My job <3

It's not all fun and games, but this is what I really love about my job. I can't help but smile looking at this picture, it reminds me of why I like working with kids and in the community.

Honduras

In a month and a half I'll be traveling to Honduras for a month. It will be the first time I travel somewhere solo and meet up with people I do not know. The organization posted this blog so I got an idea of where I'll be staying. The pictures that are below I found on Facebook from other volunteers.

I think the trip is going to challenge me in a great way. I'll be responsible for teaching youth about HIV/AIDS. Although I work with kids all the time, I'm having to educate myself adequately about HIV/AIDS. The program sent us a packet of information that we need to learn, and I'm excited that I'm learning so much in the process.

Two days ago there was a shooting across the street from the school where I work. Since I'm there for the after school program, I missed the events of the day, but got the aftermath. I drive up to the school and there are at least 10 police cars, crime tape, and neighborhood members standing around watching what's going on. Oddly enough I didn't have any sense of fear, maybe caution, but not fear. I find out later that there was a quarrel in the street, and a guy was shot two times in the chest.

Where it relates to my life...
The kids I work with saw the shooting. It happened around 11:30 AM, when the 2nd graders were having lunch. They saw the man being shot through the windows of the cafeteria, and they know both the victim (who died) and the gunman. At the age of 21, seeing someone shot would have a huge impact on me, and I can only imagine what it feels like when you are 7 or 8.

The school went into immediate lock down. Everyone had to sit in their locked classroom with the lights off huddled in a corner. Unfortunately, this is the life of which these kids have become accustomed. Shootings, arrests, drug deals, police searching their homes, etc. And no, I'm not stereotyping or making generalizations, because I have either seen these events first hand, or had a child at work tell me about their own personal experiences.

Although they experience such turmoil and stress at a young age, I love when they can be kids, smile and have a great time.

Pope, in Africa, Says Condoms Aren't the Way to Fight H.I.V.

This video (link below) takes on the point that the Pope is against condoms, but Jesus would be fine with them. I think it is a hot topic, and it all depends on individual beliefs and personal values.

http://appetiteforequalrights.blogspot.com/2009/04/jesus-vs-pope.html

Respectability

I just got back from a speech on women and the role they play in this whole Iraq situation, etc.
I'm not sure that I was paying attention to all of it, I got the general idea of what she was trying to say, but...this is what I did catch and hold on to.

Women in all societies strive to have and keep respectability. In actuality respectability is in the eye of the beholder. As a woman, you can fill social norms and expectations so that you can be respectable, but in actuality, you have no control over it. Women are concerned with the decisions they make that may jeopardize their respectability with others in their society.

So what I take from that...
There can be a plethora of things I want to do/be/enjoy, but because society (i.e. THE MAN...he he) may view me as disrespectful (or enter any other negative word that may refer to women) I cannot do it. In order to stay in a positive light, I must please those around me, even if that means sacrificing some of myself or what I believe in to do so.

I feel as if I can think of how this idea impacts women's lives negatively, and can limit freedoms.
1.sexuality
2.career
3.relationships/marriage
4.children (or the lack there of)
5.religion

B. Yung--Spoken Word

Unisex

My name, Tristan, is a unisex name. I don't think that was my parents intentions, but that's just how it happened. The person that I have become (including my lean toward feminism....or outright feminism) allows me to appreciate the the unisexiness of my name.

like that? unisexiness. ha.

Continuing...

Apparently (according to an individual who I had the privilege of "listening" to today) there are only boy names and girl names. Those names should stick to those sexes, and it's humorous when girls have boy names.

The craziness of the idea of a unisex name blows her mind, apparently.

Although it seems petty, the idea of unisex names intrigues me.
I find that if you are a female, it has the possibility of getting you under the radar when it comes to applying for certain things.

The mentality of believing in only boy names and girl names tends to mean you have a mentality of other gender specifics that only hinder gender roles in society.

As a future educator I find that we have the power to influence students, and when one believes in strict gender specifics it impacts the classroom. It leads to projects/assignments geared to solely girls/boys and limitations. (i.e. "you can't do that because you are [insert gender here]..."

LGBTQ

Should an LGBTQ club/organization be allowed in a middle school setting?

I don't understand how it is difficult to understand the concept of a middle school child knowing if they are LGBTQ.

The concept of a girl liking a boy is apparently easy and the concept of a boy liking a girl is apparently easy.

So why cant LGBTQ middle schoolers know about their sexuality?

Why would you doubt their competance to understand what they do and do not like?

Give kids more credit. The problem with adults is they often times do not remember what it is like to be a kid because they have spent so much time trying to be an adult.

the mentality

men*tal*i*ty: the set of one's mind; view; outlook

Today was a true test of mentality in comparison to the mentality of my kids at work.
Today more than ever I wished that we were more alike than different.
Today I did not appreciate our differences, but literally, hated them.
Today I blamed Charleston and all its twisted misfortunes for the Charleston mentality that is within my kids.

