My name is Pat Poirier and I am a Socondary Ed. major here at RIC. When I am not in class I work in the Student Union. Besides that I love playing soccer and hanging out with my friends.
(Jonathon Kozol- Author) (Amazing Grace) and (Goldberg-Author) (100 people)
The point of Kozol's argument is to give a first hand example of the differences between the rich and the poor in America and also point out how much influence those with power have over the lives of the poor.
Goldberg argues that something needs to be done about education in America and points out how textbooks are all politically correct. I'm sure Goldberg and Johnson agree in that the textbooks should just "Say It!!"
"Virtually every child at Saint Ann's knows someone, a relative or neighbor, who has died of AIDS, and most children here know many others who are dying now of the disease."
1. This was helpful to get the point of the article across because it shows how there is a lack of hope in the community. Once hope is gone, depression is soon to follow. 2. These things along with drugs circulating the community and lack of health care puts this community in a downward spiral. 3. It reminds me of a book I read that I think is called, "Old Colony," for my Social Work class. It was a similar situation, except it was known more for drugs and homicides than AIDS. Children become used to the terror and it becomes a way of life for them. They do not feel these things are out of the ordinary because it has been this way their whole life and this is how they view the world. 4. It is a very sad thing and it quickly reminds me of how fortunate I am.
"If poor people behaved rationally," says Lawrence Mead, a professor of political science at New York University, "they would seldom be poor for long in the first place."
1. This is something that really aggravated Kozol. After mentioning this, Kozol describes a woman named Alice who completed high school and started working and settled down with a man. She did not know the man had AIDS and so, she became infected. Sadly, she was also diagnosed with two cancers. Alice had to quit both her jobs because of the difficultness of the cancer. She was placed in a shelter and was then moved into South Bronx. Alice and many others are not getting the help they need. 2. This directly ties into the privilege of power. Someone in a suit moved Alice among others into this neighborhood where it appears they are lucky to make it through the day. Even though it is not this woman's fault that this is what her life has become, she is powerless, and therefore has little she can do about it.
"I believe that we were put here for a purpose, but these people in the streets can't see a purpose. There's a whole world out there if you know it's there, if you can see it. But they're in a cage. They cannot see."
1. This was my favorite quotation from this article. Maybe the reason Kozol befriended the little boy was to open his eyes to the world outside the community. 2. Maybe the reason Kozol wrote the article was so to motivate others to come to South Bronx and offer their skills and help. 3. I like this article because I often think about people who have given up on hope. For example, there has to be something in this world besides drugs that make people feel happy. I immediately connected with the boy who was saying this quotation because when my life has been "tough," I've always tried to see the brighter side of the situation. 4. I have no idea how hard life is for people living in the South Bronx, so I cannot say that what I believe works for them. However, the boy does and he lives there, so it is possible. 5. Now, that this article has been written, hopefully it will spark some help to these people and become a thing of the past.
As I mentioned earlier, Goldberg's article relates to Johnson's in that textbooks need to be more specific about facts and stop being so politically correct. It made me think about how I do not know much about what exactly happened to Native Americans. As mentioned in "A Father's Plea," it is such a big part of American History and is nowhere to find in American history books. The articles make me appreciate my life and the things I have even more now.
Hey Pat -- try to post your Talking Points in a NEW POST rather than as a comment so that we can all see them on your front page! WOnderful connections between texts here. Though I am not sure that Johnson and Goldberg would agree -- GOldberg seems to say that the more "reality" we see the more kids will learn to hate their country. What do you think?
Hey Pat, Glad you got a pic up and everything. What do you do at the Student Union? LB :)
ReplyDeleteahhh an SU worker....
ReplyDeleteyou'll probably be seeing my face a lot asking for this that or the other thing.
What's your sec ed consentration?
Hey Pat do you play soccer for the school?
ReplyDelete(Jonathon Kozol- Author) (Amazing Grace) and (Goldberg-Author) (100 people)
ReplyDeleteThe point of Kozol's argument is to give a first hand example of the differences between the rich and the poor in America and also point out how much influence those with power have over the lives of the poor.
Goldberg argues that something needs to be done about education in America and points out how textbooks are all politically correct. I'm sure Goldberg and Johnson agree in that the textbooks should just "Say It!!"
"Virtually every child at Saint Ann's knows someone, a relative or neighbor, who has died of AIDS, and most children here know many others who are dying now of the disease."
1. This was helpful to get the point of the article across because it shows how there is a lack of hope in the community. Once hope is gone, depression is soon to follow.
2. These things along with drugs circulating the community and lack of health care puts this community in a downward spiral.
3. It reminds me of a book I read that I think is called, "Old Colony," for my Social Work class. It was a similar situation, except it was known more for drugs and homicides than AIDS. Children become used to the terror and it becomes a way of life for them. They do not feel these things are out of the ordinary because it has been this way their whole life and this is how they view the world.
4. It is a very sad thing and it quickly reminds me of how fortunate I am.
"If poor people behaved rationally," says Lawrence Mead, a professor of political science at New York University, "they would seldom be poor for long in the first place."
1. This is something that really aggravated Kozol. After mentioning this, Kozol describes a woman named Alice who completed high school and started working and settled down with a man. She did not know the man had AIDS and so, she became infected. Sadly, she was also diagnosed with two cancers. Alice had to quit both her jobs because of the difficultness of the cancer. She was placed in a shelter and was then moved into South Bronx. Alice and many others are not getting the help they need.
2. This directly ties into the privilege of power. Someone in a suit moved Alice among others into this neighborhood where it appears they are lucky to make it through the day. Even though it is not this woman's fault that this is what her life has become, she is powerless, and therefore has little she can do about it.
"I believe that we were put here for a purpose, but these people in the streets can't see a purpose. There's a whole world out there if you know it's there, if you can see it. But they're in a cage. They cannot see."
1. This was my favorite quotation from this article. Maybe the reason Kozol befriended the little boy was to open his eyes to the world outside the community.
2. Maybe the reason Kozol wrote the article was so to motivate others to come to South Bronx and offer their skills and help.
3. I like this article because I often think about people who have given up on hope. For example, there has to be something in this world besides drugs that make people feel happy. I immediately connected with the boy who was saying this quotation because when my life has been "tough," I've always tried to see the brighter side of the situation.
4. I have no idea how hard life is for people living in the South Bronx, so I cannot say that what I believe works for them. However, the boy does and he lives there, so it is possible.
5. Now, that this article has been written, hopefully it will spark some help to these people and become a thing of the past.
As I mentioned earlier, Goldberg's article relates to Johnson's in that textbooks need to be more specific about facts and stop being so politically correct. It made me think about how I do not know much about what exactly happened to Native Americans. As mentioned in "A Father's Plea," it is such a big part of American History and is nowhere to find in American history books. The articles make me appreciate my life and the things I have even more now.
Hey Pat -- try to post your Talking Points in a NEW POST rather than as a comment so that we can all see them on your front page! WOnderful connections between texts here. Though I am not sure that Johnson and Goldberg would agree -- GOldberg seems to say that the more "reality" we see the more kids will learn to hate their country. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteHey!
ReplyDeleteHaha yea I am flying solo in the middle child section...eh its not to bad butt yeah
Haha we should tell her we went to high school together...btw i just got this wall post now....
ReplyDelete