My Last Blog!!

Wow, I can not believe this semester is over…actually I can not believe my freshman year of college is over. Overall it has been a great experience! I have learned so much about myself, friends, and life over the past year. Although I hated these blogs at first, and felt like it was such a hassle sometimes, it has really helped my writing. I realize more that you can write about anything. Some weeks I had so much to talk about and others I felt like I would never get through the blogs because I had nothing to say! The blogs gave me a chance to talk and even get some feedback on some things. I am really glad to be through with this English class but I also enjoyed it. I know that before this class I never kept up with current events or politics but this class has really helped me realize how important these things are to our life. I also realize that there are arguments and sides to every story! Wendy really helped my open my view and expand out of the normal little box! Our discussions and blogs also allowed us to actually get to know some of our classmates. Although I am glad the semester is over and it is almost summer, I really am glad that this English class helped not just in my writing but also in other aspects too.

Creepy!

So the other night one of my sorority sisters car was parked outside of her house near campus and it was broken into. I am not sure of what all they stole but they did take our composite picture. (this is a picture of every girl in the chapter with their full name underneath) I personally find this extremely creepy because whoever it is probably off studying peoples’ pictures with their names. They told us that we should probably make all our facebooks and myspaces private so that they could not look at our pages. I guess I got really freaked out because three of us girls live together and you never know when something could happen. I know that crime is already horrible in Memphis so we should be extra cautious now. My mom tends to send me emails a lot about safety and things that have happened recently, so I usually try to be really careful while I am out and about. The other day she sent me one about a women who was approached by man while she was in her car pulling out of a gas station. The man was telling her that she had dropped money but the women did not roll her window down because she knew she did not. Then the man began beating her window and acting absurd so the woman knew he was up to something and drove off. Basically, I think we need to be more careful of our surroundings!

Some history of our education system

Although it seems as if America has always had a wonderful education system, it took a long time to build such a great program. Our education system began many years ago and has taken time and many people to make it in to the success that it is today. Frederick the Great was one of the first to support opening schools and creating teacher training. In 1635, the first Latin grammar school was opened in Boston. Shortly after, Massachusetts required children to learn how to read and towns with more than fifty families had to have schools. The first official schools were held by housewives in their homes and were called dame schools. The first schools were focused on religion, harsh, and disciplined. In 1636, Harvard University was opened being the first university in the United States focusing on theology and the classics. Benjamin Franklin opened the American Academy in Philadelphia in 1751. Horace Mann helped develop the educational awakening and the first professional journal. The New England Primer, Blue Backed Speller, and McGuffey’s reader were the first major textbooks used. Although the government makes many decisions in our educational system, in 1789 the Constitution was ratified and does not mention education.

Observation of a teacher and student

The teacher seemed very happy that the university students were there to help. She was a little tough on the students when it came to the exact rules. She was very familiar with all of the games and knew all of the rules. I thought the teacher came across as a little mean to the students but probably was just looking after the students for their best interest. The teacher was very observant of the children and would always help the students if they had a question. At the same time, the teacher made the university students play the games while she just sat there. The students all got along great and were excited that they were able to play games together. The young woman I chose to watch was a white female in the 4th grade. The young girl had a twin in the room and mostly played with her. The little girl also learned by observing because when the teacher tried to explain the rules she did not understand but when she watched other children play she got it. I learned that although all the students play and get along some students click well with certain people and they will most likely stay together unless told otherwise. I also realized how much more calm girls are than boys. The boys would run around acting crazy while the girls were much calmer and would wait their turn.

Field Experience in Leadership

Campus School has really broadened my view of elementary education. This school is so organized but still welcoming. All of the students, faculty, and staff are always smiling and ready to start the day. The teachers devote so much time to their students to not only better their education but also better their values. The one negative is the way the teacher reacted to the students. If the teacher would have been a little more calm and nice, the students would have probably listened much better. Although there are always people watching, I would love to have the opportunity to teach in this school and have the chance to try so many new things. This experience made me want to become a teacher even more because I realize what a huge impact these teachers have on these children’s lives. Educating Esme shows the difficult but yet rewarding side to teaching. Although teaching is a struggle and can be very stressful, it makes it all worthwhile when at the end of the day the students respect you and have learned so many new things. I do not believe that No Child Left Behind should be in effect because of the pressure of standardized tests. These tests do not give the true amount of knowledge some of the students have. I do not think that all major decisions should be based on these test scores.

Speaker

Today I went to hear Dr. Pete Gathje speak on homelessness. He started giving out statistics of poverty and homelessness not only in the Memphis area but also across the nation. He really seemed to focus in on the children at one point. I thought this was really important because there are many children living on the streets, but what are they supposed to do? I know many of us think the adults should go get jobs and work for money, but the children are too young and are not able to work but still have to suffer. Dr. Gathje also focused in on how Memphis says they have shelters in the area, but in reality the city does not have one free shelter. Many of the shelters charge a small fee and require identification. The shelter that Dr. Gathje, Manna House, is a free shelter that is open three days a week for a couple of hours. They serve coffee, allow people to take showers, and give people clothes. I think it is great how they allow these people a place to hangout for just a couple of hours. Through the stories he told, I knew what an impact these people are making on the lives of the homeless in Memphis.

NCLB cont'd

One of the most apparent aspects of the No Child Left Behind is the focus on standardized testing. Under this act, states are required to give the students standardized tests. In order to pass the class and be able to move on, the student must pass these tests. With this said, teachers are required to focus on the material that is covered on the test in the classroom. Teachers are no longer able to cover the material in the textbook but rather have to focus on what is actually on the test. Standardized tests were put in to order so that the state as well as federal government would be able to get an accurate look at the schools. Although it is extremely important to know the standing of each school, it is also important for the students to learn as much information as possible. In order for the government to be able to get an accurate count of the students’ knowledge, the students should be required to know everything they have learned and then be tested on that information. All the schools should have the same curriculum, so that every student no matter where they are located is required to know the same information.

NCLB

Under the No Child Left Behind act, teachers are required to be “highly trained.” What does this actually mean? This part of No Child Left Behind is supposed to help with the quality of the teachers. Obviously, our country does not want unqualified teachers in the classroom, but I also think that teaching is more than just an educational background. Teaching takes creativity, patience, and willingness to take time to make a difference. Although a teacher’s education is the most important aspect on which they are hired, the attitude and personality should also become a major focus. Teachers who want to help their students often have more success with the students in the classroom. Many students dread attending school and could careless about learning; therefore, the teachers need to have creative ways in which to teach the material and to make the students more interested. I think that many times we focus too much on the educational background rather than focusing on the personable aspects the teacher could provide the students. Instead of just interviewing teachers and looking at their resumes, teachers should have to show some interaction with children as well as other teachers so that they can show their creativity as well as willingness to work with other people.

