Finding My Voice

     I recently read a blog written by Lauren Porosoff, a teacher and author, about your presence as an educator. The blog, “’Playing Teacher’ Gets in the Way of Teaching”, addresses how teacher can unknowingly fall into a stereotype. Everybody grew up having to go to schools filled with teachers, reading books about characters interacting with teachers, watching cartoons and movies with teachers in them, and some might even have one in the family. The point is that the idea of who a teachers is and what I teacher does is displayed everywhere in culture. In her blog, Porosoff recants playing teacher as a young girl and knowing how teachers talked due to a stereotype of “using our primmest and most proper voices to give commands (“Now class, take out your notebooks!”), ask single-answer questions (“What’s 27 plus 45?”), praise correct responses (“Very good, Natalie!”), and scold misbehavior (“Wait your turn, Mr. Teddy Bear!”)” (Porosoff, 2014). Porosoff goes on to discuss how using her “teacher voice” was not always effective nor did she think it an effective way to educate. I can see how stereotypes can have a great effect on behavior even when it is unintentional. The hard part is accepting the fact that you can exacerbate a stereotype.

     Porosoff described a method to recognize the stereotype in herself. She drew a picture of herself as a teacher and put word bubbles all around. The point is to have some kind of self-reflection. While I do not see myself doodling up a self-portrait I think it is extremely important and see a lot of value in self-evaluation and taking it a step forward into having a peer-evaluation. It is important not only to perform well, but it is equally important to understand why you are acting the way you do. Further, it can be valuable for students to know why you act the way you do. I think it is easy to use your teacher voice to order students around. Personally I try not to order people around without them knowing the purpose. Should students have a level of trust in their teachers that they are being instructed to perform for a reason, even if its purpose is not fully explained? I think yes, but it should be trust that is earned and not expected. Porosoff stresses the importance of fostering a positive learning environment and clear communication and purpose can help.

     In all things I need to remember I am an educator. I, as a music educator, need to remember my purpose is not to lay the foundation for the next great instrumentalist. I could very well do that, but I am more interested in having a positive impact on a child’s life. To go beyond curriculum and to make sure my students understand values of team work, dedication, and responsibility that was offered to me as a student. I need to understand that my “teacher voice” can greatly limit these opportunities just as it limited Lauren Porosoff’s.

     All in all Porosoff’s blog was very insightful and practical. In hopes of being a successful educator I plan implement her strategies to my best ability. 

Media-crity

     Youth today are bombarded with so much. The high speed culture of America has opened the door to a plethora of stimuli all competing for the attention of the masses. School, family, and media are constantly tugging at the minds of youth. While giving undivided attention to any is not always healthy I believe the growing power that media has on youth is risky. In 2001 PBS released the documentary The Merchants of Cool all about media’s effect of culture and more specifically the teenage culture. It was fairly eye opening and scary to see how media adapts to their target audience. The largest targeted audience is teenagers because of their amount of disposable income. So basically it is economically savvy for media to market to the next generation, but it is far better to manipulate them. The documentary focuses in on a company called Look-Look that seeks out trendsetters and sells pictures and ideas to marketing companies. These companies then act on the information. Usually these so called trendsetters are a select few, it is not the average Joe on the street. Once the media gives proper attention to these trend setters it can become the norm. Basically the media has the power to magnify a select group making it appear as reality. Youth are then bombarded with this superficial reality until it is ingrained to point where it becomes reality. I mean why try to predict culture when you can shape it, right?

     This is not inherently bad, but the media is becoming less and less censored. Sexuality, cursing, crude humor and violence are now the norm, not the exception. It is all dulling to the senses. Before 1984 PG-13 did not exist. Initial concern was for PG ratings given to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Gremlins. I am sure most people have seen one or the other and probably do not understand the fuss that was raised. It just shows how desensitized media can make us as computer graphics can make things look more lifelike. If you are skeptical about media’s dulling effect go a month without TV, you might be surprised what stands out the next time to watch the newest episode and latest box office hit. It does not stop at TV. Anyone else remember the uproar against the Grand Theft Auto video games series? How about billboards? I just read an article the other day that Pornhub, an online pornography site, has a billboard on time square. Anyone think that pornography should be treated as mainstream? All in all, I think it is important to recognize the power media has.

