Mind The Gap

1.) "It is the mark of a sentient human being to learn from experience, to pay close attention to how theories work out when put into practice [...] What should we think of someone who never admits error, never entertains doubt but adheres unflinchingly to the same ideas all his life, regardless of new evidence?" (2). 


In this quote, Ravitch is reflecting on her experience in educational research and the formation of her opinions and beliefs. Prior to making this statement she had explained how John Maynard Keynes was once "chastised" for changing his mind. She uses his response as an example to show that it makes sense to change one's mind when the facts change. In a rather provocative manner she is essentially indirectly criticizing those who are determined to hold on to their opinions, whether out of stubbornness or sheer ignorance. She seems to hold the opinion that refusal to acknowledge multiple aspects of a situation, or how a theory plays out into practice signifies ignorance. To learn from our experiences is what is natural, and to analyze those experiences, grow from them and even change would only make sense.


"In my writings, I have consistently warned that, in education, there are no shortcuts, no utopias, and no silver bullets. For certain, there are no magic feathers that enable elephants to fly" (3).


In this quote, Ravitch's attitude and opinion come off strongly. Her attitude here helps to communicate the simplicity that some have ascribed to educational reform. With this list of images we can clearly understand that she believes that the problems in education can not be solved quickly, or easily. We indirectly understand, through this description here, that to understand what is necessary for educational reform, means to understand that it will be difficult, challenging, and complex.


2.) Ravitch's description of a well educated person initially struck me because I felt like it was kind of simplistic, considering she is so anti-simple solutions. I do think the mind of an educated person is "well furnished" with all of the content areas she listed, but rather than to just "explain ideas" and listen respectfully, I think the well educated person does these things, but it should be pushed a bit further. I think the well educated person explains ideas, but explains them effectively. Not only should the well educated person explain any ideas, but relevant ideas and ideas with purpose, direction, and focus. The well educated person should not only be able to listen respectfully, but listen again with purpose, direction and focus. What is the point of listening? What does one try to gather? Once a person has listened, what does he do with that information? Effective communication should be included in this description, as communication encompasses the the transmission of knowledge back and forth, and effective deems it to have a purpose, something to be achieved, something new to be discovered, ends to be pushed or challenged.


3.) I had a tough time with the class discussion because I felt like people were discussing more based on their prior knowledge and understanding of school systems rather than the text. I don't have a wide bases of prior knowledge when it comes to the educational field, because I haven't been in it that long. I would have liked to actually analyze the text more, and speak more specifically about Ravitch's beliefs, and what she is trying to communicate, I think critiques would apply in discussion of her work as well. It was also difficult focusing on the first two chapters only, because we had read further. It was difficult for me to not want to discuss matters deeper because many questions are answered and arise in relation to the following chapters. I had initially wanted to bring up, in discussion, what I had said question 1 in this blog but someone beat me to it. I really loved what she had to say about experience and learning, I feel like much more could have been said about it in class now, but everyone was so eager to get their 4 times to speak that the conversation seemed to ping-pong all over the place. We would stay on one subject for a really long time, and another barely just touch on.


4.) I think I actually turned this paper in because I do not have it now. However, one gap I can think of is in the area of diversity. I do not know as much about diverse cultural texts as I should. I want to be fair and creative with the literature I incorporate, especially if teaching American literature. Therefore I am focusing on finding resources that will help me acquire more knowledge of culturally diverse, relevant and important texts.


Book: Hispanic American Literature by Nicolas Kanellos

Article: Trends in Hispanic American Literature

Manuel Pedro González

Books Abroad
Vol. 17, No. 1 (Winter, 1943), pp. 16-21
Published by: Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
Article Stable URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/40083111

Website: http://usa.usembassy.de/classroom/chicanoliterature.htm


5.)


1.) SECONDARY SOURCE:

N.H. Nagayama Hall, G.C.M Gordon C. Maramba, G.G. Gloria Gia. (2001). In search of cultural diversity: Recent literature in cross cultural and ethnic minority psychology. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, Vol 7(1), 12-26.

