Journal #9
My choice. How nice.
In Mark Edmunsen’s essay we read about how he found that we (the students) having a lack for passion of learning discourageable. He says it is not all our fault, but that it is not all of anyone else’s either. I have noticed the same trend among my fellow students and have come to ponder on the “why” of our unenthusiastic response to education. Is it that we take what we have taken for granted schooling because it is always available to us? Or do we still feel that since “mom and dad say I have to” we do it but do not desire to? Maybe it is just plain and simple that no one has ever really thirsted for knowledge save a select few who have stuck out so much to teachers that they lament over all the others.
As Americans we have many more opportunities than those in third world countries. In fact, we have more choices than almost any other nation! So with all of the advances, expected comforts, and high self-interest are we just taking all of it for granted? I know I have been blinded so very often in the ways of life by how much I have. I see no poor because I am not. I see no war, just hear about it. I do not know a need for my education because I have never had a lack.
Mom and Dad are the proverbial “slave drivers” in the minds of many children. At this age we want to do things on our own. We do not want to be told how, when, where, why, or anything else because we are adults and we know everything. That came off very sarcastic, probably because it was. Who has never thought, when hearing advice from parents, “Yeah right, I knew that” or “Whatever, you are wrong and I am right.” In more or less dialogue I have felt and said this a few times to tell the truth! The point with this is that gobs of students go to school because they are “supposed to.” It is expected of them and mom and dad just paid a whole heap of money so you better go and make them proud. Who can get a positive feeling from that? “We spent money on you and raised you, you owe us big time now go and get a degree!” That may not be the mind frame of all parents, but for many it is the case.
When I say “no one has ever really thirsted for knowledge save a select few” I do not mean no one has ever wanted to learn. But a passion that Edmunsen is talking about is very hard to come by, and I believe always has been. In this day and age we are taught that it is “OK” to fail. It is “fine” to take the easy road, the short cut, and the fast lane to get what you want faster than ever before. Education is getting shoved into the category of fast food, television, and entertainment. Meaning it has a menu to choose from and the customer is always right. Children are being told “no” less often by teachers. This makes it so we never have to work that hard to get what we want. The fact school is in the genre of “i’ll have a high school diploma and graduate with a c average… no hold the extra-curricular. Oh yeah and get that teacher fired because he told me I was wrong.” We have been catered to ever since we were young and it shows. We students tend to be self absorbed “gimme gimme” five year olds!
If you have not noticed, I just discussed my opinions. There are other sides to this and not all students are lazy as well as not all schools cater. But when you see the dreary eyed students scraping by on C averages and saying “woe is me” you cannot help but yell “It is your own fault!” We have had outlying situations, but it is how we react to those situations that will develop who we really are and how we act. So, in short, there are problems with the school system, nothing is perfect. We live in a cushy society and have almost everything we need. But should we let those things, since we are fully aware of them, make us benign, lazy, and lackadaisical? No! Stand up for your true potential and get your butt into high gear! If you do not want to be at school then find another way to make the money you need to survive! Understand that it is not a grade and paper you get out of college, it is knowledge and growth, the rest is just the fruits of what you have truly learned.
Journal #5 “And what did you learn in school today missie?”
>I was really struck by the papers we read in class by "Mark Edmunson" and "Earl Shorris". They brought out an entirely new side to schooling I have never thought about. Throughout my school carrier I have been a believer that school is a necessary evil in which you must go through to make money. I figured once you memorized something and passed the class that was all that mattered and I'd somehow find a job that would correspond with my interests. It intrigued me how they, the authors, focused on the facts that schooling is not just for grades, diplomas don't get you good jobs, and that most students have now become virtually "shopping" for their classes.Until now I had never thought that the final grade of the class was not the “end all be all” of the reason for taking it. Doing the busy work and writing mediocre papers were part of the norm. But as the paper made me think I began to make another analysis of the entire thing. Even if you do all the work and you get a passing grade if you got nothing from the class it didn't matter and you did it all for nothing. Teachers give you assignments for a reason and teach you certain things hoping you'll understand specifics and apply them in your life. Not that I thought we weren’t supposed to learn anything, but it is deeper than memorizing facts and passing tests. It is almost taking principles to heart and living by them. After I had thought about this it really struck me: I was doing it all for nothing and wasting my time at school.For my entire life I have been taught if you get a diploma you get a high paying job. Not true. If I don't specifically plan my course through college I may end up working for scraps and waiting tables at Denny's. There is so much more to it than that little paper. I need to find ways of getting into my field of study, what I love. I need to start taking the initiative now or I will get nowhere. I can’t just scrape by in school! Because how I face work in school I will probably take that tactic in my job, and I do not want to be just “scraping by” in life.I have sometimes tried to take the view of the teacher before, but by no means have I understood it. They put so much effort into what they are doing for you. And the other students, like myself, shun the teacher because they are trying to actually make us learn something. How can this be? What happened to wanting to learn something? It is not fair! It is not right! But there is nothing I can do about it but change my own views. All I can do is have more respect for those who truly teach and not entertain. I’ll put my best effort forth at getting what they are trying to give to me as well as make my own analysis about the work and apply it to myself so I can become better.
