Field Trip

Because my schedule has not allowed me to attend a field trip I watched the youtube video about autism from our google docs syllabus that was attended by other members of our class in September. Barb Retenbach is a teacher to us all although she is mute. Barb has reminded me that even though we are all unique and diverse that we are all part of the same community. I really like that there is diversity in the video reading Barb's readings because it really spoke to me. In the video I was shown that Barb wrote the book called Teacher Please with selected readings from "I might be you" which are read by friends in the video.
Objects: She carries around different objects, but the world continues to move foreward. So we should not worry if the student is carrying something as long as it is harmless to those around them.
Quiet Company: No one wants to be talked at. Do not isolate the student.
Facilitated communication: Accept that this is the only way that the school does something, if the teacher is not concerned the student won't be either.
Strength and Support: Cease the perceptions of self.
I really like the video because it explains that no matter what differences there are race, age, sex, if the student requires special education every student deserves the same chances and the same opportunities as other students. The video really opens one's mind to the fact that we should all be equal when it comes down to how we get our education. I really enjoyed this video. I've worked with one autistic child and to me, even though he had problems speaking he was fairly intelligent I would hate to see his mind go to waste because the educational staff feel like he would not be capable of receiving an education. I hope that one day everyone will have the chance to recieve a good education.  

  

Group Differences

Our group had the topic and article readings that dealt with poverty and how there is an obvious gap between the poor and the middle class or better economically stable families. I noticed that these were two similar topics that were raised between both of the readings. They suggest that they only way to close this gap is to provide an equal opportunity for education for each and every child.

The real topic that really spoke to me is when he talked about power in education. I never really realized how much power the educational systems in our country have over students. This power begins to effect students. The Billings article also talks about the power that the students feel that they have over one another. I realized that why there are fights is because their power is being threatened, and so fights begin to break out. This struggle of power in the overall community seems to be prevalent in most academic systems in the United States. And this may or may not have to do with different social classes. I think what is important to note in Connell's article is that teaching with the idea of multiculturalism may help to solve this problem. I don't think that there is one end all solution for the problem. Poverty in itself is already a struggle for the student but I have learned through experience that as a teacher you can not solve everything. Overall I do believe that this gap does need to be addressed, so that every student has a chance for an excellent education.