This article aims to examine the cultural diversity that exists in psychology. The research begins with the premise that acknowledging cultural diversity, and psychological study from a perspective of cultural diversity will help to illuminate more accurate and relevant realities, as one in every three Americans is part of an ethnic minority group. The article presents the notion that cultural implications are reflected in psychological study, and therefore there should be an awareness of cultural implications on the psychology of individuals. This article applies to my research focus, which is how culture and community influence the writing of Hispanic and Latino authors, because the psychological effects of culture and the community that emerges from that culture, I think would have a direct influence on the literature produced. In my mind, psychology is the underlying happenings of culture and community, and how the effects of those show up in writing must have something to do with psychology.

2.) SECONDARY SOURCE:

S.L.S. Sandra L. Shaull, J.H.G. James H. Gramann (1998). The Effect of Cultural Assimilation on the Importance of Family-Related and Nature Related Recreation among Hispanic Americans. Journal of Leisure Research, Vol. 30.

This article may be slightly distanced from my focus question, however, it deals with an aspect of cultural assimilation that affects Latino and Hispanic people. Although this is not dealing directly with how Latino and Hispanic authors are influenced by their community and culture, it focuses on how the general community of Hispanic and Latino people within the U.S. are pressured by the “host” culture to assimilate.  What seems to be perhaps a stretch about this article, in connection with my focus, is that the research examines how outdoor activity can affect, and in some ways help to preserve one’s home culture and values. The article takes a look at whom outdoor activities are participated with, as far as family or peer groups. Despite the initial seeming distance of this focus from mine, it does seem that outdoor activity could actually be categorized under the umbrella of community, which is part of my focus. This article helps me to beg the question, what is community? What does community mean? What does community do? When I speak of community influences, what kind of activities and interactions am I referring to? Therefore, this article helps to establish a question inherent with in my focus question, and determine how community affects the Hispanic Latino population in general. Because Hispanic and Latino authors are naturally part of this population, I would think that this article will shed some light on how culture influences community, how community influences culture, and in turn, how this affects a specific population who make up the broader scope of my focus.

3. PRIMARY SOURCE:

S.C. Cisneros. Woman Hollering Creek. (1991).

This text by Sandra Ciscneros is a compilation of a variety of types of poetry and tales from the multiple perspectives of Chicana women, Hispanic people living within the United States. The text encompasses many of the struggles that Chicana women face when it comes to diversity, cultural assimilation, and cultural resistance as well. Although this text is not technically representative of her experience, it stands as a collective experience for Chicana women. This text directly connects to my focus question of how community and culture influence Hispanic and Latino writers an America, because Sandra Ciscneros is one of these authors and does her best to illuminate how Chicana women and people in general are affected by the cultural differences between home and public. The public sector of this includes everything from relationships, the workforce, and schooling. As these aspects of life all deal with culture, the ways of perceiving and doing things, her literature, though fiction highlights truths of American cultural influences on the Chicano people that perhaps could not be communicated in as powerfully if they were not fiction.

4. EXPERIENTIAL:

B.R. Rojas is a Hispanic American writer influenced by his community and culture (Personal Communication March 14, 2012).

Bonafide Rojas is a respected poet from New York, who, in some of his poetry, successfully communicates the experience of students and teachers confronted with internal and external struggles that have negative affects on student motivation. Despite the relevance of this poetry to the educational field, not all of his poetry focuses on education. Much of his writing is influenced by experiences in his life, struggles, successes, devastations, and enlightenments. In the interview conducted by my subject area cohort in the credential program at Saint Mary’s College, Rojas expressed that much of his inspiration comes from music and the streets of New York City. As both music and the streets of New York City have to do with culture and community, Rojas is a prime candidate for demonstrating the influences culture and community has on his work as a writer. Because my primary focus is in culture and community influences on Hispanic and Latino authors, examining Rojas’ writing experience will provide relevant and enlightening information in regards to my focus question.