Digging into Media Messages

Reading numerous articles regarding rising crime in Dover involving both violent crime and non-violent crime, helped to paint a clearer picture of all teachers have the opportunity to educate their students about. More specifically in Dover, they struggle with gun violence, bullying, and drugs. Within their community, students at a young age are surround with an array of bad influences such as violence and drugs. As a health education teacher I am provided with the obligation to educate them about the importance of avoiding bullying, drugs, and violence as well as severe consequences that can happen when one decides to participate in such activity. One article discussed the growing problem of bullying, which was the cause of a six-person fight on the school bus. They ranged from 15-16 years old. In the article it states, “Morris Hill School officials were notified of the situation to speak with the families.” Although most of the information being given is from the Safety Director of Dover and the Police Officer, I believe it was important to address the problem to the school officials. The school officials, as well as myself being a health and physical education teacher have the opportunity of addressing the culture of bullying, the zero tolerance policy, and the serious consequences that come a long with bullying. (http://www.nj.com/morris/index.ssf/2012/10/ongoing_bullying_caused_school.htm) Two other teenagers were involved in a form of bullying by arming themselves with imitation pistols and leaving a homemade bomb outside a classmates home. This was all in respond to an argument the two had. (http://www.nj.com/morris/index.ssf/2012/08/dover_police_arrest_juveniles.html) In Dover, Taxis are a common source of transportation for teens as well as adults. One article discusses an incident involving four teens that robbed a taxi driver for his I-phone, and then beat him. The sergeant involved with the arrested stated, “"This arrest shows the importance the community plays in crime-fighting efforts and
 we thank them for getting involved," Residents within the community helped the police officers at the time of the crime because the teens fled the scene by running from the cops. The residents were the ones who told the police which way the teens were running, which ultimately led them to catch the teens. This was important to share with the public, because it not only showed the effort the police are making to provide for a safe community, but it also showed the importance of the community working together to achieve a safer community for everybody. (http://www.nj.com/morris/index.ssf/2012/08/cops_four_teens_beat_robbed_ta.html) The last article I read was regarding the rising problem with drugs in Dover. Most recently 13 people were arrested in a drug raid, which was only 500 Feet from the Second Street Playground in Dover. This is highly concerning regarding the students we will be teaching, because the playgrounds they should have the opportunity to be playing on and building their locomoter skills are being used as a meeting spot for exchanging drugs. According to this article, in Dover, non-violent crime has raised 14 percent. This article is important, because it points out that they are making an effort to crack down on drugs. As teachers, we have the opportunity to educate our students of the importance of staying away from drugs. The detective states, “Increased community involvement, more tips to police and a better partnership between patrols and citizens is helping the community.” It is important the community is working together and being involved to make their town a better place. But as a health and physical education teacher I also will have the opportunity to help build a safer community by educating my students and giving them a good foundation and knowledge of staying away from drugs and violence. This way they are able to go out into their community and help to promote for a safer environment. (http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/dover_police_ramp_up_effort_to.html)

NJ Disabilities Film Festival - 'The Importance of Tying Your Own Shoes'

As teachers we need to be patient, curious and have awareness of what our students say and do. The film ‘The Importance of Tying Your Own Shoes’ is a perfect portrayal of the importance of getting to know your students. Alex gets a job to be the leader of a group of people with disabilities, and although he appreciates every one of them, he never gets to know them the way a teacher should and therefore runs into many problems along the way. The first time Alex encounters trouble is when they go for a walk, and one of his students with Down syndrome climbs up the sculpture and is unable to get down. He did not think this was such a big deal at the time, but then he was approached that the student had a heart condition and he can’t let him do that again. That same student and Alex encountered another problem when the students are playing soccer outside, he kicks the ball to the student with Down syndrome and it hits him right in the face. There are many implications to be aware of when teaching a student with Down syndrome, that if Alex were aware of he may have approached the situations differently. Firstly, people with Down syndrome many times have heart and lung problems. Their blood is not effectively pumped through their heart so they fatigue easily. They also have less aveoli in their lungs, so they can’t take in oxygen, which causes them to have asthma. People with Down syndrome also many times have vision problems, so this is why the student had trouble seeing the ball when it came close to his face. The next problem Alex encounters is he takes them for a bus ride and forgets to do the seatbelt check, so none of the students have their seat belts on. Throughout the movie it was obvious that Leif suffered from what I thought to be anxiety. You see this occur when he was cutting the wood outside, and also when they get on stage to perform Leif stops and is unable to continue. This problem, which seemed very serious never seemed to be addressed by the teacher. Having some knowledge of the implications of teaching students with Down syndrome, I noticed when Alex goes to Kristina’s house to talk to her; he places himself at eye level. Because people with Down syndrome are usually much shorter, it is important when talking to them to put yourself at eye level, this way they don’t always have to look up. This is something Alex was aware of when talking to Kristina. Although Alex really cared about every one of his students, it is important to get to know your students along with certain implications to be aware of when it comes to safety concerns which is something Alex never did.

