Bella's OLD FNED Blog

 It was interesting to read Thomas Hehir’s “Eliminating Ableism in Education” because it is important to address the critical need to create inclusive educational environments for students with disabilities. He emphasizes the necessity for those with “ablelism” to ensure that all students have equal access to education and opportunities for learning. Opportunities for learning means that children in special education classrooms are also challenged and not left behind just because they are catergorized with a disability or 504 plan. By working towards providing adequate learning scaffolds for a child with a disability promotes equity and inclusion in education. Judith Butler & Sunaura Taylor’s video “Examined Life” is great example to better understand the needs and challenges experienced having an impairment. The video addresses the notion for “abled people” to reconsider the understanding of all human experience. Just as Taylor states, “we all need help” and everyone, no ...

 Reading Aria Richard Rodriguez’s, “Tongue Tied” article maybe me think loss of “individuality.” Such loss profoundly affects not only the individual but also the family. There are two quotes which demonstrates the loss of identity for a childe working to learning English as a second language. Rodriguez states how after seven years of age she finally came to believe in her identity. An identity that had always been there but because Spanish or any other language aside from English was spoken at home it was determined to make her believe that she was an outsider. As if someone who is not from this country. However, that wasn’t the case. Rodriguez has always been an American citizen and her lack to speak the “public language” made her believe otherwise. Rodriguez demonstrates this sad experience by writing, “At last, for seven years old, I came to believe what had been technically true since my birth. I was an American citizen” (p. 36). I can only imagine how the lack of identit...

     Intersectionality is defined as having overlapping identities. this concept is a lot less complicated than it appears. in each individuals life, we have many separate groups, big and small. For example, I personally have parents with different races so I categorize myself as Italian-American and Puerto Rican-American. I am also a female, a college student, and waitress. I don't just identify with one particular group, but they all intersect and makes me who I am. Crenshaw focuses on how various forms of discrimination and oppression intersect and overlap, creating unique experiences of injustice for individuals who belong to multiple marginalized groups.       One key point of Crenshaw's views on intersectionality is the idea that traditional approaches to addressing social issues often fail to fully address the complexities of people's identities and experiences. For example, a woman of color may face discrimination in ways that are differen...

 "Amazing Grace" by Johnathan Kozol focuses on the social issues and inequalities faced by residents in the South Bronx neighborhood of New York. Some points from the reading include: 1. Kozol highlights the harsh realities of poverty, racism, and segregation that exist in urban communities like the South Bronx.  2. He documents the struggles faced by residents, including inadequate housing, poor education systems, and limited access to healthcare.  3. Kozol also emphasizes the resilience and strength of the individuals living in these communities, despite facing numerous challenges.  4. The book sheds light on the systemic issues that perpetuate poverty and inequality, calling for social change and greater awareness of these issues. In addition, Kozol sheds light on systemic issues by del into the lives of individuals living in poverty facing discrimination in urban communities. Through personal stories and experiences, the book illustrates how institution...

Alfie Khon lists various 'right' and 'wrong' scenarios on how to arrange a class room in, "What to Look for in a Classroom." This piece contains nothing more than a two column table with 11 spacial examples that are rather black and white. As much as I agree with most of what khan has stated, I believe this approach is a "possible reason to worry", and it's not as simple as saying 'this is right' and 'this is wrong.'  I believe this promotes an overly idealistic view on education and can create obsessive unhealthy standards for a new teacher because different classrooms require different standards that constantly fluctuate. I could walk into a 3rd grade MLL classroom in Central Falls and the teacher might agree with everything Khon has listed but walk down the hall and they might have their classroom completely different that works for them. that same 3rd grade teacher may find that their classroom next year may may need to be adj...

I will be reflecting on two quotes that stood to me in Lisa Delpit's "Other People's Children." The first quote comes from one of the five aspects of power proposed by Depit, "Those with power are frequently least aware of- or at least willing to acknowledge- it existence. This with less power are often most aware of its existence." (p. 24, PDF) This quote encapsulates the aspect of power and how it can be seen and used against people of color and benefit those of power. Unfortunately, because most of the research and ideologies were created by white people- the "truth"- there lacks the true perspective of people of color.  This prevents white people to consider the other perspectives other than their very own. I believe we have to consider the fact that American culture is not only made with one point of you or that it is just one plain color.  The second quote that I want to reflect further address the inequality of power and how reading programs...