There was a fight.

There have been plenty, but none have impacted me as much as this one has, and I'm not sure why. Whenever my kids get into a fight with one another I view it as a poor reflection on my character and my ability to be a WINGS Leader. I have high expectations for my kids which consequently stresses me out because often times they don't meet them as I wish they would. But I refuse to lower my standards because the world isn't going to give them any favors.


But...there was a fight between two my kids.I run over to pull the other one off of the other.I then notice that three boys (who are older) just sat there and watched, who I then gave an earful. It was all a blur, but from what I understand I was shaking and completely out of character.

I HATE that I had to become like that.
I HATE this community these kids have to live in make them believe they have to physically fight to prove themselves.
I HATE this community that won't allow these kids to be kids.
I HATE that they feel like they can't stand up for someone out of the kindness of their heart without being persecuted.
I HATE it.

I want to take them away and show them that there is a world out there where being a kid and living a kid's life is possible. It upsets me that I feel that most of them will not get the opportunities they deserve. It upsets me that eventually the badge and blue lights will be the end all be all.I feel as if working at Chicora is a learning experience, but a mistake. I'm still in school and haven't had a chance to teach, and I'm already getting burned out by my work. I haven't had the chance to the civil servant I strive to be.

Mos Def for President

Check it out.

Future "Educators" of America

The responsibility of an educator is a heavy load to carry. The load is not meant for everyone and should not be taken lightly, especially when one sees that load as a burden.

In my opinion, not everyone is meant to be an educator. In my education courses, I can pick out the individuals who I personally do not see fit for the privilege of teaching the youth of America, what bothers me, is that they don't see it. They should see it when everything they speak of presents one of their own prejudices against certain children in our school system.

I understand that everyone has not had experience with all sides of the education system (and neither have I), and have not experienced time with children who are less fortunate than themselves, but, that is no excuse. I am utterly tired of always being responsible for carrying the information, the awareness, and knowing the impact I can have on my society. Everyone has a part to play, and it has become obvious that only a few are playing their part. Being the advocate and representative for those who cannot be there to speak for themselves is a heavy load to carry in many instances, but when that instance is everyday of your life in environments that you cannot escape, it takes a toll. I'm tired in the sense that I feel as if everything I'm saying should be common knowledge, and I shouldn't be viewed as a mad woman because I dare speak against their ignorance.

ignorance: n. The condition of being uneducated, unaware, or uninformed.

This week is Drug Awareness week. My professor was talking about how her child didn't quite understand what his red ribbon was for, and what Drug Awareness week, or drugs for that matter, meant. The children that I work with on daily basis have made door decorations for their classrooms and are proud to talk about being drug free. They are proud because the life they experience out of school generally incorporates drugs. These students are aware and knowledgeable about the issues of their lives. She was making a contrast between the school settings of suburban and urban.

One student said in her observation an elementary school child was able to describe how to shoot up heroin, in detail. Then a genius, laughed. She LAUGHED. Let me say this again...she LAUGHED!!!! WHAT IS FUNNY ABOUT A YOUNG CHILD KNOWING HOW TO SHOOT UP HEROIN!?!?!?!?!?! In my opinion no one should know how, but a child.

Ridiculous actions and comments like the one mentioned above makes going to class extremely difficult for me, and it's beginning to get in the way of me getting MY education. The problem that comes in for me is when they think it's fine. They think it's okay that they can do and say ignorant comments that are so blatantly incorrect and prejudice.

Hey...Let me burn a cross into your arm

The same ole argument over evolution and creationism.

This is an undated picture, and it is figured that the teacher, John Freshwater, has been teaching religion in his classes for some time. It is only recent that complaints have been filed, and the students burned have come forward.

The town in Ohio are split between the issue. "Some residents consider him a courageous fighter for religious freedom. Others say he has brazenly violated the church-state divide."

"Freshwater told investigators he simply was trying to demonstrate the device on three to eight students and described the images an ''X'' not a cross. But pictures show the images depict a cross, the report said.
Investigators also found that at least one school administrator dealt with complaints about Freshwater for much of her 11 years at the district."

Here's what I think...

Freshwater...who has been fired, should also NEVER be allowed to teach in the United States of America EVER again. The matter is not his poor decision to teach religion in a PUBLIC school, it's also a matter of assault. Who should trust their child with someone who believes it's legit to BURN students?

Public school is not meant for religious purposes. If you have an issue with teaching solely science in a public school...then maybe you should begin your own institution or teach at a private school.

As a future teacher, it makes me sick to see individuals in Freshwater's position make decisions as he has done. He violated those students' rights!

Maybe it's just me, but I see nothing right about what he's done.

Ohio town split over teacher accused of preaching