Reflecting on Race

The other day I opened my Twitter only to find a promoted tweet from the movement “my-black-is-beautiful.” I couldn’t help to think, what if the promoted tweet had read, “my-white-is-beautiful.” I clicked on the tweet to get more information regarding the movement. Pictures were posted saying “black girls rock.” I then went to their website to see what the promoted tweet was in support of and it stated “community of black women and everything that makes them beautiful.” I applaud the organization for celebrating their beauty; however, I also feel like if pictures were posted saying “white girls rock,” they would be seen as more controversial. People responded to the promoted tweet, which confirmed that I was not the only one having these thoughts. One response read, “I challenge a white woman to start a page called ‘my-white-is-beautiful’ I doubt it will be received as well”. Another user said, “A group known as ‘my-white-is-beautiful’ would be deemed a hate group and exiled from society, while ‘my-black-is-beautiful’ is promoted on my feed. I come from a large and diverse family. I have an adopted African American cousin, as well as an adopted cousin from China. Many of my cousins and my sister married from another ethnicity. I don’t deny the fact the racism still exists today, but in my eyes race was never a factor in judging somebody’s character. Racism exists today, but I believe it exists among ‘all’ the races. I think any person is capable of being racist, it is not just specifically ‘one race’ that is racist. It is important as teachers to know that racism exists. It is also important for teachers to be able to identify racism as well, because students may encounter racism among their peers. Many times our views on racism are passed down from generation to generation, so students can vary depending on how they were brought up. It is important to be aware of all these factors so we can identify racism, as well as make a conscience effort in trying to end it in our society.

How a teacher impacted me

During our class discussion we spoke about how teachers have the responsibility of responding to their students behavior as well as the opportunity to reach out to them and offer them help and guidance. We further discussed how many of our students will encounter hard times such as family problems, parents going through a divorce, or even losing a loved one. Although these are common problems that can have a big impact on a student psychologically and impact their ability to think during class, I think there are many other unfortunate problems a student may encounter that teachers need to be aware of. Beginning my freshman year in high school I was in an abusive relationship. This is one event I can think of where a teacher reached out to me. I was told what to wear, whom to talk to, as well as where I could and couldn’t go. Although my family knew the horrible situation I was in, I thought I would be able to hide it from my teachers realizing it was having a negative impact on my class work. Looking back I am not surprised I was unable to hide it from my teachers. I believe they saw the sadness behind my eyes. My mind was never focused on classwork, but instead wandering off wondering if my boyfriend at the time would pass my class and see me wearing a tank top instead of the sweatshirt he demanded me to wear. He would always pass by my class to make sure I was wearing a sweatshirt instead of a tank top. On a hot day, this made it even more impossible to concentrate in class. After things got really bad and more then one of my teachers saw me crying in class, I was reported to the guidance counselor, who then contacted my parents. Although at first I was upset and tried to hide that anything was wrong, this was the first step in getting me help. I wanted help so badly, but wasn’t sure how to get out of the relationship. Although it still took time, these teachers took the first step by reaching out. They realized there was a problem and tried to get me help. This negative relationship was having such and impact on me emotionally and psychologically that I was not able to concentrate at all during school. I truly believe that, “things may shape future lives, but they don’t necessarily determine their future.” This could be said for the situation I went through. Although it helped to shape the person I have become, it in no way determined my future. I think as teachers we have so much to look out for and be aware of. Because my teachers were aware of the change in my attitude, they were able to get me help and that ultimately was the first step in leading me to where I am today!

Review on Frontline Segment "Poor Kids"

Review on “Poor Kids” My experience watching the video clip called “Poor Kids” was both empowering and eye opening. According to the Frontline segment, 16 million children are affected by child poverty in the United States. This segment greatly affected me emotionally, and helped me to better understand that children are very diverse economically and as teachers it is imperative that we are aware of their differences. One thing that all the children who struggled with poverty had in common was the obvious negative impact it had on their lives emotionally. One 14 year old boy dreams of playing football but states that he has nothing going for him because he was unable to play due to expenses. He says his life is almost over and he needs to start playing football or the dream will start to fade away. Another girl has to cope with leaving her dog at a shelter for a new home because they are unable to afford the pet. Lastly, one girl has to deal with important sentimental objects of hers that were thrown out at the storage unit because they could no longer afford it; All equally sad stories, which greatly impacts each of these children’s’ lives. It is important as teachers to be patient, curious, and self-aware. There is a lot that may be going on at a child’s home life that might directly affect their ability to succeed in school. There may be sadness in a child’s voice and behind their eyes that may sometimes go unnoticed. As teachers we need to be aware and interested in learning about their lives so we can help them to succeed. Hearing a child say “I don’t care if I’m happy, the good part is that my mom’s happy” shows sadness in her words. Stereotypes rely on the easiest way to understand somebody. Often stereotypes are passed down through our family’s beliefs. Society sometimes has a negative impact about families dealing with poverty, which has a great affect on the children’s social lives. This can impact them both in an out of school. The nutrition club is offered in one child’s school to supply them with food to last them through the weekend. The students leave the class in front of all the other students to receive their food. Although this is imperative that the child receives the food, it is also singling them out in front of the rest of the class causing an environment that may make them feel embarrassed. Children also get made fun of because of the way they look because they are not able to afford better clothes. Poverty impacts these children’s lives greatly both emotionally, socially, and cognitively. It is important that teachers are aware of all the struggles they may be dealing with on a daily basis. As a physical education teacher, I think it is especially important to be aware of the impact of poverty on the lives of my students because it may impact their ability level directly. Students talk about eating a lot of pizza because it’s less expensive, and they never get a chance to eat vegetables. One child also talks about loving football but never having a chance to play because it’s too expensive. Children may differ in their levels because of the resources that are available to them.