Schooling is all about growth, learning, and reaching beyond what you truly are. I am just beginning this adventure/ journey/ hardship and am not that great yet, I am not on that deepest level of thinking by any means. But I am grateful I have been able to turn my views around so early on in my academic career.
Journal #3 “Drama, drama, drama…”
Acting. It is a passion of mine. Not only do I like doing it, I enjoy watching, critiquing, and helping others do their best as well. My field of study at the moment is not actually Dramatic Arts, but I am hoping to change soon. I want to know how to help others act their best; lose their stage fright and work together without the jealousy and backstabbing that can sometimes go on backstage. It is vitally important, I am sure, to research and review what other actors have done and the stages theatre has gone through (no pun intended). However, the questions I feel gnawing at me are much less related to the exact structure and history of stage performance. By now you must be able to assume that my desire is geared more towards teaching and directing plays than actually starring in them myself. I find doing things for others is always so much more gratifying. I want to know, how is it best to make people work together and perform together well. Because you can be the best actor in the world and still find yourself doing a bad job because you do not get along with the rest of your cast. Being at your best during a performance is crucial and I want to find how I can help these kids trust, care for, and help one another as they perform.Just throwing a person up on stage is not going to make them a better actor, at least in general. There are techniques, games, and details that need to be taught in order to give someone the right know –how, to do well. Which also interprets to the fact that I’ll need to know these things too. So, what are the best ways to help theses kids overcome stage fright? What methods are there that I can use? What other ones can I come up with that might be better than existing ones?There are so many different facets to putting a great show together; lighting, choreography, and costuming, just to name a few. Much of this will come out of experience and depend on the cast, but solving the questions and getting the knowledge of basics will help me do my best. Dramatic Arts may seem a frivolous thing, but when you see the love these kids have for it and the character that can be built performing it when it is taught correctly, you can do nothing but want the best for them. The final thought is one that might not be answered just by schooling, what can I do to be the best I can and not let these students down?
Journal #2 “What keeps Ms. up at night?”
Growing up. On countless occasions during moments of frivolousness and silly girlishness I have been told to do just that. “Put on your big girl panties” was one way it was phrased to me. How do you grow up? Can you never ask for help from mom and dad? Is the whole point to ignore them? What is an adult exactly; someone with money, power, a home? There is no uniform rule or set of instructions to become that ultimately “looked up to” individual who can be distinguished and respected in society.
Becoming an adult, being self reliant, and independent, everyone does it and can do it. In cultures outside the U.S. there are many rituals and rights of passage for youth to go through. Some of these tasks are grueling and downright barbaric. A few include long sojourns in the wilderness while other may involve physical pain such as pulling out all of your hair, walking on hot coals, or giving up you virginity. But this is not the case in our country. Today it seems our youth must go through other rites such as getting a car, a cell phone, or tattoos.
Elders are respected, even revered in most other cultures for their wisdom and the fact they have already done everything. How about us? Many argue mom and dad are great for younger kids. How about for teenagers? When is the time to wean yourself from their protective arms and do? Is there a certain time to just kick the baby out of its nest so it can fly? How do you know when that is?
Hello English Class!!!
Welcome to the wonderful world of Melissa’s English blog! Please, read, critisize, and tear it apart. It isn’t my best work, but I’ll try:) If any of my classmates read this… indulge, but just know I can read yours too!