     I was taught that if you put good in then you put good out. It will be difficult to teach youth good when the media screams the opposite. Ideas and social norms are in a constant state of change and will be hard to keep with and harder to counter negative ones. I think as an educator it will be important to stay current without assimilating. This way you can have proper respect for your students and they will respect you. Also how do expect to be a positive influence when you do not understand what else is going on. In the book Is Everyone Really Equal the authors constantly insist that denying reality can only serve to maintain its heading. I want to make a positive difference in students’ lives, I can only do so by acknowledging the reality they live in.

Suburbian Sprawl

     I grew up in Dacula, Georgia but nowadays I would be better off saying I’m “just a few minutes from the Mall of Georgia” or around “The Hamilton Mill area”. My home is in every way modern suburbia, but it was not always like that. Fifteen years ago when my family moved to Dacula it very much a rural place. Lots of open land, farms, and pockets of small towns. Nothing around but Fort Daniel Elementary School and a Winn Dixie. At the same time we moved in the Mall Of Georgia was being built. Once that opened up my home started to change. Businesses and neighborhoods popped up everywhere. As more families came the need for more space in schools came too. My 3^rd grade year a new elementary school opened and took half my friends with it. A few years later a new middle school and high school were built. Mill Creek High School (MCHS) was the largest high school in the Southeast for a few years. During my years at MCHS one new elementary school, a new middle school, and two new high schools were built in the area. So needless to say my home town exploded soon after I moved there.

     With that explosion came the different culture of suburbia. It was at war with the existing rural culture that felt threatened with all the change. My parents grew up in a rural area and naturally sided more with that way of thinking. I did not like the change because I kept losing friends to other schools. On top of that I grew up appreciating the outdoors that businesses were tearing down for new strip malls and fast food chains. Specifically there were a patch of woods with a lake across from our church I was quite fond of. On numerous occasions my Sunday school class had had weekend campouts there and guys I knew had spent hours on service projects building trails and an outdoor amphitheater. I had lots of good memories there and now it’s a Kroger. The people that moved in after lots of the construction love how there is just about every store or food chain you can imagine at your fingertips. But I miss the open outdoors, the small family run shop, and not having to spend ten minutes in traffic everywhere I go. Every time I go back home I encounter a new traffic light or a new bare spot where a forest once stood.

     I think growing up around all the change has made me appreciate old things. New stuff just feels invasive. Sure it might be easier to find things you need for sale and having a lot of restraint options is convenient but it does not bring me the joy that living in a small town brought me as a kid. I seem to reach out for these joys in other places. I probably enjoyed a program in the little town of Pine Mountain because it reminded me of how home used to me. It’s also most likely why I love being a camp counselor in the North Georgia Mountains and go to college in the small town of Dahlonega. The invasiveness of urbanization drove me to find its opposite. So I guess I’m a country boy that grew up in the suburbs longing for a return to the simple life.

A Flaming Chalice

     Recently I visited a Unitarian Universalist (UU) Church so to experience a different religion for a class assignment. I wasn’t specifically assigned to attend this service but I choose it because I was curious. I had learned about some of the UU’s beliefs and was surprised that there was a meeting place in the area. Having my limited knowledge I was surprised that there would be enough people in a small southern town in the mountains who held these beliefs to start a UU church. So because of my curiosity of the religion and who would go I scoped it out one Sunday with two of my friends.

     So initials observations told me this was going to be similar but distinctly different from my Christian upbringing. The entire service was made to resemble a church setting with some subtle UU “enhancements”. Having tapestries with religious symbols and sayings is not uncommon and there were many displayed along the walls. As the service started their president made some announcements, called out the visitors to introduce themselves, and lit a candle that was in a chalice by the podium. The choir sang songs that were in a hymn style from a book and the guest speaker, an ordained UU Minister, read a short story for the few children. The Minister introduced himself as a former president that everyone else seemed to recognize and he gave his “sermon”. Afterward the choir sang another song and the floor was opened for those who wished to share joys and sorrows of the past week. So like I said not an altogether unfamiliar style for a Sunday service.