Not Enough to Live On

As teachers we need to be patient, tolerant and self aware of both what we believe and of what we say and do as well. Reflecting on our group activity, it helped me gain a better insight to all that we, as future teachers, need to be aware of when it comes to understanding our students. Our work as teachers is so important because we play such a big role in the lives of our students, not only socially but psychologically as well. We as teachers will encounter many different students; students from all walks of life. In one class we could encounter students coming from different economic backgrounds. We most certainly will encounter students from different ethnicities and religions. We could have students who may be working a part time job to help provide for their families or students are responsible for taking care of their siblings while their parents are at work. This can have a great impact on a student’s grades and ability to do well in school. Furthermore, in situations such as these, the students might not be eating a healthy, nutritious diet at home, which in turn can cause them to have a lack of energy or be hungry when at school. These are things we need to be aware of as teachers. Self-sufficiency takes many things into account; geography, age of children, number of family members, and disabilities. Furthermore, this week’s reading assignment on “Not Enough to Live On” stresses the importance of education to help reduce income inadequacy. Part of the reason this pattern continues is because for people who fall below the Self Sufficiency Standard, it may be hard for them to afford college. Something that caught me by surprise was the table with the top 10 occupations below the self-sufficiency standard broken down by race and ethnicity. What bothered me was that, “jobs within the same category and held by people from different race or ethnic group vary considerable from low wage to higher wage.”

The Cost of Living in New Jersey Reflection

Being a student for most of my life, I have yet to attain a self-sufficient lifestyle and seem to have only a mere understanding of how expensive it really is to live in New Jersey. Having most of my family and friends living in all different regions of New Jersey, including Essex county, Morris county, and Warren county, I have been able to gain a small understanding of the major differences in the cost of living depending on regional area just in the state of New Jersey. In the article, they define being self sufficient as, “Being able to take care of yourself and your family, you can pay the rent, you have a car for transportation, you have a job and you can pay your bills. You don’t need to depend on anyone for anything; you are off all assistance programs. You can pay for daycare for your children, you can buy groceries and you can pay for life necessities.” I know I have yet to attain self-sufficiency and find myself worrying about being able to support a family with the expensive costs of living in New Jersey. This is one of the main reasons as to why I decided to further my education and pursue a professional career as a teacher. That being said, I am still surprised to see such a big gap in earnings depending on gender according to the chart in the article. Living in Essex County my whole life, I always thought it was one of the more expensive counties to live in the state of New Jersey; I always here my parents, aunts and uncles complain about their incredibly high taxes. To be honest, I was surprised to discover otherwise. According to this article, “The areas with the lowest cost of living (under $40,000 annually) include primarily urban counties such as Camden, Hudson and Essex.” Furthermore, the annual self-sufficient wage for Essex County is $39,299 - $40,413. I have a friend who lives in Warren County simply because it is more affordable to live out there because things are less expensive. My friend also lives the type of lifestyle described in the article where, “they have no savings, the slightest setback—a car needing repairs, an unexpected hospital bill, a reduction in work hours—can trigger a major financial crisis.” In other words, they live pay check to pay check. Costs in New Jersey are continuing to rise, including health care, childcare, and housing. For single parents, it becomes even more difficult to support a family on one income. It is important to understand that students come from different family settings, different backgrounds, and different financial settings. This can have a great impact on their learning both physically and mentally. As a future physical education teacher, it is important to know where my students come from. Knowing this information can have an impact on what my students already know, as well as explain why they may have certain types of limitations. For example, children who come from low-income families, at-risk populations, and come from low socio economic status may have never had the money to purchase something as simple as a ball. Because money is ‘tight’, their parents most likely didn’t have money to buy them a ball. Something so simple; a child starts to play with a ball when they are young, this in turn can help develop their motor skills. Children from low-income families who do not have the same resources as other children might not have developed their motor skills as effectively or as efficiently. Another thing to take into consideration is that children who come from low-income families might not live in great communities. Because of that, they might not have the opportunities to play in parks the way children from other neighborhoods would. Lastly, something to be aware of is the fact that children from low income homes usually are living in confined space, so therefore they are not given a lot of room inside their house to run around and stay active. They may even be trying to learn to walk and run in space that does not allow for such development to occur. Knowing where your students come from is important, especially as a physical education teacher, because it can help explain the reasoning behind the developmental level of your students.