Oprah

So today I actually went to work out. I was really glad I went because I have not been able to nor really wanted to in a while. So while I was on the elliptical and “attempting” to study for weather and climate, one of the televisions lined up across the front caught my attention. Oprah was on and she was talking about a dad and son and some problems they have had to face together. Well I love Oprah anyways so I started to watch it. Well it ends up that the boy had first gotten drunk at the age of 11 and then began doing serious drugs soon after. The dad first found marijuana in the child’s backpack for the first time at the age of 12. I think that this is absolutely insane! Children should not be drinking nor doing drugs at such a young age. I think that parents really need to start stepping up and getting more involved in their child’s life because children are starting these substances at younger ages each year. The dad was also saying how one time he smoked with his son to try to “connect” with him. If the father hated it so much and did not want his son doing it then why would he smoke it? I think this just tells the boy that it is ok. I really believe that we need to step up to these young children or else it will continue to get worse.

Sadness!

I think last night was so devastating for everyone!! I know as everyone prepared for the game, we were all so excited and hoping for a national championship. I have never seen so many people dressed in blue and pumped about the tigers. Not only did the students want this for the team, but I think we all wanted this for our school as well! Although Memphis had the game at the end, they lost. When we realized it was over everyone was so sad. It was almost like someone had just died. I know for many of us it was so upsetting because we have been cheering them on all season long! We had watched almost every game, knowing that the tigers had a great opportunity at winning the national championship. I know for myself, I was upset for them because so many people doubted them all season long. Many people said they were not in a good enough conference to make it to the national championship, but they did it! I know that this loss brought a huge damper on everyone, but there will be many more seasons and many more opportunities for the tigers to win! I really hope that Rose and CDR decide to stay but I know that there are better things that lie ahead.

My week...

Let’s just start with saying that I am so tired of the rain!!! I am tired of walking to class and being soking wet. The rain gets your clothes wet, shoes squeaky, and makes my hair super frizzy! I am so ready for summer time when it is warm and sunny all the time and there is no school! This week has been a little less stressful than others. I actually did not have any tests or major papers due so I had a little time to myself. I really have needed this because I have been so busy lately. It also gave me more time to babysit so I can make a little extra money because I am SO broke! I have also had AllSing practice every night. I am having so much fun doing it but it is a lot of work. They take this stuff very seriously because of course we want to win. The overall theme is Broadway so it should be really cute and easy to understand. I am really excited about it and being able to see what everyone else does. Anyways, it should be a really good competition because I know all the other sororities and fraternities have been working really hard.

Race

The past two days in class we have had some of the best and most heated discussions. We all know that your race is part of your identity; therefore, it is very important to most people. With today being the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. assassination, it was very appropriate for us to discuss this hot topic. Since this horrible incident happened right here in Memphis, we know that racism has been an issue for a long time. I know each individual’s race is important to them and it should be but I do not think that people should take stuff so offensively. I know that sometimes it is really hard to do but there are always going to be those negative people who just want to bring others down to build themselves up. Your race is important because it your background and also affects you, but I also know that we are all humans and are equally made so we should be treated equally. I think that many of us held back in class because we are scared that we will offend someone and then they will turn around and hurt us. I wish this was not true, but I think that race will always be an issue because of events in the past that people and get over and because we are all sensitive.

Tutoring Cont'd

During tutoring overall the students were great! They usually not only listened to the teacher but also listened to the University of Memphis students. Going into tutoring I knew it would be hard to get the students to focus for a complete hour. Not only had the students already been in school for an entire day learning, they also knew that many of their friends were out of school and off playing. With this, the university students as well as the teacher really had to encourage and push the Campus School student. When I knew Ashton did not want to work anymore or was getting tired I would ask him questions like: how was your Thanksgiving, what is your favorite color, or some other question about a movie or cartoon. I asked questions that I knew would get Ashton excited and take his mind off the math and reading for just a minute. This really seemed to help Ashton by giving him a small break and then getting right back to work. One time we finished early so we let the students play an addition and subtraction card game. While playing the game the students started to get a little too excited and wild so we decided to stop the game and make them do something else. They all went back to their seats and acted a little disappointed at first. We then did a timed addition and subtraction test. The students really liked this activity. Since they had worked so hard on their normal activities, we wanted to give them an enjoyable activity. They really like the competitiveness with the other students not only through time but also through accuracy. In an after school tutoring session you have to be strict so the students will push to get something accomplished but you also have to understand that they have been sitting in a desk all day long learning.

tutoring in Acad

Entering the classroom a little nervous, I was given an eight year old boy named Ashton. He was in the second grade and eager to learn. Although Ashton had some difficulties with the material, he was always willing to go back and try to understand it. Ashton was a little shy at first but after the second time of tutoring, he was talkative and bubbly. One day Ashton’s father came to pick him up early. His father sat across the room but I could tell that he was interested in what Ashton was practicing. Ashton was so excited to see his father and immediately began to try a little harder at his work. This showed how much both of them cared for each other. As an outsider, I saw that Ashton’s father cared not only for Ashton but also his education and his future. This also showed me that his father probably works with him each night on his homework. It showed me that Ashton had a strong support system pushing him to be the best child he could be. It is so important for children to practice all the skills because they all build on each other. I think it is great that Ashton’s father is there for him teaching to have a good work ethic as well as good values.

Memphis Neighborhoods

I was reading over the Smart City Memphis blog and came across a blog on neighborhoods in the Memphis area. They were talking about how so many of the neighborhoods are “hanging by a thread.” Then they mentioned how the mayor is holding the scissors trying to decide whether to cut them off or not. Before reading this blog I had never really thought about it like this. I know for me, I overlook these neighborhoods most of the time and it is not because I do not care but more because I do not live there nor did I grow up there. Although sometimes we overlook these neighborhoods and people, they are humans too. The city’s government is talking about shutting down some of the community centers and libraries in these neighborhoods. This would definitely be “cutting their threads.” Although this would save the government money, it would crush neighborhoods and families. I understand that putting a lot of money into a community that is steadily falling seems like a waste but these community centers and libraries hold these people together. Many of them have barely anything and look forward to the things they do have. I also do not think that this will better the city in any way. This would only give these unfortunate people even less of an opportunity to better themselves.

Stacy Sullivan

I think before coming I was most excited to hear from Stacy Sullivan. I wanted to know more about her being involved in Kosovo and wanted to know more about the lawsuit she was involved in. When Stacy read the part about the cousin sending all of those materials over sees, I was wondering how he never got caught or how all those materials were never found over there. Stacy also talked about how he was sending certain guns over and saying they were for famous elephant hunters. It is insane how people can make up lies and get away with so much stuff. Then Stacy talked about the lawsuit. Well, actually she more laughed at the lawsuit. The guy who is suing her for her story in the New York Magazine (I think that is the name of the magazine) has filed over 150 lawsuits. That is crazy! Stacy talked about how the magazine was backing her 100% and that they got a lawyer and everything covered as soon as they heard about it. I think that it is great that this magazine is doing this for her because she wrote that story for them, not knowing that it would turn out like this.

Josh Prager

I was interested to hear from Josh Prager’s novel about the famous home-run and the cheating done by the Giant’s team. I am not much of a baseball fan so I did not know anything about the incident. One of the most fascinating things that Josh talked about was how he found and actually got to see all of the materials used I in the cheating process. Josh was able to actually see the telescope they used and meet some of the people that were working. I also enjoyed what Josh had to say about Bobby Thompson and the cheating he was involved in. Although Bobby was wrong for cheating, he was also kind of forced into it since his manager wanted him to. Bobby was only trying to serve his team and do what was best for them even though it was not the best decision. When the question about who all three of the writer’s geared their novels to came up, I was a little surprised at their answers. All three said that they did not really think about their audience or who they were writing this book for. I had always thought that most writer’s would think about this before hand. But when they talked about it, it made more sense. I think now that a writer should focus more on novel and make it incredible because then the readers will come. The readers will always find the novel, especially if it is something they enjoy learning about.

