Social Justice Event

For my Social Justice Event, I decided to watch the movie "Philadelphia."

Tom Hanks stars as Andrew Beckett, a homosexual who works at a powerful law firm in Philadelphia. After developing HIV, Andrew keeps his sexuality and disease to himself, in fear that it would ruin his career. After a colleague discovers a lesion on Beckett, his secret is out and he is immediately fired because of his condition and sexuality. Angered, Beckett wants to sue his firm for wrongful termination and discrimination. Denied by each lawyer he brings his case to, Beckett decides to take the case on his own. After viewing his struggle,  Joe Miller (Denzel Washington) who already denied Beckett once, finally comes around and takes his case.

"Philadelphia" was created in 1993 and is one of the first Hollywood films to acknowledge HIV/AIDS, homosexuality, and homophobia. This film does an amazing job demonstrating discrimination in the workplace as well as in society. When the epidemic of HIV/AIDS first accumulated, gay men were discriminated immediately. Stigma and discrimination became apparent. Negative attitudes, prejudice and abuse would direct the people living with the disease. Whoever was most at risk depended on people's health status, race, socioeconomic status, age, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity. People faced discrimination in health care settings, educational/work settings, as well as from their families, peers, and community.

The events that take place in the movie can be compared to attorney Geoffrey Bowers and Clarence B. Cain.

In 1987, Bowers sued the law firm Baker McKenzie for wrongful termination in one of the first AIDS discrimination cases.

In 1990, Cain was an attorney for Hyatt Legal Services who was fired after his employer found out he had AIDS. Right before his death, he won the case.

"Philadelphia" is a great PSA for HIV/AIDS stigma and showcasing the discrimination people with HIV/AIDS face.

"Citizenship in School: Reconceptualizing Down Syndrome" - Kliewer

Kliewer discusses the segregation of students with down syndrome and other special needs from regular classrooms. He points out that special needs students are marginalized. This marginalization includes students with disabilities to be viewed as unteachable, useless, and a threat to the learning of students without disabilities. Because some schools segregate special needs students from regular classrooms, this only increases the stigma even more. Kliewer goes on to explain if we integrated students and have a diverse classroom, this can advance the educational community and improve the lives of students as well as raise their self esteem. This is what we want for our students. We don't want to make them feel any less compared to others within the school. 

I want to create an extended comment for Emily's post on this piece. I believe her connection between the reading and her life shows the reality of working with special needs students. She points out that it can be difficult teaching students who are not at the same learning level as she is. Her description of her experiences creates a great framework for Kliewer's writing. I also agree with Emily when she discusses the stereotype surrounding people with down syndrome. Like her, I have also given in to that stereotype. However, I realize that not everyone with down syndrome is the same and it would be unfair to treat them any different. 

All students should have the right to equal education opportunities no matter who they are. It's unfair to treat a child any differently whether they have a disability or not. If a child has down syndrome, I believe they should be integrated into regular classrooms. If we start integrating students with down syndrome into regular classrooms, this can help stop the stereotype that has been created. We shouldn't limit students because of a disability. 

Inclusion  - This video talks about inclusion classrooms for special needs students. Inclusion secures opportunities for students with disabilities to learn alongside their non-disabled peers in general education classrooms.

Question: Do you think that integrating special needs students into a regular classroom is a good idea? Why or why not?

Tracking: Why Schools Need to Take Another Route - Jeannie Oakes

Jeannie Oakes discusses the negative effects regarding tracking and grouping students based on their ability. In her writing, she explains the consequences and uneven opportunities this system might have on students. Oakes calls it "unequivocal" and compares the high-ability group versus the low-ability group saying the high-ability students receive more advantages and a better learning experience compared to those who are not as advance. She uses an example from John Goodlad's national study of school, reported in the book A Place Called School where students in high-ability English classes were reading modern literature, learning expository writing, and vocabulary that would help increase their scores on college entrance exams. In these courses, critical thinking and problem solving skills were evident from the content being taught. Whereas in a low-ability course, students were learning basic reading skills, memorizing, and repetition. Because of the content taught in these courses, students were not exposed to skills that would help them move into higher classes. Tracking and grouping students only displays the unfairness within the system. High-ability students are receiving better instruction, more material to work with, and a positive learning environment. Students who are low-ability are receiving the opposite. Oakes recommends some alternatives to tracking. Some alternatives are creating a meaningful curriculum that is complex, challenging, and relates to real life, evaluation that supports learning, and student evaluation. All of these are a positive and superior substitute compared to tracking.

I agree with Oakes. Tracking only segregates and creates a stigma for each type of group and it is definitely unfair. For example, high-ability students are focused on more because of their capability and smarts, whereas low-ability students receive little to nothing because of their skill level. This shows that students who are smarter can amount to anything and students who are not as smart are pushed enough to get by. Educators need to present the same attitude towards every student no matter what their skill level is. It's their job to help each student become successful.

