Savage Inequalities: Lower Taxes Smaller School fund

            When a property tax is low it generates less money to put back into the city. Since the surrounding environment of suffering schools is typically also suffering, the city will put the schools second to other city matters.When sewage systems are flooding the city and factories and plants are polluting the very soil children are playing in the schools take a back burner. Schools suffer with insufficient supplies for the students. They use lack current text books, books for their libraries and the science lab lacks beakers and bunson burners. The students must also suffer with uncomfortable environmental circumstances. The Lack of space in these institutions forces students to cram into classrooms that are sometimes held inside the libraries themselves or in a crowded auditorium where there are several classes going on at once, including a play where kids are singing aloud. Good teachers are also almost absent from these schools because the fresh young optimistic teachers can get paid a higher salary to teach at an adjacent school just across the river. "There are also state and federal funding sources, and we will discuss them later, but the property tax is the decisive force in shaping inequality"(Jonathan Kozol 54) The  unfortunate truth is that the future of America in these areas, are being raised in a desperate and savage way.

Preciado 1

Ariel Preciado

M. Williams

English 1A

13 September 2013

It is common knowledge that modern technological advances are happening at a rapid pace, and furthermore they are implementing themselves into nearly every facet of the world we live in.  Nowhere is this more prevalent than in the 2013 classrooms across the globe.  With the opportunities and advantages that these various technologies present to the academic world, it is imperative for instructors at all levels of education to become aware of what options they have in educating their students.  A teacher who does not stay connected and involved in these advances, runs the high risk of falling behind in the curriculum.  Globally, the classroom is a vastly different environment from what it once was.  Computers have not replaced books, but they have enhanced the learning experience in a variety of ways.  As early as Kindergarten, students will have access to and be learning lessons and skills via the computer.  Any teacher who does not hone their own computer skills, and learn the various teaching softwares that are in constant development, could easily become an obsolete instructor.  It would be of great disservice to any student to be instructed by someone who is not aware of the technological opportunities that exist for them.  Another thing to keep in mind, is that it is often the School District who introduces and implements these advances into the classrooms, therefore a teacher who does not ‘keep up’ puts their career at risk.

Another area to consider, is how a teacher presents the knowledge they are passing on, and the manner in which they connect with their students.  When considering this notion, it is crucial to remember that at some point, every teacher was once a student themselves.  With that said, it must be acknowledged that each student learns in an entirely different manner.  Therefore it becomes important for a teacher to have the ability to attempt to see the academic world from the students point of view.  Without this type of empathy, a teacher could have students who get left behind in the lessons.  The inability to connect with one’s teacher can lead a student to, ‘tune out’t.  Once a student has given up on the learning, it becomes even more work to engage them and reel them back into the process.  Test scores and graduation success rates will continue to drop, or the student may find the available niche to do just enough work to sate by, therefore never really acheiving their full potential.  An instructor who remembers what it was like to be sitting in the classroom from a students perspective, will have the unique ability to find various ways to breakthrough and truly pass on knowledge.  They will be able to instruct with an open mind and find various ’tricks of the trade’ that hook a student in, and make them excited about learning.    Keeping in mind, that the teacher is not a classmate or friend persay, but an engaging instructor who can tap into the minds of their students.  

There is an old quote from Confucius that states:  “A true teacher is one who, keeping the past alive, is also able to understand the present.”  This quote emhasises the importance of a teachers continued education.  An instructor who is ‘behind in the times’, unaware or in ignorance of the various changes to a modern curriculum, could do great harm to a students learning experience.  Take for example a teacher of the sciences.  This is a field that changes quite frequently, and an instructor who does not stay up to date on topical and current events can run the risk of giving out false or outdated information.  Also in the subject of History, there are constantly new discoveries and changes being made to what was once thought to be fact.  A perfect example of this, is the one indisputable fact that the earth was flat.  Granted this was long ago, but it is a prime example of how newly discovered facts can change and revolutionize what is being taught to the masses.  An instructor, teacher or professor who does not rest on their laurels, but rather chooses to continue their own education will always give the gift of proper and current knowledge to their pupils.

