The Silenced Dialogue

In reading "The Silenced Dialogue" by Lisa Delpit, I found that our current school system tends to favor white, middle-class students rather than all students of different social standings and cultures. I found that since there are many different ways of educating ALL students instead of just favoring a certain type of student, we should, as educators, be well versed in all sorts of ways to teach the various types of students that may cross our paths throughout our careers as educators. Delpit seems to lean more towards the "skills" approach, but does not necessarily favor that approach within her writings. The "process" approach, however seems as though it may only work well within groups of students that are all from the same social group, versus the "skills" approach which will enable all children to learn the materials needed in todays society without making them feel forced to conform to a specific social group. From reading this excerpt, I found that the type of educator that i would lean towards being is a "skills" educator so that I may allow my students to express their works and feelings towards what we are learning freely instead of feeling forced into believing a certain thing is true.

Amazing Grace

After reading just a single chapter within the book "Amazing Grace: The Lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation" by Jonathan Kozol, I have found that there are so many things that are pushed to the back of people's minds within this society. While reading this chapter, I have realized that people need to become more conscious of not only their own surroundings, but also the situations in this present society that affect the lives of those around us. Seeing that there are places within America that are at the same (or worse) social standing as places within the slums of countries with much less wealth than what we have in America truly brings to life the fact that we as a society pay no attention to the things that matter most, such as the well being of every American citizen. After reading this single chapter, I feel the need to purchase this entire book so that I can learn more in depth about the people within our country and the things that they go through on a daily basis rather than just being oblivious to the things that are really going on within our present society.