Reflection 8

I believe that our parents are the people that influence us the most growing up. Whether or not we agree with them, in the end there is always that one lesson or that one saying that we take from them. Our parents are the ones who give us the foundation to teach us values; the difference between what is right and what is wrong. I come from a very interesting household. Growing up I really did not notice the difference between the way my mother and father viewed things because as a child, parents tend to teach their children about manners and how to be respectful toward the elders. Once in my adolescent stage, I began to notice. My father is a very liberal man and my mother is quite the conservative. My father is an atheist while my mother is extremely Christian who attends church every Sunday. Religion and Political discussions tend to get very heated in my house. My mother always told me that she came from a very old fashion home. When a man is trying to date you there are certain things that should be waited until marriage whereas my father would just tell my sisters and I to be careful. A child can grow up to be very confused in such a house because since their parents cannot see eye to eye they don’t know which one is right. I for one am thankful to my parents. I feel lucky because I learned a lot more this way and I was taught to believe what I thought was best for me. Nowadays, children often refer to the media to learn about things that parents should be teaching them. Because of this, children are growing up too fast. I see it every day when I go into work and I hear children who only eight years old are talking about sex and things they are completely oblivious to. Children need to have guidance and need to have things explain to them otherwise they grow up un-educated and misinformed. However, there is only so much a parent can do for their children and the rest is up to them. Parents can buy their daughters dolls and their sons toy trucks but that won’t ensure the sexual preference of a child. I have a friend who as a young boy would always take his younger sisters dolls and when the mother began to notice at first tried to convince him to play with his toys but in the end she let him play with the dolls. She just wanted him to be happy which at the end of the day I believe is what the parent should want for their children.

Reflection 7

Rites of passage are important because it is used as a sign that we are leaving our state of childhood and entering the adult world. The rite of passage can be different depending on one’s culture. In the Hispanic culture, a young girl has her quincenera which signifies her becoming a young woman. In the Jewish religion a child has his/her bar mitzvah/ bat mitzvah. This ceremony takes place when the child turns thirteen. Although this ceremony is not to introduce the child to the adult world, the bar mitzvah/ bat mitzvah is for the child to realize the coming of their new age and with that the new responsibilities that come along with it. After having read the readings based on the rites of passage, I realized there are so many different customs that to one person may seem a bit too much and for others it may well seem normal. In Africa, the girls have an operation where a piece of their genital organ is trimmed. While this operation is occurring, the girl is not allowed to yell in pain or cry. This is not only seen as an operation but as a ritual. In my opinion, I do not see how something so painful could be a rite of passage. I am not trying to be close minded but I do not think it is necessary to cut a woman’s genital organ. This could cause infections that if not treated properly can lead to serious problems. When I read about the Sambia I was in shock. I had no idea that there were some cultures that permitted homosexuality even though according to them it is not homosexuality. I found it odd that the younger boys had to perform the fellatio to older boys in order to prepare themselves to have sex with a woman once they were married. I saw this is an act of molestation and found it disturbing. I cannot speak ill of these customs because it is their beliefs and that is what needs to be done to ensure the rights of passage in their culture but I did find it to be a bit much. Education has rites of passage as well. When you reach another grade you are growing up and passing on to a higher level. Once in college most have entered a world of independency which in its own is a rite of passage to the adult world and new responsibilities come along with it. All these customs trickle down from our ancestors from generation to generation. It is a way of life and the way we see our children and our children’s children move into their own rite of passage.

Relfection 6

I think to be part of the “Little Rock Nine” would have been a bittersweet experience. To begin with, the way those students were treated was horrific. Not being allowed to enter the school just because of the color of their skin was inhumane. To be honest I do not know how I would have reacted to the shouts and derogative words. I could only imagine what those students were feeling at that exact moment when they were walking to the steps of the school only to be turned away. I probably would have had self esteem issues. I don’t think I would have wanted to go to a school where it was very clear that I was not wanted there. I may have felt a little protected with the armed guards walking me inside but I would have also felt embarrassed because I would not like attention brought to me in such a sensitive matter. It is hard to believe that we could be that cruel to each other. I think it is terrible that these students had to be escorted to school by the armed guards for protection and had to walk in through the side. That did not make things any better because once inside those students were open to torture and taunting that no one not even the teachers would stop. One of the girls was suspended because she could not take the taunting anymore and defended herself. This was probably not the only case in which a student of color was punished for taking a stand. Knowing that I was not wanted to enter that building would have made me just turn around and go home. It wouldn’t be about surrendering but just about not wanting to be in an environment that is hostile. I find it very upsetting to know that it took fifteen years from the first attempt of the “Little Rock Nine” to enter the school to finally having integration in public schools. I commend those nine students for not giving up and not backing down. Everyone deserves a chance to better themselves and get a great education. The color of their skin should not limit someone’s abilities. As I said earlier, I believe being a part of the “Little Rock Nine” would have been a bittersweet experience. I say this because although the students had to endure so much just to be treated as equals, because of them we are now where we are today. These students are a part of history. You can find their story in history books and in documentaries. It is because of these students and standing up for what they believed in that everyone is seen as equals.