     While it might have appeared as church, the content was extremely different in each part of the service. Let’s start with the tapestries that all displayed a prominent symbol from major world religions with one with UU Flaming Chalice in the center. This is a visual representation of the fundamental belief in religious acceptance and tolerance. The president fills a pastoral position and is a UU Minister. I am curious of what kind of theology one studies to become a UU minister and it is also interesting to note that they allow females to become ministers. Now let’s get to the music. The songs were similar to hymns but were fairly eerie sounding. As a musician I noticed they were all in minor keys and on top of that had strange topics. One song commented on the woes of life and the last verse praised an ambiguous “you” that lead them through. Another song seemed to hint at the belief in reincarnation and mentioned God along with praising ancestors. All around these song were very vague and mysterious. The kids were read a short story about a boy seeing his feet under the covers of his bed that was strange and served no purpose in opinion. Now the minister got up to speak and did so without any notes and more importantly did not draw from any source but his experience. He told us a story of him speaking at a graveside service and went into detail about life events that allowed him to connect with those around him. He wanted to convey to everyone that our lives are made of stories and you can be a part of other’s stories as well as creating your own. Sounded very pantheistic, everything is connected type of stuff. Now what followed was the reports from the congregation. Reminded me of praise and prayer requests that I church would do, but they always said that these were “in their thoughts” not praying. During this time a college aged girl came up and said one of her coworkers was coming out to his parents and the entire congregation erupted in applause in support. Needless to say that wouldn’t happen in a traditional church setting.

     One thing didn’t notice at first, when I did it got me searching for an explanation, was that the vast majority of the congregation was 60 years or older. This surprised me for multiple reasons. I would have thought the idea of tolerance and acceptance would draw a younger crowd. Generally speaking prior generations were raised on strict Christian views. Also you don’t hear or see many people of that age in support for the Gay Rights movement that is obviously a sincere belief to UU members. I know that’s a generalized statement, but it truly shocked my friends and I how old everyone was. With how regimented the service was and how similar the service was compared to Christian services I don’t think it would be a stretch that everyone probably grew up attending a church of some kind. They probably left because they were offended by something or someone. They were used to and wanted a church atmosphere that UU could provide without controversial beliefs (because everything is accepted). Its church without the religious strings attached.

     It was a good experience overall. I think it’s easy to get a negative stereotype about people who are different from you. When you are exposed to different things you can find common ground that wouldn’t be in a normal stereotype. As an educator it is imperative to find common ground with students so a mutual respect can be formed.

Handi-capable

     Let’s start out with saying that North Georgia, as a whole, is not very friendly to those with disabilities especially to those who require crutches or a wheel chair. All the hills and stairs around campus are enough to tire out the physically elite and exhausting to everyone else. One of my friends with a bum knee was on crutches and I drove her to class because crutching along was a workout. What added to it was that most places are accessible by stairs. You have to go out of your way for a ramp or some kind of non-stair entrance. Is campus that bad for the disabled? Well let’s look at my average day.

     As crazy as it sounds even getting in and out of my dorm would be a hassle. I live on the third floor and could take the elevator to ground floor no problem, getting back up is the tricky part. The door I would leave from only opens from the inside. All the other doors, with the exception of one, open at the first floor for half the building, the half I am not on. My dorm is set up weird but basically at minimum I would have to travel up or down a half flight of stairs to get to an elevator that would bring me to my room. All that said only half of the possible routes to my dorm are accessible. These routes are not the most direct in most circumstances either causing people with limitations to travel further. My classes are in three academic buildings. One is easily accessible, one is highly inconvenient, and I am currently unaware of how someone in a wheelchair could enter the last building. These are not social areas of convenience, classes are held here. How can you take a class if you cannot get in the classroom?

     I feel like I am getting a little worked up. I never noticed these problems until I had to and to me that is a huge problem. Sure the argument can be made that at least special arrangements are being made, but they are restrictive. If I were disabled I would not go to this university. And while it’s is not all the university’s fault (i.e. the campus is extremely hilly)I do not think that there has been enough effort made to make sure disabled people can be free to pursue what they wish.

Male or Female?

     Gender. Brings to mind male or female and boy or girl right? Some kind of distinction comes to mind. This is how the vast majority thinks reality is. What if you were told that gender is a continuum behaviors that range from very feminine to very masculine? In not so many words people are neither male nor female but fall somewhere between a feminine and masculine identity. Sounds pretty fishy right? Might make you uncomfortable and I’d venture to say most people would reject the idea. I think this rejection stems from the fact that gender is not a cultural or social invention, but was designed with a purpose. I was not there when people came around, so I’ll have to take someone else’s word for it. Moses writes in the book of Genesis “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them”. Later Moses writes “Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man”. Clearly these texts declare that gender is a binary fact and not on some obscure continuum.