Christine Keneally

First off, the Galloway Mansion was beautiful and massive! Christine Keneally started off with talking about her book on language and its origin. I am not someone who really gives these kind of things thought. I just think well somewhere along the lines, people began talking. But when Christine began reading and talking a little bit about her work it caught my attention. She used animals to reference to and related their actions to our own human actions. I thought the research she had found out about the dolphin was the most interesting. She said that dolphins eat their fish cut up into three parts. The dolphin would only eat the first two parts and would eat the tail but a certain part ( I can’t remember what it is called) had to be stripped from it. So one day the trainer accidently left the part on the tail. Well, when the dolphin ate it, it began to act weird and swam away and did a vertical jump. So then one day, the trainer left the part on the tail on purpose and the dolphin responded the same way. I think it is fascinating how even though we can not communicate with animals the same way we communicate with other humans; there is still some for of communication.

Cherry Picking

We all know we are guilty of cherry picking. We all want our evidence to stand out and grab the reader’s attention. If I am writing a persuasive paper, I know that I want to get the information that stands out and makes my side look good.
When I looked up cherry picking, of course, Wikipedia came up so I first looked at that site. Wikipedia says that it is using information to support a specific side while ignoring the opposing side. Then I went to this blog site. They were talking about how politicians cherry pick a lot. I had never really thought about it before but of course politicians are going to want to make their campaign look better than their opponent’s campaign. A perfect example is the commercial s that the candidates release. Most candidates will make a commercial that shows a negative aspect of their opponent, so that they will look better. These candidates probably do the same things as their opponents they are just trying to show how wonderful they are and how horrible the other candidate is. I do not think cherry picking is that bad because we are all guilty of it. We all want what is best for ourselves, or something we support so we are going to want to make it look good.

Weekend!

I had an extremely exciting weekend! My sister, who lives in Nashville and her boyfriend, came in town for Easter. Well they did not just come in town for Easter, but Kyle, my sister’s boyfriend, was proposing Saturday night. He was so excited! They had been talking about getting married and stuff so Christy, my sister, told him to make sure the proposal was a huge surprise. So he had it all planned out. We were all going to go downtown and since he had never been to the Peabody, he had said he wanted to see it and that is where he planned to propose. He wanted my parents, his dad, and me there because he knew that it would throw Christy off and they had talked about how they wanted pictures of it. So as they are taking some pictures, he discretely pulls the ring out and holds it on her side. Then, when she was not really paying attention he got down on his knee! It was so cute and of course she said yes and started crying! I am really happy for them and really excited about all the planning since the wedding is on July 12^th, which is so soon!!

No child Left Behind research

The No Child Left Behind act was signed with good intentions. No Child Left Behind is divided into four main sections: stronger accountability for results, more freedom for states and communities, proven educational methods, and more choices for parents. With this act, the states are having proficiency tests to see where each student stands to see where extra help needs to be placed. “Under No Child Left Behind, every state is required to 1) set standards for grade-level achievement and 2) develop a system to measure the progress of all students and subgroups of students in meeting those state-determined grade-level standards” (Archived 10). All students, no matter their race, religion, or diablilities are held accountable for what they have learned (Archived 10). Another aspect of No Child Left Behind, is that the schools get to decide where the money received needs to be used. For instance, some schools have better sports programs while others have better music programs, so the individual schools can place the money where most needed. This act is researching many different methods of learning as well as methods of teaching in order to make learning easier for the student. All students learn differently; therefore, teachers need to be able to accommodate each students’ learning abilities (Four). No Child Left Behind also allows parents to place their children in different schools, if their child’s school is not meeting Adequate Yearly Progress or other standards within the act.

Sex Offenders

So today before my Weather and Climate class I thought I would get a newspaper to look at. The first thing that caught my attention were the words “Sex Offenders”. Right above these words was a map of the area around the university with markings of offenses against children, sexual battery, rape, and other offenses. As I began reading the article I realized how many sexual offenders were around The University of Memphis. I think many of us assume that sexual offenders are creepy looking older men but this is not always the case. A sexual offender could be any one! They also said that there is a registered sex offender currently enrolled in the university! I think this is extremely scary because I do not think that we are cautious enough. I know that most of the time I am not being cautious and just do not think about what I am doing and watching my surroundings. I think that many times we do not expect anything bad to happen to ourselves, but I think we need to start being more careful and being more aware of our surroundings so something like this does not happen. I also think that the police need to focus more on this situation before it gets out of hand.

Propaganda Analysis

Memphis City Schools Banner: Every Day, Every Child, College Bound.
I often think that people believe that you have to be highly intelligent to go to college. This is not the case anymore. Anyone can now have the opportunity to attend college. Money should no longer be an issue. There are scholarships and financial aid now offered so that everyone can have the opportunity. I think the writer is trying to say that every child is capable of attending college as long as they are willing to work hard to achieve new goals. This artifact shows how much our culture values education. Not only do people want you to graduate from high school, they now expect you to further your education in college. Education is now the key to success. Many jobs now will only hire employees who have graduated from college. As years pass, we must continue to expand our knowledge and grow in our education so that we can keep up with the rest of the world. Our globe will continue to expand as long as our education continues to grow. In conclusion, this artifact is a target to young men and women graduating high school. The artist ultimately wanted to tell the viewer that no matter who they are or where they came from, they can go to college. There are no limits in life and as long as you keep pushing you will continue in getting somewhere. Those who push hard will be successful and will be the ones who will be pushing the young adults to further their education in the generations to come. Although some may have to work harder than others, everyone has the ability to be successful in their education past high school.

Floyd Skloot 2

Today in class we went to listen to Floyd Skloot’s interview. When I heard we were going, I was kind of excited because I really enjoyed listening to him last night. I think that one of the first things that caught my attention was when the guy interviewing him thanked him for coming even though he was not felling well. When he had talked about his sickness the night before, I guess I did not really think about the strain that it puts on his everyday life. Floyd talked about how he could not remember the questions that he was being asked, so do not repeat them. For him to remember things, he said he had to really trace back. Since we do not even have to think about it and we just automatically do it, I guess I did not think about how tired he is probably from just trying to remember everything. I really enjoyed listening to Floyd talk about his process. I thought it was cool that he has pretty much the same process no matter what he is writing whether a memoir, poem, or novel. I think that it is talent to be able to write all of those different types of things. Floyd also talks a lot about how everything going on around you is a story. He says that he always keeps a notepad and pen to write down ideas. From his reading and interview, he seems like he is an interesting writer and I would really enjoy reading one of his works.