TED: Bring on the learning revolution

          Out-dated Educational 

           What struck me most about what Sir Ken Robinson had to say was that when he said that our education is organic not linear. We must focus our education on nurturing talents and ability and intelligence. We so often follow this social path of going from high school to college and getting that job that pays well or that is expected of you to do by family. What teachers should be doing is looking at students less as a whole and more so as individuals. Society thrives off of every one bringing their individual talents to the table and putting them together to make one whole highly functioning, developing society.Society tends to move very quickly so we tend to put our focus on teaching students these specific standards and if the student meets them, then can continue and move forward. Contrarily we should be growing with the world around us, branching off, exploring our talents and abilities.Society needs variety. Where would we be if everyone only knew all the same information. There would be no culture , no individualism, no passion or self expression. The uniqueness of all individual students is what makes education interesting and exciting. To be able to learn from many different ways. To engage all our senses so we can fully understand and develop ideas or to really live and apply a subject learned.

           People are happiest when they are doing something they love. Imagine a community or society all practicing what they love to do and are good at. People positively developing talents, ability and intelligence. As a whole we would be more productive, positive, and connected to each other. fulfilling a passion or dream is not typically what we think we "should" do as a productive member of society but in actuality all our individual talents and skills are what make our world such a functioning, developed world.

Music And Your Health

Ariel Preciado

Monique Williams

English 1A

3 Sep 2013

 Music :Healing

              We all know that when we hear a favorite song or music that, it excites us, it makes us happy

 and energized or maybe relaxed and tranquil. What you probably don't know is that music can help 

 you heal."music is a non invasive, simple and inexpensive therapeutic method of improving life 

 quality"( Jouernal of  Clinical Nursing,Moon Fai Chan, Zi Yang Wong, Hideaki Onishi and Naidu, Vellasamy Thayala, 2011). Music  can be great motivation to get up and exercise. Music helps to heal the mind it facilitates transformation from a depressive state to a better one. Music can assist in social situations by breaking down the uncomfortable barrier of silence and bring people together." Elements of music such as the melody, pitch and harmony are shown to elicit a wide range of emotional responses in the listener" (Murrock & Higgins 2009). As the elements pass through the auditory cortex of the brain, processing of the music occurs I the limbic system of the brain to elicit emotions (Tramo 2001)." ( Juornal of Clinical Nursing, Moon Fai Chan, Zi Yang Wong, Hideaki Onishi and Naidu Vellasamy Thayala, 2011). Listening to certain music can lift that cloud of depression  that's slumping over you. When your happier you have the energy and motivation to engage in esteem-able actions and positive progression. You are more likely to accept life on it's own terms and are better at managing stress and uncomfortable situations. Since your state of being is elevated, you can be more understanding, accepting and tolerant of many diverse people and their personalities. You get along better with others and maybe you can even pass along that happy state of being so they can further pass it on. Music does something magical when it comes to social situations. Music fills the air and can break that uncomfortable silence making you more relaxed, comfortable. The comfort you feel may persuade you to be more ope and start to connect with people. You will be more open to learn from your fellow man. You will be able to create a connection , a memory of happiness and comfort in connection to that music and experience. So when later you hear that music again it will bring up the emotions connected to that experience.When you have no motivation nothing gets done. You cannot progress without taking actin. You will be stuck in a vegetative, stagnant state of being. This state of being can lead to depression. Depression can be debilitating. It can lead to lack of motivation, self esteem, energy levels, appetite fluctuation, and give you feelings of hopelessness,  desperation, and worthlessness. When you are depressed you can also begin to isolate yourself due to these effects on your physical body and emotional well being. You don't get to engage in basic human connection that we desperately crave and need. We are social beings by nature and strive to be apart of a unit of love, safety and security. to know were not alone. Music can help change all of these negative effects on your health. Its convenient, you don't need help doing it, and your overall health is worth it. Go and listen to your favorite upbeat music, you never know what kind of positive effects it may have on your life.