     Now I know what some of your thoughts are like what about hermaphrodites or people who declare they are a different gender than what their body is. Some people would say that that is proof gender is on a continuum even if it sounds weird. Later Moses writes about the Fall of Man. Basically Adam and Eve disobeyed God and in doing so allowed all kinds of death, decay, and perversion of what was initially created. This would explain the variations we see in the world today. Now I am NOT saying those who don’t fall under normal gender guidelines are more cursed and subsequently lesser than those who fall under the norm. Everything was effected by the Fall of Man but that is another topic for another day. All I am really trying to say is that the idea that gender is on a continuum rightly does not make since because that is not how gender was designed.

     Now while gender is not something that can be quantified, masculine and feminine characteristics can be. Not trying to get into the nurture versus nature argument too heavily I believe we are born with some traits and learn others. As far as who we learn from varies upon stages of life. Family has its first go as parents teach their kids. As we get to schooling age authority figures (especially teachers), friends, and media have an increasing level of effect as the years go by. We pick up on our surroundings and walk the fine line of acceptance and individuality. Sadly, as a culture, we tend to reject or look down upon those outside the norm. The labels we give those individuals are usually not so flattering. Guys who act more feminine are sissies, pussies, pansies or gay and girls that act more masculine are tomboys, butch, or lesbians. It’s a terrible reality that both genders face. In general I would say society scrutinizes feminine acting males more than a masculine acting female. As a general statement masculine traits more desirable in society. So when females act more masculine it’s accepted because they are displaying a desired trait that males are expected to have and are looked down upon when not displayed. I’m NOT saying that it’s right that this happens but merely stating an observation that is generally true in society.

     So what do we do? Gender is a fact of life. Its trait seem to be a little more ambiguous. I think, as a culture, we need to start focusing on good and bad characteristics that we can celebrate or abstain from as people, not a genders. We need to realize we are all different to serve a purpose and respect that purpose.

 “It: Good or Bad?”

     A Canadian couple has decided to raise their children “liberated” from gender. They have recently had a baby, Storm, and refuse to release its gender even going through the lengths of having their other two children be sworn to secrecy. Storm is now three years old and there seems to be no indication of its gender. Storm’s older siblings are both announced boys but are treated gender neutrally. The oldest, Jazz, is reported to ask to be referred to as a boy or a girl at different times displaying his gender freedom. All kids are “unschooled” at home which is a non-traditional style of homeschooling focused on education stimulated by the curiosity of the child.

     This is a very complex situation. The parents claim their actions are “a tribute to freedom and choice in place of limitation” in an email sent after Storm’s birth. While they may be limiting common gender stereotypes they are opening the door for two huge problems. Bullying would probably be the biggest concern. Kids are pretty cruel to people who are outside of the social norm and not holding certain gender norms would bring a lot of negative attention to any child. I am NOT saying the kid should be bullied nor am I justifying bullying. I am being realistic in recognition of a problem in our society in saying that bullying should be taken into account when child rearing technique is in question. My second biggest concern with this is that the child did not have a choice in whether it wanted to be part of some gender experiment. The current actions of the parents are going to have severe consequences that will affect the rest of their child’s life. In short, the solution to one problem, ie gender stereotypes, has the potential to cause many more.

     Honestly the idea of raising a child in a gender neutral environment is unsettling. Males and females are different in more ways than just their stereotypes. It is quite literally in our genes. To take away gender is to take away part of someone’s identity and that doesn’t sound very liberating at all. How much of our gender is nature over nurture? It’s a question that would be hard to answer seeing as gender plays such a large role in culture extreme isolation would be the only way to tell. It would have to mean isolation from any bias; even from a parent bent on not having bias. Seeing this as the only solution, it is impossible to truly raise a child in a gender neutral environment. Even if it was, what would society gain from its possibility? 