Floyd Skloot

So last night I went downtown to hear Floyd Skloot speak for the River City Writer’s Series. Well to begin, Sarah and I were running a little late so we decided to just park real fast and we would find it. Well we parked at the corner of Union and Main and did not realize how far down it was so we were like running to get there! It was really funny! Then once we get there we realized that the reception was first and it did not really matter if we were late. Anyways, I was not very excited about going in the first place, but once I got there and Floyd began speaking, I actually enjoyed it. I thought that it was so interesting that it was Rebekah Skloot’s, the director of the series, father. It made me fell more connected to him since it was her father. When he began reading his poems I really began to listen. When Floyd began to talk about his brain damage, it really caught my attention. He talked about how when you are sick for a really long time your symptoms begin to take over you. This is so true! I know with my own mom, who suffered from breast cancer, would always be tired and worn out and that would run her daily life. Most people who are sick do not realize that these symptoms are running their life. Overall, I really enjoyed Floyd’s reading and speaking.

Weekend!

So this is my last blog and I figured I would write about how excited I am that it is the weekend! Even though this week was not too bad, I need another break from school. I did have a really good week though because I got to drop my UNHP class that I was not doing very well in nor did I like. Anyways, I have a had a super busy week too because Sunday is Pi Phi Karaoke! So we have been practicing all week long! We have girls that are going to be singing and then we have girls like me, who do not sing, who hard core dance in the background! It has been so fun but I am super sore and tired! I used to cheer ALONG time ago so I remembered the days of learning eight counts to songs but I forgot how much work it actually is. I also do not think I have worked out some of the muscles I am using in a long time because I have been so sore all week! Anyways I have a really busy weekend because we have practice for that all weekend and I have to babysit Saturday night! I glad it’s the weekend but it will be a busy one!

Schools

I ran across a blog on the Smart City Memphis blogs about our schools priorities. This caught my attention not only because I am doing school assessment but also because I was watching part of the news last night and overheard them talking about how the Memphis City Schools needed more money. I just can not understand why they are doing so horrible and more money while the Shelby County Schools get less money and are doing much better grades wise and according to No Child Left Behind. I do think that we need to figure something out. There is too much violence and other horrible things going on in our schools. Going back to priorities though, shouldn’t the top priority be these children’s education and their future? I do not understand why the focus has come off of the child’s education so much. I think that I the classroom now days, teachers have to focus too much on behavior and test taking skills that they do not even get to half the stuff the children are actually supposed to learn. A lot of this starts back at the home. If parents would become more involved with their children, then we would probably have less problems with behavior. If teachers did not have to focus so much on the principles of No Child Left Behind, then the students would get to learn more from the textbooks. I think we just ultimately need to reevaluate what is going on inside the classrooms.

Stadium

I was reading a blog on the Smart City Memphis blog about the idea of an on campus stadium. They were talking about how The University of Memphis opposed the idea. They said that when they spoke about it, it almost sounded scripted, like they had been practicing it. I know it would cost a lot of money and some people think that we should use that money for more educational purposes but I honestly think an on-campus stadium is a great idea. I understand that the point of going to college is not for sports but rather academics, I also know how students are. If the students are not involved and do not enjoy the university, then why would they want to go to class and excel. I really think that this proposal of a new on-campus stadium would attract a lot more new students. The University of Memphis is already a great school so why not make it better? We all know that our football program is not the best and this new stadium would really help out the program as well as attract a lot more new fans. I think this stadium would bring more people out to the games, which means more money for the school!

Moment of Truth

So I do not know if any of you all have watched the show Moment of Truth but I have watched it now the past two weeks and I can not believe how crazy that show is! The questions are not just general yes and no questions but they are questions that can ruin marriages and hurt people for a really long time! Like tonight they asked the guy if he had ever had sexual relations with his wife’s sister. Why would you want to answer that in front of your wife if you know you did it. I know you can win a lot of money, but who are you going to enjoy all that money with if you have ruined all your relationships with other people. The contestants who go on this show are just asking for trouble! They must either really need to get stuff off their chest or are desperate for money. I know the show is probably staged but I still do not know why someone would want to go on this show unless they are just in the mood to hurt people. I am not a real crazy person and have not done a lot of extravagant things like some of these people, but I would still not want to answer some of these questions on national television

Spring Break

Spring Break for many is a time to hit the beach, but for me it was a time to relax, visit old friends, and make some extra money. To begin my Spring Break, I attended the Rascal Flatts concert at the FedEx Forum. It was amazing! Then I headed to Ole Miss for the weekend to catch up with four of my best friends from high school. Leaving high school and going to college is such a different experience and leaving your friends can make it that much more difficult. So a visit was much needed. Just hanging out and meeting all her new friends and sorority sisters made me feel like I was still an important part of her life. I also hung out with my mom some over the break. I know this may seem lame but we are very close and now that I live out on my own we do not get to spend as much time together as we used to. We both love to shop so of course we went shopping but we also went to dinner one night too. Spring Break was overall fun and relaxing. It was definitely a much needed break from school!

Spring Break!

I can not explain how excited I am that it is Spring Break!! I have been so busy with everything this semester that it will be nice to take a break from school and everything. Even though I am not really going anywhere, because I am so broke, I am just really excited to relax and catch up on sleep and stuff. I am really excited about the Rascal Flatts concert tomorrow night too!! They are like my favorite country singers so it is going to be amazing! And one of my best friends who goes to UT is coming in town for the concert too so we are going to Ole Miss Saturday to visit two or our other really good friends! I have not gotten to really see them or hang out with them since Christmas so it should be a lot of fun! Then the rest of spring break I do not have anything planned except to babysit so I will not be broke anymore! I really wish I could have gone somewhere but maybe next year! Well I hope all of you all have a great spring break and get to relax and not think about school too much!

Puerto Rico

Two summers ago I went on a mission trip to Puerto Rico. Since it was a United States territory I did not think that there could be such rough areas. I think that sometimes we do not realize how bad certain areas are just because we are in a routine and really only see where we live. So we went to a Arecibo, Puerto Rico and stayed in a small church for a week. Over the course of the week we were building a house, having a basketball camp, and taking food to what they called the “ghetto” or “projects.” The pastor of the church had explained that most of these people in this area were strung out on major drugs and could not live without these drugs. My day to take food was not until the very last day. I had heard that it was really rough and that it was very sad but I had no idea how hard it would hit me. As soon as we had the food set up and were ready to pass it out, the men, women, and children came running. I was amazed at the children. Most of them were running around with no shoes on, hardly any clothes, and looked like they had not eaten in days. They were so innocent and so generous for what we had for them. These children made me tear up because they had nothing but were so thankful for what we gave them. Just a smile made these kids so happy!

Littlemindedness

I think that most colleges focus on thinking outside the box. Colleges assume that the students coming into the school already know the basics and that they are here to not just know facts but be able to think critically and solve problems. Although I am only in my second semester, most of my professors are really into not just using the books as the material but getting deeper into the subjects. I think that colleges want you to learn math and writing but they also want to tie in things that are going on in the world because we are the future of this world. For instance, in this English class, instead of using a textbook we have been using the Atlantic Monthly and Harper’s Magazine to learn not only about issues that are going on in the world but also learn how to write and how to analyze. I particularly like doing this because I am not just reading and writing for a grade but I am also doing it for my own knowledge and understanding. Another aspect of college is most of the time it is young peoples’ first time out on their own. In college students not only deal with issues in the classroom but it is also a great learning experience for life in general.