My question for the class would be aside from Oakes alternatives, what other ways could we give each student an equal learning opportunity in order to help them become successful?

TED Talk - Allen Chen - This TED Talk presented by Allen Chen discusses why student tracking should come to an end. Within his reasoning, he compares three students: one who is highly intelligent, another who is average, and one who is below average.

Kahne and Westheimer

In The Service Of What? The Politics of Service Learning

The values of Service Learning help students realize the importance of charity. Having Service Learning projects within the curriculum can help students become activists in their community. Service Learning can teach responsibility, good morals, gratefulness, and create connections. Not only that, but Service Learning can help students develop specific skills they need in order to be successful in the future, For example, public speaking and working with other people. Reflections of these projects can ensure stronger critical thinking. A quote in the article explaining this topic states, "To be critical thinkers, students must be able to consider arguments that justify conclusions that conflict with their own predispositions and self-interest. Structured, informed, and systematic analysis of service experiences from a variety of ideological positions will not ensure critical thinking in the strong sense, but such reflection should make that outcome more common." Upon reflecting their service experience, students realize the morals and issues that some people face and grow a stronger sense of critical thinking when discussing ways to resolve some of the worlds problems. I believe Service Learning projects are eye opening and give students a chance to give back to their community.

For my senior project in high school, we were required to conduct 20 hours of community service. I thought this was beneficial and it allowed me to see from another point of view. I worked in the food pantry at my church stocking shelves as well as handing out food to the people of Pawtucket. The community service gave me a sense of pride as well as taught me to be grateful. I was very pleased and happy to be helping others and it made me feel good about myself. It also showed me that it is important to give back to the community. It seems now a days, all we do is take and never give. The community service that I experienced helped me realize that. That is why I believe Service Learning is highly important for students.

This video describes the importance of community service and what it is. I thought it was very educational and inspiring.

Service Learning Ideas - Article that shares some service learning ideas.

Questions

 1) Do you think if Service Learning wasn't required, students would take the initiative to conduct it themselves?

2) Since some high schools require community service in order to graduate, do you think students are not as engaged because they are "forced" to do it?

Same Sex Marriage

Question: Do you support the legalization of same sex marriage?

Liberal
67% Yes

Reasons Why:
>Take the government out of relationships.
>It is discrimination
>Human Equality

Conservative
33% No

Reasons Why:
>Allow civil unions but do not call it marriage.
>Marriage is strictly between a man and a women.
>Children should have a father figure.
>Family structure matters.
>Adults shouldn't feed into their desires for the sake of the child.
>Religion

Conservative: Homosexuality Is Worse Than Genocide

Results from: https://www.isidewith.com/poll/965633

Jill Soloway and Stacy Abrums

How does this election teach us about gender?

Jill Soloway Talks Donald Trump, Locker Rooms and Toxic Masculinity

After reading this article, the main point that Soloway discusses is men are viewed as the dominant gender versus all other genders. Therefore, some men objectify women because according to society, they are the top gender so they feel they have the right to say whatever they want to say. Soloway says, "White cis able-bodied educated males from the ruling class are at the top, holding nearly all of the planet." The election proves just that. A white cis able-bodied educated male won the presidential election for 2016. This same person quoted, "grab her by the p***y" which you wouldn't expect from our US President. As you can see, his morals make him unfit to be president but because he categorizes with society's standards, it doesn't matter what he says or does. In this way, that is how our election teaches us about gender. You must be a well rounded white male in order to have power and succeed.

Stacy Abrams Didn't Play It Safe. Neither Do These Female Candidates

Female candidates oppose a threat to male candidates. Some people might think that women are not qualified to run for government positions. It is only now that women are defying against the odds and running for positions that are normally occupied by men. Women have come such a long way in politics. We can see this in the 2016 election where Hilary Clinton ran as the Democratic Representative against Donald Trump who was the Republican Representative. Unfortunately, Hilary did not win, but still is a role model for women everywhere.

Connections

The readings that can be connected to these articles are "White Privilege" by Peggy McIntosh and "11 and Gender Fluid" by Erin Zelle.

I'll start off with McIntosh's article. The reason why I believe this article connects well to these readings is because both discuss how the white male is powerful in society. The reason why they are powerful is because of the privilege they withhold. Their social ranking is based off of their characteristics as white cis males which grant them the power and privilege they need in order to be at the top.

The second article that can be connected to the readings is Zelle's, "11 and Gender Fluid." This discusses another type of gender identity which does not follow the regular heterosexual, white male or female. I believe this can be connected more to Soloway. The reason why is because Soloway discusses if you are not the typical white, straight, male, then you will not amount to anything. It is believed that they are the preferred gender in society. This ruling out any other genders including gender fluidity.

LGBTQ+ Terms - Serena, Mandi, Ley

Presentation on google slides.

LGBTQ+ Terms