“Born This Way”

     Privilege is something you have to live with. It’s kind of like a name in two ways; it is stuck with you whether you like it or not, and it is an identifying trait. I cannot change the fact that I am a white male as much as I cannot change that Jeremiah is on my birth certificate. Now the fact that I am a white male brings me many privileges that I don’t think about. The fact that I cannot help it that I have these privileges does not make it necessarily wrong but neither does it make it right. It’s just an excuse that I find myself leaning on.

     I say one of the hardest privileges I have had to face is that non-privileged people all around me are still taken advantage of. Whenever people talk about racism I would quickly think that “that doesn’t happen anymore”, or that “racism is history”. Same thing would happen when talking about women’s rights. I distinctly remember during the last Presidential election Mrs. Romney giving a speech about equal pay for women in the work place. I thought “she must be living in the past” and “that surely this was a hot topic from her youth and its fixed now.” That was a privilege to think these thoughts. It was a privilege to be able to ignore and deny that discrimination, racism, and sexism were real things that impact others every day.

     I’m not going to lie and say now I am conscious of all non-privileged peoples. I still find it hard to cope with the idea not everyone is treated fairly and with respect. As an educator I need to learn to recognize any kind of double standard that’s for or against non-privileged people. I can have a safe environment in which I can discuss the modern issues of racism, sexism, and discrimination. That way I can help raise a generation that can fight the problem because they can recognize it.  

“What do You Mean You People?”

     Racism. It is such an ugly word that stands for something far worse than it sounds. Even hinting at this is so taboo. And why is that? Our country’s history was tainted with this injustice from the beginning. Most people would automatically think of slavery when reflecting on our country’s history. It was a terrible institution that I do not want to down play. Sadly, this is only part of the struggle, proving racism to be a more complex issue. I find it so comical that Americans, who were all immigrants at one time, tried so hard to alienate any immigrant that came later in our country’s history. After slavery was abolished the world was a different place. Immigrants started pouring in from across the globe seeking the “American Dream”. Most came from China and Europe and were meet with extreme hostility. They took whatever was available for survival’s sake. Think about actual legislation being passed that limited rights of Blacks, Asians, and Whites. Yes I said it, racism is not just white vs. black like so many are taught. It was a larger problem that oppressed Chinese, Irish, most Eastern Europeans, and Blacks.

     The first step in abolishing racism is truly understanding its complexity. Racism can take many forms today as it has in the past and educators need to teach all sides of it. If we teach its complexity than we can work as a unified people. Teaching about racism is not the solution. That comes with initiating conversation that gets people thinking about their role. Educating can be a passive action that discussions can change it to being active.

     History is a good foundation, but to really see change we have to keep current. As educators we should engage students in current issues of racism that are seen worldwide, in media, and close to home. This can start with simple conversation of student observation but can have a greater effect of allowing racism to be seen as it truly is.

"Seat Taken?"

     As an experiment to break a cultural norm in America I decided to sit with people I do not know during meals. I thought it would be fun to gauge reactions and if that was not enough I might even make a new friend. As to not seem creepy or overly weird I did set out with certain criteria to decide where I would sit. First off I wanted to sit with more than one person at a time. This served multiple purposes. In doing so I could see more than one reaction at a time. It also showed that I was not trying to draw attention to someone who might just desire to be alone. Second, I would not mention my action were for a class. People act different when they know they are part of something and I wanted raw reactions to what I was doing. Third, I wanted the group to be of mixed gender. I did NOT want to walk away from this labeled as a creep or a "Don Jon" for sitting with a random group of girls. Besides it would be important to see reactions from both genders. With my criteria in mind and a good attitude, I set off towards Chow Hall.

     I ended up sitting at two different tables and was pleasantly surprised. The first time was a little awkward but once some common interests were established I felt part of the group. My second try I was respectfully told the group was about to go to class so I moved on. My third go I was welcomed in enthusiastically when I asked if I could join the table.

     Admittedly I went into the experiment expecting a pessimistic outcome. I thought I would get weird or dirty looks for intruding into people’s lives. It was a pleasant surprise to have a nice meal with people I had never previously encountered. Upon reflection most of the people I sat with were freshmen. Could it be that since they were new here that they were more welcome to a person coming up and sharing a meal? That might be but that’s a conclusion that goes beyond what happened. It could just as well be that as soon as I parted ways there were whispers about some crazy kid sitting with total strangers. Either way it was a fun experience and encourage people to get out of the norm every now and then.