Schools

I was reading the Watchdog and came across an article on the amount of money Memphis City Schools receive compared to Shelby County Schools. The writer says that the County’s debt has grown greatly because of the construction of schools. The city schools are getting more money because for every three dollars Memphis City receives to the dollar Shelby County gets. With that said, many Memphis City Schools are failing but why? Since they are receiving more money than the county schools you would think they would be doing better or at the same level. The writer was also trying to get some information on the two schools systems as well as the Metro Nashville School System but of course Memphis City Schools will not respond to him. There is obviously something they are ashamed of. Memphis City kids get $7390 per student, Shelby County gets $6390 per student, and Metro Nashville gets $7595 per student. This does not make any sense. Why should one student receive more money than another just because of the school they attend? Even though the students are not handed the money, this money affects their future. I think that since we all live in the same state and are under the same laws, each student should receive the exact same amount of money.

The Longest Day!!

So I decided that I was going to stay up all night long and go down to the forum at 4:30 am. When I finally got down there, there was already a line of about two hundred people. There was a lot of confusion on where we should line up because you were not supposed to be on the forum’s property until 6am so by the time we finally were lined up in the right spot I was in the very front! It was so cold and I felt like I was going to get hypothermia! After finally getting into Gameday I was already so cold and tired that I did not think that I would be able to wait in line for six more hours! So after Gameday they make you go line up again but this time you could leave the line for food and bathroom as long as someone saved your seat, so I went and sat down to have lunch and relax for a little while. Finally I went and got back in line and waited and waited and waited. Once it was 6pm everyone started get antsy and annoyed. When they finally opened the doors people started pushing and shoving to get inside. It took like 30 minutes just to get in the door. We got to our seats and it felt so good to sit down in the warm. Once the game started, the long day was so worth it. Even though the tigers lost it was still a super exciting game and I am really glad I went. I know the tigers will come back and be on top of their game now!

Freedom Writers

Since I am doing my paper on school assessment, I watched the movie Freedom Writers. This movie is about a young teacher who begins teaching in an “inner city” school with a lot of gangs, violence and race issues. Most of these students felt as if they had no one who actually cared about them.
Freedom Writers makes the you feel like you need to go and help out a community in need. This young woman made such an impact on these students’ lives because she took the time out to actually show them attention. Erin knew that with a little time and effort she could drastically help these students’ grades and attitude towards life.
Freedom Writers is a movie that shows how students who have no hope and no family can become someone or something. Although they may not be the most intelligent children, they have worked so hard to become something that they thought they could never be. No one else, not even their parents or administrators had hope in them like Erin did. All of these students had gone through experiences that we could not even imagine but still managed to become successful young adults with the help of an outstanding teacher.

Second part to exceptionalism

The tornado incident that happened this past week is another example. Many people took the storm lightly because they thought that it would not be that bad. Much to their surprise it not only killed many people, it also destroyed homes and buildings including Union University. This region is used to being told to be careful of the weather and nothing ever happens so they thought it would be just another storm. Sometimes it takes something like this to happen for people to realize that it does not matter where you are or how great you are, something unexceptional can always happen.
Hegemony is also a huge factor in the factor of exceptionalism. Every country wants to be the most dominant and have control, but that is not possible. Although many unexceptional things happen because of weather or other natural causes, many countries cause unexceptional things to happen so that they can have more power. Countries will try to tear down others so that they are more dominant. I think that all of the countries need to realize that it is impossible to have equality among the countries but that they all just need to try to settle things because within these unexceptional things that occur, innocent people are dying and land is being destroyed.

Failure writing prompt

“The failure of public schools is ruining society. The failure of society has ruined public schools.”
In my opinion this article goes both ways.

In the Memphis area many schools are not successful. The grades, test scores, and violence are all important issues that are ruining these schools. The crime is horrible and the test scores are low so if they can afford it, many people are sending their children to private schools. Parents want their children to get a great education but they also want to keep their children safe. Although I know that things happen at certain times and places for a reason, many people feel like they are just promoting the failing schools if they send their kids there.

On the other hand, society has to step up to make a change in the schools. The schools are not going to get any better if there are not dedicated teachers, strict rules, and the willingness of the students. Many students do not care about their school because it has bad ratings or is smeared across the news. I think that if the community worked together to keep a positive attitude about all the schools, then the students would have pride in their school and would therefore look forward to going to school and being apart of such a recognized school.

Memphis vs. Tennessee

So let’s just say that I am so excited about the game on Saturday. We all thought this game would be huge but now that Tennessee is number two and Memphis is number one, it makes it even bigger! With the scare on Saturday against UAB, I hope Memphis comes out pumped and ready to win. I hope that this scare has made the tigers want to show everyone how good they really are.
I think that it is really sad how discouraging some people are about Memphis and the team being number one. I was reading a blog on Commentaries and the writer is talking about someone is going to come along and beat Memphis by free throws. The writer later says how we should just enjoy being number one for now. I really think people should be more positive about the team. For once Memphis has an amazing team who has brought a lot of coverage to the University and the area. I am sure the team could be better in different areas but no one is perfect. I think that the tigers have just a good of chance as anyone else and we should be proud and be positive for them. I really just want people to root for the team instead of saying negative comments that can bring them down.

First Contact

I wish that babies could remember themselves coming into the world so that we may better understand the first encounter with something so unknown. Although we know that they can not, I wonder what we are thinking when we first come out. Although this is dealing with the meeting of two different cultures it is a lot similar when you meet someone new of your own culture. In today’s society, a first impression is everything. Although Americans seem judgmental when first meeting someone, I think that sometimes they are honestly just trying to get a feel for the person. In the movie “First Contact”, it showed two cultures meeting. The unfamiliar cultures face many problems. In order for these cultures to merge, there will probably be fighting and conflict over land, food, and defending their identity.
I think that the main problem when new people come in is that the original group feels as if they are losing their power. Just like when the Americans took over the Native Americans, the Native Americans began fighting to defend their territory. Not only do the cultures not want to lose their land, but where they live and how they live is often all they ever know. Therefore, when a new culture comes in doing things totally different, instead of compromising, they feel like they should fight. I think they are fighting for not only what they believe in but also their identity.

Good News!

Good News! So a few of you all read my post about my cousin Austin so I thought I would give you all an update. I went and saw him late last Friday afternoon. He was doing well but in quite a bit of pain. They finally let him go home from St. Jude on Sunday afternoon. He was told to rest for two weeks at least and to come back Tuesday for another chest x-ray. With this x-ray they just wanted to make sure his lungs were doing well because they did have to deflate one while in surgery. So Austin went back and the x-ray came out good. They also told Austin and his parents that they were pretty surethat the golf ball size tumor was not cancerous. It was such a relief! If all goes well, Austin should be recovered soon and will only have to check in with St. Jude a few more times and then should be released! We are so thankful and feel so blessed that he is doing so well. We hope that nothing else comes up and that he has a quick recovery so that he can be released. Thanks for you alls support and prayers.

