FNED 502 Social Issues in Education

May 30, 2018

                A Critically Compassionate Pedagogy/Building on Strength with Education, Respect, and Trust written by Julio Cammarota and Augustine Romero/Ana Celia Zentella

In their article Augustine and Julio claim that Latina/o students often experience coursework that is unchallenging––benign at best, a dumbing-down at worst.  The No Child Left Behind also created and incorporate instruction that is not effective to many of the Latino students around our nation schools. The limiting curriculum is not only failing to provide Latinas/os with the credentials necessary to advance economically, but their education denies them the opportunity to develop the critical voices and intellectual capacities necessary to do something about it. The standard educational experience for many young Latinas/os tends to submerge them into silence, where they are taught to be quiet and avoid independent and critical thinking.

This is a dangerous lesson for them to learn, and it is dangerous for everyone. We must not forget that young Latinas/os are the next generation that will significantly change the composition of our society. If Latino students are encouraged to become silent adults, we will be witnessing how the majority will not have the capacity to effect social change that moves toward a democratic reality for all people. The article highlights the fact that as teachers, if we want to help our students become successful active citizens, we must establish a compassionate teacher-student relationship that will guide Latino students and student of color commit and work hard in order to accomplish their social and educational goal(s). Establishing a healthy teacher-student relationship were mutual respect, accepting and welcoming student’s cultural and ideological differences will promote critically engaged citizenship among minority students.  

Both authors believe that “Authentic caring promote student--teacher relationships characterized by respect, admiration, and love, which, in turn, inspire young Latinos and Latinas to better themselves and their communities.  Injustice and inequality between minority and white Americans students is also visible in many advance classes across the nation. Often Latino and African American students are placed on a lower academic track. These students are often placed in vocational or remedial courses simply because many official do not believe minority children can succeed academically. It is well known that, speaking two, three or more languages is beneficial for children/people many as bilingualism improves problem-solving, multitasking and decision-making. Numerous studies have found that bilingualism can improve brain functions like the ability to focus attention and perform mental tasks. As a Bilingual person and as a Bilingual teacher, I must say that being a bilingual or being multilingual is an added benefit to millions of people, not a burden. Non-English languages are just as important as English is. All cultures as just as important as the American culture is, so we need to work together to make sure all cultures are valued, welcome and accepted.

In the second article I read, the author Ana Celia Zentella argues that “the langue of the authority of the school may be used to disrupt the collaboration of teachers, parents, and children in their own silencing by recognizing bilingualism and multiculturalism as assets and not a liability”. The gift of bilingualism, of multilingualism will welcome and promote the gift of those skills and those opportunities that emergent bilingual(s) need to possess to become successful lifelong learners.  The gift of being bilingual will give them a sense of themselves, their community, and their future, and a better appreciation for our diversity as a country. I aspire to a day when every child has the opportunity to be bilingual or multilingual and we have much work to do to pursue that goal.

In the following video (Myths about Bilingual Children) https://youtu.be/LVYhpCprtzQ. Dr. Brenda K. Gorman, PH.D in her interview with Mr. John Cansalvi discusses how dual language learning is positive and beneficial to children socially, emotionally and educationally as supposed to monolingualim’s. Bilingualism does not cause any deficit(s). Bilingualism, trilingualims does not confuse children.

I have witness how many Emergent Bilinguals are told to “Speak English Only” this America. I know that the students must learn the language of the country they are now living in, but I do not like when children’s voice are silenced but prohiting them from using their home language, especially when L1 is being use for educationally purposes in the class.

As a Bilingual educator I believe that a classroom that exhibit a dual vision where teachers and students are working together to establish and promote a multilingual culture, will achieve in the area of educational outcomes. Our love for our children must guide us as we encourage our students to embrace a limitless bright and successful future where their voices will NOT be silenced.     

Both reading articles declare clearly state that “when families work together with schools and teachers success is significant” When teachers  welcome and employ critical pedagogy, genuine compassion, social justice and respect as a teaching approach,  they answer from the students will be one of respect, one of welcoming and embracing culture. They will become successful and respectful lifelong learners.

Precious Knowledge film: A Documentary directed by Ari Luis Palos and produced by Eren Isabel McGinnis, founders of Dos Vatos Productions.

The film Precious Knowledge illustrates how Tucson, Arizona’s., high-school seniors become academic warriors to save their classes. The film demonstrated how teachers’ and students strength and motivation guided them to form the front line of an epic civil rights battle. This educational and political documentary centers on the banning of the Mexican-American Studies program also known as “La Raza” in the Tucson Unified School District. The video explores the students' passion for learning and in some cases their transformation from near dropouts to furious learners. It narrates the progression of local legislation proposed by the former Arizona Department of Education Superintendent of Public Instruction, Mr. Tom Horne other Arizona legislatures to eliminate the program.

According to the video, the legislator’s argument was that the needed to be closed because it “fosters ethnic chauvinism.  and teaches anti-American values” Proponents of the program argue that the program has made a positive academic impact on the students and that the removal of the program would send an underlying message that Mexican-American students and their culture don't belong in America.

                      

This documentary video empowered me as I was able to see how students and teachers bonded together to help each other out. I was happy to see how everyone we believed in justice and equality stood together and collectively shared their vision, their beliefs with those who were willing to listen to their message. In this case, students took matter in their own hands and used the opportunity to take power and use it towards a good cause (to peacefully protest in order to have their voice heard). Their message was loud and clear!! Our culture is just as important as yours!! We will not let the people in power take our right of communicating and expressing our feelings, ideas and believes away. I do not understand why authorities would take away a program, which actually help Latino students graduate from High School and move on to obtain higher education.  

Once again, we can clearly see how opportunities to succeed are taken away from minority students.  It does not matter how hard these students try to do the right thing and become successful, “those in power” will make sure resources and opportunities do not reach them. This video showed that we persistence, unity, collaboration, respect, success can be achieved. The students in Arizona did it! ¡Si se Pudo! Yes it is possible and yes they did it!