A Spoke in a Broken Wheel Freelance #2

-I spent my entire public school career in the Warwick schools system, from Kindergarten on. In the early 2000s when I went to middle school I began having some trouble with mathematics, so I had to be tutored so that I could catch up to the rest of the class. In my first year of 9^th grade which I believe

was 2003 I was placed in a class called Algebra Connection.

The connections class used high tech, new calculators to come to conclusions about problems and went at a slower pace, perfect for a student like myself who was proficient at everything else except math. I passed the class and then took a tutoring session to raise the grade in the summer. When I entered tenth grade I was put in the second part of the class entitled Algebra Connections II. The teacher was there for two days, then went on a sabbatical. For the rest of the year we had a giant cast of characters ranging from volley ball coaches to long retired history teachers being brought half heartedly to teach us math. Truly, we learned absolutely nothing. On the last day of the year the head of the math department came in and asked us what grade we felt we deserved, of course everyone said A's. The next year I was placed in Geometry the non-connections course. They did not use the same methods we did in connections and I immediately fell behind. Quickly I tried to switch classes, though it was to no avail. I had to stay in the class.

A year later I was called into the office with my guidance counselor saying I never took my first year of math. (The tutor never sent in the grade). I had to go through a whole horrible ordeal of locating this woman who I hadn't spoken to in years and having her send my grade in. It was not an easy task. I have not yet learned those math skills I should have in high school because of the strange way they did business. The next time I take a math class I will have to work extra hard because it was ignored in high school.

The "D.R.E.A.M" Act

"The purpose of the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act, also called the DREAM Act, is to help those individuals who meet certain requirements, have an opportunity to enlist in the military or go to college and have a path to citizenship which they otherwise would not have without this legislation. Supporters of the DREAM Act believe it is vital not only to the people who would benefit from it, but also the United States as a whole. It would give an opportunity to undocumented immigrant students who have been living in the U.S. since they were young, a chance to contribute back to the country that has given so much to them and a chance to utilize their hard earned education and talents."

The DREAM is the newest form of education to make headlines. It certainly is a controversial issue since it deals with not only education, but the fragile issue of illegal immigration. I for one, agree with this act. I think it's a great idea because we have already invested with our tax money for these Illegal Aliens to go through our school systems, if they have done a good job then they have a few options. They can go into health care, the military or go to college.

Why not? If these people have worked so hard to get where they are now, then it is more than likely they will become contributing members of our society and economy. Here are some of the requirements if the DREAM act passes:

• Must have entered the United States before the age of 16 (i.e. 15 and younger)
• Must have been present in the United States for at least five (5) consecutive years prior to enactment of the bill
• Must have graduated from a United States high school, or have obtained a GED, or have been accepted into an institution of higher education (i.e. college/university)
• Must be between the ages of 12 and 35 at the time of application
• Must have good moral character

I agree with all of the qualifications. It's not like people will be able to come right over and enter into the DREAM act. They will have to be in the US for an extended amount of time. Another important factor here is good moral character. I think a lot of the time illegal immigrants get painted as bad people. Yes they are doing something illegal, but that does not make them evil or bad people. They often are doing this to help out their families which is how Italian Americans and Irish americans came to our country and state in the first place.

This is not to say I support illegal immigration, because I don't. But this is a way of dealing with an issue. These people have been here for years, gone through our school systems (which we and our parents have payed for) and now they want to go spend money to go to our colleges. I for one, hope that this DREAM comes true.

Education is Politics

I think that education is definitely political. Take a look at the most recent election here in Rhode Island. Governor elect Lincoln Chaffee was constantly being critisized for "being in bed with the teachers union" while others criticized him for possibly denying the "Race to the Top" money that the state won. These were huge points that were constantly brought up throughout the election, to say that the topic of education didn't play a big role would be a mistake.

Take the Texas text book controversy for example. It quickly became an old school south conservative VS liberal "anti Christian" issue. The text books made sure they put Barack Obama's middle name "Hussein" almost every time his name appears in the text, likely to draw attention to Saddam Hussein. Education is always political because it's about the future, and about that future is forged.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJNPGNYuXP4

"To socialize students, education tries to teach them the shape of knowledge

and current society, the meaning of past events, the possibilities for the future

and the world they live in."

This quote is important. As teachers we will have to help shape not only the student his or herself but the knowledge they are receiving. We do this by giving past events meaning and showing them that there are many possibilities for them in the future.

"In addition, the way classrooms, schools, colleges and programs are gover

ned is political. Is there a negotiated curriculum in the class, or is a unilateral

authority exercised by the teacher?"

Teachers truly can be the proverbial Governor of the classroom, with teaching assistants the mayors and the principal the President. These forms of hierarchy are taught to kids at a very young age. I know that when I was coming up I knew that it was much worse to be get in trouble and have to go to the Principal's office then to just be talked to by my teacher.