Get out the Vote

What is in the newspapers and on television everyday? Politics and the upcoming presidential race have been smeared all over the media for months now. Being over the age of eighteen now, I know that I will get to vote in this huge race. I am so excited that my opinion actually matters now but the problem is that I do not even know who I would vote for right now. As the primaries drew close, I kept saying how I needed to start learning about all of the candidates.
Last Tuesday, when the primaries began, I said I would go vote. I do not know who I was going to even vote for but I thought I should since it is one of my rights. Although I ended up not voting because of the drive and the weather conditions, I had all intentions of going to vote for someone I knew nothing about. As I read Robert E. Coulson’s article “Let’s not get out the Vote” my opinion changed on voting and the principle of voting. After reading this article, I realized how important it is for me to learn about each candidate and the office he or she is running for so that my vote is worth giving. The candidates Americans are voting for are so important because they are the people who keep our country running smoothly. Although I think people should vote since it is our right, I also think that it is important to know information about the candidates so our country chooses the right people to hold these offices.
When I first heard the slogan “get out the vote”, I immediately saw campaigners on the side of the road holding up signs for their candidate. To me those people are so annoying. All they want is to encourage people to go vote for their particular candidate. Although I think voting is very important, I do not think that we should encourage people to go vote for someone just because of their name, age, or other unimportant aspect. I think that this article is geared for anyone who is eligible to vote. It does not matter your age or which party you are for, it matters that you know who you are voting for and why. The article is not geared to a specific person but just anyone who will and is willing to vote.
I knew voting had always been an issue in the United States but I would not have guessed that this article was written in 1955. When I think of the past I think of Americans being more involved with their country and its candidates. In history books, they tell only tell you how many people wanted to vote instead of telling us how many people actually voted. Back then, so many people were not even eligible to vote. I think that many of times we forget that at one time only white males could vote meaning no women or African Americans. I guess we forget that there are always struggles with getting people involved.
Unlike many countries, America has the privilege to vote. I think that many people are careless and lazy and do not want to get out and vote or keep up with politics. In America, it is so easy to keep up with politics too. Radio stations, television stations, and the newspapers are constantly posting new information on candidates and the upcoming elections. People just need to turn the radio on or pick up a newspaper and they will be so much more informed not only on the candidates’ views but also on the views of other Americans.
I personally, think that as Americans we have been given the right to vote so we should take advantage of this. I think that so many Americans take voting for granted. They just think that it will always be available and if you do not vote this election then you can in the next election. This article has not only made me want to vote but it has also made me want to vote intelligently. Instead of going out and voting for the party you most agree with, you should go out and vote for the individual you most agree with. In order for America to get people in the offices who are willing to make a change for the better, Americans must go vote for the candidate who they believe will be the most successful in that position. I do not think that people should be forced to vote but I also do not think that it is fair to complain if you did not even take time to learn about the candidates and give your opinion.

Exceptionalism

What do we do when something unexceptional happens to something exceptional? This question has really stuck with me because I had never really thought about it before. Although you do not realize it, but this happens quite often. Not only does it happen to countries, but it happens to people too. For instance what do we do when a celebrity or famous athlete goes to rehab or gets hurt. We initially freak out and act like the world is coming to an end. We are human and get stuck in a mindset that nothing bad can happen and we just continue living each day until something terrible happens to us or the people close to us.
When September 11th happened what did Americans do? People freaked out. Nothing this terrible had ever happened. We thought why did they target America and why did they choose to hit the World Trade Center? So many lives were changed that day. Not only did people lose loved ones, they also lost their jobs. The American government was also shocked and immediately said that we should go to war to find who did this. America had been hurt but we wanted to come back and be dominant still. Since the American government knew it had connection with Osama Bin Laden, they went directly for him. In Roy’s reading she says it was like Bin Laden vanished after America started to go after him. She also makes a joke towards the American government about how Tintin, a fictional character, could have found him. Instead of thinking hard and trying to figure out what would be the best way to take action, they immediately sent troops and we were off to war. This grand country that everyone thought could not be touched had something so terrible happen that caused many deaths and the cause of much disagreement within the country.

Thinking Mindfully

Although thinking is apart of everyday life, do we actually realize how much we base off of our thinking? It is not just what you think about but it is also how you think about it. I know a huge problem with our world today is thinking with mindlessness instead of mindfulness. Thinking with mindlessness means you have a fixed perspective instead of being open to new options. One huge problem with mindlessness is politics. Many people vote for a person based on the political party they are apart of instead of actually finding out information on particular candidates. People just care about the name instead of what they stand for. If people would actually listen to the candidates and learn about their campaigns, then Americans might actually become satisfied with the president.
If everyone thought mindfully, being open to new ideas, then the world would be more peaceful. Not only would this help in our government systems but this would also help with everyday life because people would stop thinking so selfishly. A question posed was why are students required to declare a major? Colleges across the United States are pushing thinking creatively and “outside the box.” Most colleges want the students to branch out and learn a variety of subjects. So what if a student liked many different subjects, why should he or she have to be so narrow in what he wants to study? I think it is crazy how much universities push people into declaring a major. I understand that people need to focus in different areas to keep the economy going but students should not have to be forced into a particular major. For instance, at the University of Memphis, students who are pursuing a career in the medical field usually declare biology or chemistry because there is not a pre-med program.

Japanese Imperialism

When Professor Phipps began her lecture and said she would be speaking on Japan and its imperialism in history, I thought why does this matter? Honestly all I really knew about Japan was its attack on Pearl Harbor and how that one attack affected our country so much. On top of not really knowing anything about Japan, I was not even sure of what imperialism meant. I never had thought to research how much Japan actually tried to conquer the world. After realizing how much Japan once had over our world, I also saw how cruel and misleading they had become.
When Professor Phipps began discussing the topics of “comfort women” or sex slaves, the Rape of Nanking, and the textbook controversaries, she immediately caught my attention. The thought of women being forced to do sexual behaviors made me cringe. I think that it is absolutely horrible that these innocent Korean women were forced into sexual relations with the Japanese military. It blows my mind how these men got away with this then and yet still have not apologized. If this were to happen today, there would be major consequences. I also thought that when Japan invaded China in the Rape of Nanking, I could not believe how many civilians lost their lives. Now, Japan will not even take responsibility for their actions but instead say that the Rape of Nanking is fiction. How can the country say that something is fiction when every other country knows the truth? Although Japan is ashamed of what they once did, it does not make the situation any better. In order for everyone to get along, every country must claim its actions and try to make things better.
After being misleading and cruel in other countries, Japan brought it into their own country. In Japan’s textbooks, they were posting false information to make themselves look better. How would this go over in America? What if America tried to ignore Vietnam and its impact? As I am aspiring to become a teacher in America, I hope that I will never be accused of teaching American children false information. I think that it is so important for not only American children but also the children of other countries to become well educated about every country because they will one day run the different countries. If every country was lying about mistakes they had made in the past, then we would no t know how to make these problems better.