Relfection 5

When one thinks of the word culture they probably think the meaning is used to describe where someone is from. Culture has a much deeper meaning that that. Culture is about tradition, beliefs, values, customs, and the way of life. To fully understand someone’s culture, one must acquire some knowledge of it and experience it to a certain extent. To begin with there is no culture greater than another. It is that kind of ignorance that led terrible heartless tragedies in the world like the holocaust and the segregation of blacks and whites. Hitler believed that the perfect race was that of fair skin, blonde hair and light eyes. Everything else was considered to be dirty and un-deserving of life. How many people died because of how this one man saw the world? Why was everyone afraid of this one man? Who said it was ok to treat those of color so low? When was it considered that to be white was to be superior? No one can answer these questions but we can make sure that history does not repeat itself. In the past those who were able to afford high quality fashion were considered to be superior to others. This caused passing judgment to those who could not afford the rich lifestyle and made those who could not afford it feel inadequate. To this day there is still judgment passed, you see it on a daily basis. When someone walks by you tend to pass even the slightest judgment. You see what brand of clothing they are wearing what kind of car they drive. The beauty of culture is that it is so rich with diversity and different customs and traditions. Some cultures view the act of burping to be good manners whereas here in America it is considered a sign of rudeness. It is for everyone’s own well being that we take a deeper look into diversity and learn from the different cultures that are out there. Knowing the true meaning of culture and learning about others traditions, customs and beliefs is a way to step away from the mind frame that there is a culture that is superior than others and that we are no one to judge anyone who may seem different to our standards. Times have been changing and continue to do so and we must change with it. How else are we supposed to move forward and better ourselves? I believe to become a well rounded person; one must experience different things and learn from others. Who knows maybe once you learn about a different culture it intrigues you so that you find yourself learning more about it!

Reflection 4

Diversity is something we must accept and embrace. It is what makes society a melting pot of differences. I am not only speaking about our cultures. Diversity is much more than the color of our skin. As a teacher one will encounter many different students in their classroom. It can vary from children of different races to children with special needs, children from low-income households to children raised in single parent homes. It is important to be aware of every child’s situation and find a way to make the child feel comfortable and safe in the classroom environment. I work for a cultural arts program for the City of Hialeah. The majority of the children that register for our classes come from low income family households and many of the children have special needs. I have been working for the city for five years. My teaching style fit every child. I recall one semester I had a little student who had a learning disability. This little girl would not speak and I had to tell her the instructions numerous of times for her to be able to understand what I was saying. When I first met her I was doubtful of myself because I had never had to work with a child who needed special attention. I had to think of many ways to get her attention and I changed my learning style in order for her to keep up and to also keep the more advanced girls entertained. During my class I noticed a change in her personality. Although she never spoke a word, she would smile more and seem more interesting. At the end of the semester we put on a show for the parents. It was so rewarding to watch this little girl dance on stage with a smile on her face. It was not as difficult as I thought to teach this little girl but it was hard work. Although I know I have some learning to do in dealing with different situations, I feel like I have a certain level of experience in some areas. I know there will be some situations where it will be more difficult but working at my job has really opened my eyes to different experiences. There was one situation where there was a parent who started raucous because her child could not be in one of our classes. This parent began ranting on about how we were being racist to her child. As calm as we possibly could we tried explaining to the parent that was not the case and she would not listen. We went to our director and told him the situation and he deal with the problem. I know I handled that situation to the best of my ability along with my co workers but it was unfortunate to have that parent so upset. It is people like that parent who are close minded and hold negativity towards others. Working in such a diverse setting has prepared me to work in any educational environment.

Relfection 3

A paradigm is an example of how something should be, based on the person’s point of view. Describing the perfect woman/man, explaining what a role model should be like, living your life based on your religious beliefs these are all examples of where a person’s point of view comes into play. As a child I grew up in a catholic environment. From kindergarten to third grade I went to a catholic nun school. Every Friday was confession and in the afternoon we had mass followed by rosary prayer. Every Sunday I attended church and received the body of Christ. As a baby I was baptized and by the age of nine I had done my communion. To me this was the right way to live by and I had never given it a second thought. In the summer of my ninth year, we moved to Florida and I was enrolled in public school. The environment was so different. The school did not revolve around God or prayer. As I continued to grow, I began to follow the Christian religion rather than the Catholics. There were some similarities however different. Now I do not consider myself a certain religion. I do believe in a higher power called God but I am open minded to learning other religions. This change is considered a paradigm shift. Paradigm shifts allows people to develop and to open their eyes to different ideas, beliefs and facts. I believe it is important teachers experience paradigm shifts. This is helpful for teachers to respond without being biased in different situations. In order to educate, one should be open minded to all situations and to change. As a society it is imperative that we continue to move forward in all aspects and become well rounded. Without tolerance and an open mind nature nations would regress, wither, and die. New grander empires take their place but the cycle will continue to repeat itself unless we allow paradigm shifts, for times are always changing and we must change with them. Imagine if science would not have evolved. Our lives would have remained primitive. Without innovative open minds we would not be where we are today. Without a sense of curiosity paradigm shifts would never occur in the medical field and we would have been stuck to myths or home remedies to try and cure people. Paradigm shifts are detrimental to our well being. It would be advisable to allow ourselves and our ideals to shift.