Quote:
“Even the teacher’s words of praise were framed in terms consistent with the lists that had been posted on the wall. “That’s a Level Four suggestion,” said the teacher when a child made an observation other teachers might have praised as simply “pretty good” or “interesting” or “mature.”” Kozol p.68
Response:
This immediately reminded me of the 1984 Apple commercial or the movie Equilibrium. Both display a society that has deteriorated into the masses being controlled by a higher power. I honestly can’t imagine a teacher saying something to this affect to a student. The teacher must be too lazy to choose from the prescribed Level Four responses so he just categorizes it as a “Level Four” response. At that point teachers might as well not go to college, anyone who is halfway competent can evaluate a student based on a chart. Acting like a robot to your students will not help them learn or shape their behavior.
Quote:
“Level Fours, please raise your hands… It was like the Level Ones weren’t even there.” Kozol p.73
Response:
I don’t doubt that this happens in schools that are run using a Skinnerian curriculum but I have to say that I don’t know if I’d believe it unless I saw it. I can’t even begin to imagine what my response to seeing this would be. Not only has the Principle labeled every student publicly but they probably ruined the lives of those Level Ones who will likely never forget the feeling of worthlessness they felt that day in front of the entire school. Kozol discusses how the Skinnerian mentality has the student become their grade even though we know they earn their grade. I know if I was a Level One I would feel horrible and ashamed about what I had done to become a Level One.
Quote:
Response:
This video about Ruby Bridges’ experience as a student who integrated an all-white elementary school in the south left me with more questions than answers. It seems like she was the only black student brought to the school and she was escorted by two federal marshals. I understand how dangerous it would have been and the reason behind the marshals needing to be there, but why was she the only student in the school? I think the school system must have realized that there would be a massive uproar about this and integrating one student would allow everyone to focus their anger on her. The marshals would then in turn be able to protect her and that would provide evidence for the school system and white community to say that integration doesn’t work. On another note, I enjoy Norman Rockwell paintings and I have never seen the one based on her.
Response to Quote #3:
ReplyDeleteI believe that Ruby Bridges' parents were the only ones that allowed her to go at that time. Maybe I am remembering this incorrectly, but I think an older family member was active in the civil rights movement and saw this as an important step. I can't imagine what that would have been like for that little girl. As important as it was symbolically, I don't think I could let my child be that first one to go through the door. Those marshals were brave, too - it must not have been a picnic for them either.