My cousin

Last week we found out horrible news. My fifteen year old cousin has a tumor and it might be cancerous. We all freaked out because cancer runs heavy in our family. My grandmother died of ovarian cancer about four years ago. About two years later my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. She survived and is doing well but we all know how hard cancer is on the body and family. So this morning they were set to remove the tumor labroscopically. I guess with the tumor being close to the aorta it was a little more difficult then they expected so they had to cut. After several hours of being in surgery, they finally came and told my uncle that he was doing fine. He will stay in St. Jude for a few days and then will be released. Hopefully the recovery will not be too difficult for him. The scary part is that they are still not sure what the tumor is. So they will be doing tons of lab work on it and hopefully will have good news by next Wednesday. I ask you all to pray for him and my family because he is so young and it is a hard time for him.

Judging Others

So every time I hear or see Hilary Clinton I usually change the channel or tune her out. I do not particularly like her. But why? I am not really sure. I do not know like anything about her or her political views. I am guessing that I do not like her because she is Bill Clinton’s husband and I did not think that he was that great of a president. So why should I not give her a chance? Just because I am not too fond of him, I automatically assume that I will not like her. This is a huge problem with Americans. Not just with political candidates but we do it with everyone. We judge people everyday! I guess we do this because we do not care to get to know them or are scared that we will not match. But that is ok we are all free to our own opinions. Just like with Hilary Clinton, I do not want to vote for her because of her husband and that is ridiculous. If I took the time to really listen to her views and what she could do for our country might change my mind on who I want to be the next president. I am already not very into politics so when I hear about them I usually tune it out and do not make a decision for myself but listen to who other people are going to vote for. I really need to begin to listen to each individual’s views so that I do not judge them but form an honest opinion based on what they believe and what I believe.

Schools in the News

Have you watched the news lately? Well I have been trying to more lately and realized how depressing it can be. Both Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools are all over the news. They are not just on the news for academics either, but it consists more of shootings and sexual assaults. Earlier this week a student at Hamilton High School in Memphis shot another student. Then an expelled student of Millington-Central High School in Shelby County sexually assaulted another student in the bathroom about an hour and a half after school was let out. This is insane and extremely disappointing. We need to do something about our two school systems. I know that these kinds of things can happen anywhere at anytime but I also think that if the schools were safer and had more supervision then these incidents would not occur. It seems as if the students no longer respect the teachers or students. It also seems like that police officers are no longer a threat. Why is this? I definitely think that there should be strict consequences when these incidents do occur so that maybe the students would be more afraid. Now I realize why I do not like to watch the news, it is too depressing.

Watching the News

So I am really horrible about keeping up with what is going on in our world. Not only do I not keep up with the world, but I do not even keep up with our own country. I know it is really sad. So I have decided that I need to start watching the news and listening to the news on the radio instead of automatically changing the channel. I know I need to do this for my own benefit but I also need to do it for my classes. Just like when we were discussing the shooting of the police officer, I did not know that it had even happened. Also in my Humanities and Global Challenges class that is all we talk about. My professor is really intelligent and knows a lot so it makes me not want to talk because I do not even know if I know enough to stand behind my opinion. Not only do I want to be able to speak up in my classes, but just like with the upcoming election, I do not know who I want to vote for because I do not know anything about the candidates. So I am going to start looking at the news online and watching it on tv so that I can stand up for what I believe.

Last Night

So last night was pretty scary! I usually like storms but I have to admit I did get a little freaked out last night. I knew that the weather was supposed to be bad but I had no idea it was going to be that bad. So at like 4:45 my boyfriend and I thought that we would try and go get something to eat before the weather got too bad. As we were driving his mom called to make sure we were safe, and when she found out we were out driving she said that we needed to turn around. Well I had been craving sushi so that’s what we were originally out to get but when we found out that it was going to be us hitting very soon we turned around. I was really upset that I was not going to get my sushi and that I had to settle for Wendy’s. Once we got to my house my boyfriend, Morgan, and I pilled up in the hallway. We had candles, the futon mattress, and tons of pillows. Let’s just say we were definitely prepared. Luckily the storm passed us and we were safe but it was still very scary!

Strip Clubs

So as I read the blog on nasty strip clubs in the Memphis area, I started thinking how horrible they are for our community. They bring nothing but bad news. They promote adultery, drinking, and wasting money. I think it would be a great idea to prohibit the sale of alcohol so that maybe their profit would go down. Without alcohol these strip clubs are not anything. They rely on the men to come in and get drunk so that then they will start really getting into the women. I really think that this would be a great idea so that we could slowly get rid of them in the Memphis area. I also like the idea of them getting licenses so that we know and keep track of all these adult businesses. They would be able to keep up with how much money they are making and what kind of people run these businesses. I really like the idea of having criminal background checks. This would help prostitution greatly! Not only would we get women off the street, we would also help eliminate other illegal issues like drugs. We really need to take a stand so that we can eliminate these issues.

University construction

I read the blog on the University of Memphis destroying the Prescott Memorial Baptist Church. I did not know this and I am sure many of you did not know that this church had been around for 75 years. Not only was this building a church for many years but it was apart of the community. With that, many people who have been around for years are upset. The sad thing is that the University is not even sure what it wants to do with the land. The University has mentioned plans of maybe a parking lot or another educational building. I think that it is great that the University is expanding. I think that in order for the University of Memphis to grow it must better its campus and develop new buildings and more parking. On the other hand I understand the anger from the other side. They want to keep their community like it is. When a place is that old, many people have special memories there. Although I think that it will be a great improvement for the University, I think that they should have had a plan before demolishing the building. Not only would this help the people who are angered, this would make the rebuilding process much quicker.

College Bound?

I decided to read every day, every child, college bound…maybe because of my issues with education and my paper but also because I really want to become a teacher one day.
In this blog they address a lot of the common problems in the education department but something that really hit was the part of college bound. Most schools focus on all of the students being college bound but not everyone is made out for college.
Schools also stress that just about anyone can get some kind of scholarship but why waste a scholarship on someone who does not really want to be there. Although college is necessary for many jobs today, many people make a great living without a college degree. Plus, if everyone got a college degree then who would do the work like construction, or servers?
Even though I do not think that every child should be forced or is made out to go to college, I do believe that everyone should be aware and have the opportunity to attend. I also do not believe that parents should make their children go to college. I know that as a parent you want the best for your child, but it is ultimately the child’s decision.
I think it is great how much schools are stressing the importance and experience of college but I also know that not everyone can go to college.

Memphis Kids

So I read this blog on how cities with children are successful. They were basically saying how Memphis needs more children and needs the middle-age families to support the city and send them to city schools instead of private schools.
But as I was reading this I realized how it kind of incorporated with my paper. Since I am focusing on Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools with the No Child Left Behind act, I have seen how horrible the Memphis City Schools are doing. While Shelby County Schools have 100% of their schools passing all of the rules for the act, Memphis City Schools has way too many schools failing in certain aspects. If these schools do not improve then they will eventually go under.
And they wonder why many of the families that live in the city send their children to private schools. They want the best for their children and going to a school that is under revision is not the first school a parent would choose to send their child.
Another huge problem is the crime. Memphis has the worst crime so why would parents want their young children out and about in a harmful city. I think that if Memphis worked on its schools and crime rate the number of families living in the city would rise.

Monday morning...

