mistreatment is order to show that they to deserved to have the education and equality that the caucasian students had. This really encouraged me to collaborate
Through this class, I understand the general gist of what controls the community in terms of power, organizational strength, and political influences. I have learned about what factors into certain decisions that community members make and what the recent outlook of community participation is. Even though I learned that community participation and involvement in organizations has declined over the past years, it is hopeful to find ways to combat this social apathy that is happening in America today. I enjoyed learning about strategies to help groups of people interact and create an active and responsive community power. The Greene and Haines text was well-organized, strategic, direct, and practical to the subject matter.
Community is very important and has many factors like kinship, unity, and identity. Community helps society because it creates solutions, provides security and reveals dedication. It discovers truthfulness. Communities are part of everyday life and have positive affects on its members.