So my Monday morning did not start off very good! My boyfriend asked me like two months ago to get him a guest ticket to the Tennessee vs. Memphis basketball game. So I woke up extra early this morning so that I would get to school around 8 since the Bursar’s office opens then to get him a ticket.
As I am walking up to Wilder Tower I over hear two people talking about how they were already sold out. The guy said that he had gotten there at 6 this morning. So I walked in there and the line was wrapped around all the way into another room! I was so mad because I new that there was no chance I was getting a ticket!
I felt really bad about not getting him a ticket but I guess I did not realize how serious these games are now especially since we are number one! Well I guess he just is not going to get to go but who knows if I even will. I am really excited about the game and really want to go but I know that I am going to have to get there super early to even get in the door!

Schools

I have chosen the issue about schools particularly Memphis City versus Shelby County. I chose this issue because I hope to one day become an elementary education or special education teacher. I believe that in order to the students the best education possible, the teachers must enjoy their job.
Many teachers do not truly love what they do anymore. They are too wrapped up into the government education issues. No Child Left Behind has become one of the major issues in both school systems. Children are getting through the grades without actually learning the information because of this law. The teachers are basically required to teach the students how to take standardized tests instead of covering the actual subject. I want to look at this issue deeper so that I can understand all of its components and see what changes could be made to better the school systems.
Another huge issue is money. Memphis City Schools are receiving a lot more money than Shelby County Schools. I want to know why they receive money and why their ratings are lower than the County schools. There are also all different programs offered at different schools. Many students choose where they live because of something particular they like for example sports or certain technical classes. Although I only attended a County school, I would like to discuss the differences with someone who has attended both.
I also want to know where all this money is going. I also want to compare scores and grades between the two schools to see which one is doing better academically. Another topic is teacher’s salaries. Why do Memphis City School teachers make more? And what determines which schools system the teachers want to teach in? the students, money, or location?

Kickboxing!

My roommate Jenna and I have been working out at the Hyper but last week we decided we were going to attend one of the classes. Why not since it is free? So we decided on kickboxing at 4:30 on Wednesdays.
So today was the day. We went a little early and stretched and started kind of joking about it. We were saying that it better be worth our time and that we better get something out of it.
Well we definitely got something out of it. It kicked my ass! At first it did not seem that bad. The music was playing and the instructor was just showing us some basic moves. Then it started getting a little more intense until eventually I was really sweating. After we did the kickboxing part we did some push-ups and abs.
When we were all finished my roommate and I looked over and knew we should not have been joking about it!
Ha we had really gotten some exercise. The best part about the class was that there was always up beat music playing to keep you going. It was fun to watch your self in the mirrors trying to do some move but actually looking really stupid.
Kickboxing was so fun and went by extremely fast! I highly recommend ya’ll to go!

He died!

I am still in shock that Heath Ledger died!
So I was going to blog about this yesterday as soon as I heard about it but of course I got side-tracked and never got to it so now I will! I am really sad about his death because not only was he a good actor but he was super cute too and from Australia!
I am not surprised about the whole overdose part though because it seems like so many of the people living the Hollywood lifestyle get wrapped up into drugs! Even though they are not one hundred percent positive that it was drug overdose, I really hope that this is a major wake-up call for so many people. I hope that they realize the damage that they are doing to not only themselves but also their families.
I fell horrible for his two year old daughter. She will never be able to know him except through his movies like “The Patriot” and “A Knight’s Tale.” I also think that it is really weird that he will still be in the movies after his death since he played the role of the joker in a movie that will be coming out soon.
Although I am really sad about Heath Ledger, I really hope that this well help others turn their lives around!

English 1020 and Blogging

So coming into this class I was a little nervous after just reading the Manifesto. When I saw that we were going to have to blog two hundred words five times a week I kind of freaked out. After writing the Manifesto and looking at the blog spot I felt a little more at ease and thought that it might not be too bad.
So when we get to class yesterday and Wendy says that we have to write seven hundred and fifty words five times a week…lets just say I really freaked out! So all day long yesterday I kept stressing about how I would find the time to write that much every week and make it interesting enough so that other people would want to read it!
Then exciting news came to me! My roommate Maggie texts me and tells me that Wendy sent an email saying that she messed up and the blogs only had to be two hundred words now! That made my day! I was like ok I can do this now. Well now that I have actually started blogging and reading other people’s blogs I see that it is really easy. I actually like it because now I feel like I will get to know everyone in the class.

My Manifesto

What is a manifesto? Before this assignment, I was clueless of the actual meaning of the word manifesto. I was a little worried about how exactly I would start this and make it about me and the principles in my life. I now realize that a manifesto is basically what you believe in and want out of life. Since manifestos have been written for years there have become many famous ones including The Hacker Manifesto, The Declaration of Independence, and The Communist Manifesto.
The Hacker Manifesto is basically the thought process of a hacker. It is there reasoning and intentions in hacking. It gives the reader a chance to see their background and motivation in hacking. This particular hacker had already been arrested and was first read in an underground publication. Although this manifesto was written in 1986, it is still used today as a principle for hackers. Another famous manifesto is one we have all heard of, The Declaration of Independence. This document is so important to the United States and the history of our country. It is the guiding factor in our country and how it continues to grow each day. The Communist Manifesto is also very popular for its importance to the Communist party. This document is the goals of this party and the importance of class relationships between the people of this party.
After reading these manifestos, I have seen how important these documents are because it is the foundation for many people. To begin my manifesto, I am a Christian, not only a Christian, but a believer in Jesus Christ and forgiveness. I know that he is the savior and brought to save us from our sins. I know that I am not perfect and will make mistakes daily, but I also know that there is someone out there who forgives me and loves me for who I am. I also know that God has a plan for me and my future. He has also provided me with life after death.
Being a Christian, not only categorizes me by a religion but also by the person I am. Along with the faith, I believe in caring, trust, integrity, thankfulness and living life to the fullest. Caring about your self along with other people is so important in life. Knowing that I have a family and friends to back me in everything I do, make me strive to care about them as well as myself.
I also think that trust makes the world go round. Not only do you have to trust other people but you also need to trust yourself. Trust plays apart in your relationships with other people and you day to day actions. I think that we need to trust our country and the leaders of our country to make the right decisions.
An individual’s integrity forms who they are and what they believe in. Your morals and beliefs help form your personality as well as your actions. I believe that everyone is different and each of us will have unique beliefs and morals. Most people’s integrity’s are formed from their background and how they are raised. A strong integrity will also help you stand up for what you believe in.
I am also very thankful for not only the “materialistic” things I have but also the support system I have. I am so appreciative for the car, house, clothes, etc that I have received. My family and friends are my everything! I know that they will be there for me no matter what. I am also thankful for the way I was raised. My mom and my sister have made a huge impact on my life. They have helped me become the woman I am. Not only am I grateful for the good morals and principles I was taught but also the belief in a higher being.
Lastly, I believe in living each day to the fullest. I know many people say this and do not actually go through with it but I know that life is short and that we need to make the best of it. I think that it is very important to work hard so that you may become successful in life. Putting in hard work will pay off in the end.
All of these things help to make up the person I am. I have become this person through my relationship with Christ as well as with my family and friends. The morals and principles I have been taught has developed me as a young woman.