Monthly Archives: November 2014

Pubic School Forum — What is the 21st Century Mission for our Public Schools?

After a long, blustery walk in the 20-degree whether, Shannon and I finally made it to the school where the forum on the goals of public education was held. After signing in and getting our nametags, not sure at all what to expect, we made our way into the old, warm auditorium where we were faced with the fact that we were the only ones there besides about two other old men. I looked down at my phone; it was six o’clock, which was when the event was supposed to start. Where was everyone? My heart began to race as I realized that up on the stage of the auditorium was a circle of chairs and a huge camera and lights aimed on them. I then looked over my left shoulder where another large camera was set up aimed at the stage. What is this? Am I going to have to go up on stage and be filmed? I was terrified.school

After fifteen more minutes of waiting and a few more people trickling in, a man, probably head of the school district, came to the podium. He talked about how this was going to be an exercise in democracy and how everyone was going to be able to voice their opinion and deliberate what changes are needed in the public schooling system. Participate? I was not prepared to have to voice my opinion – what is my opinion? I started to get even more nervous. Then we split up into smaller groups where I was assigned to go to a classroom while others went on the stage and in other rooms.

Going around the room saying our names and describing a little bit about who we were I was so excited to see what everyone’s opinions were because the room was filled with a vast mix of different people. To my left was a retired civic engineer who was an owner of an engineering firm, Tom Songer, who believed strongly in assessing aptitude and then directing kids in fields that they would be successful in; he wanted public school to be more job focused. Next to him was Sarah Fisher, a former elementary school teacher who was back to Penn State to get her graduate degree in the pursuit to help change the public education system to be more connected with the community. There was then Lilian and Nicole, two other RCL students who were interested in finding out more about the possible changes to the system. Around the bend was Dan Duffy who was a retired school psychologist whose main focus was to get connected with the family and inform them on all of the options besides the set idea of college. There was then a high school senior, Matt, who had very strong opinions on building a strong basis with general classes so that the students have multiple options. Mediating the conversation was three education major seniors. It was quite an interesting crew with many different suggestions and options.

After introductions, we started off the discussion on Approach One which was basically that technological advances increasingly define today’s global economy and the top priority of our public schools must be to prepare students to succeed in the workplace and maintain a labor force that keep America economically strong. The discussion seemed to be in joint support of this option as Tom Songer controlled the conversation with is main proposal to have the kids take a series of tests to dictate which career path they should follow. They should then be taught applicable skills that make them better prepared for the workforce and in jobs that they are going to succeed in. Dan Duffy’s suggestion was to inform the kids on the other options besides college because college just isn’t the right path for everyone; some people would be better suited for technical schools or training in trades. Songer pointed out how decisions about the future are like “throwing a dart at the wall” where kids have no idea what they want to do as juniors and seniors when they are making a decision on what they want to do for the rest of their lives. Lilian and Matt pointed out how their schools have things like allied health programs and possibilities to shadow and see careers first hand. The only moment of disagreement was when Tom Songer was really persistent in having 7th and 8th graders take aptitude tests to already determine their future but others, especially the students, thought that people’s futures cannot be determined just by a test.

After about an hour we switched to discuss Approach Two, which was basically that the most important goal of public education should be to enable students to become responsible, contributing members of society and a sense of shared responsibility for our democracy by having schools take the lead in emphasizing development of character, civic knowledge, and service to the community. A new member got added to our group and she was a social studies teacher in State High so she was extremely in support of this option since she feels that civic engagement really is extremely important in community development and involvement. “It is all part of the mission. We need them to vote and care about the government and community”. Sarah, the elementary teacher, thinks that the key is breaking down the wall between community and the school with maybe programs where members of the community come into the schools and discuss career options or how to get involved with the community.

The last approach, Approach 3, was to help students discover and develop their own talents; the most important goal of public education is to help students develop their individual abilities not mold them into model workers and citizens but instead encourage them to do what they do best and want to do. Dan Duffy emphasized how society almost forces kids to think that college is the only option, however, public education should be a “smorgasbord for students to consider multiple options”. Many people agreed that public school should be a place to develop a full range of skills where choices can be made depending on interests. Matt thought that it isn’t that meaningful for schools to have graduation requirements, such as having to take chemistry and certain levels of math, because many people will never need that information the rest of their life. He suggested more ability to choose. The one-size-fits-all model does not serve all children of our society. Each kid has different strengths and weaknesses – this was the point that we all agreed upon.

Spread the Warmth

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For those of you who were also at the football game on Saturday afternoon can surely confirm that it was cold. Extremely cold. Throwing the idea of looking cute out the window, I was determined to prepare as much as I could for the blustery afternoon the weather channel warned me of. Squeezing on two pairs of flannel lined leggings, a pair of jeans, Underarmor, two long sleeve shirts, a sweater, sweatshirt, winter coat, hat, gloves, and UGGs, I thought I was ready to brace the hours of standing in the 30 degree weather. But boy was I wrong.

As someone that is not very good with cold weather whatsoever, my teeth were already chattering and fingertips already felt as though they were going to fall off by the end of only the first quarter. Two minutes into the second quarter I broke down. I finally gave in to the hot chocolate that had been calling my name since the time I stepped outside and into the stadium. I had never been so happy with a purchase in a long time. The warmth ran down my throat and emanated heat throughout my entire body, not to mention defrosted my fingers that were tightly gripping the Styrofoam cup. It was absolutely magical.

As I made my way back up the steps towards my seat, I looked around at the people that lined the stands on either side of me. As I was as puffy as a marshmallow and still freezing, I looked around and saw a majority of girls in thin little sweatshirts and leggings. They must be absolutely frozen solid! I could not imagine being in such little clothing in the breezy, wintery conditions of that afternoon. As I passed one girl in particular in just a small hoodless sweatshirt, leggings, and sneakers I could feel her eyes glancing down at me. When I looked up I was faced with eyes that were longing for the hat on my head, the coat I was wrapped up in, and the warm cocoa in my hands. Shivering, she looked absolutely freezing.

How could I be complaining about how cold I was when I was ready for a blizzard and she was in barely any warm clothing? How could I go back to my seat and enjoy the rest of the game, now warmed up with my hot cocoa, when one of my fellow PSU fans was so miserably cold? I couldn’t. I told my friends to go on as I turned right around and headed back down to the concession stand. Feeling spontaneous, I bought that girl and her equally under clothed friend hot chocolates. Receiving hot chocolates from a complete stranger seemed to make them feel a little confused and unsure. They looked at each other and unsure of whether I was serious, they just laughed. But I insisted. Feeling the pressure and maybe detected hints of my genuine desire for them to have the warmth that the hot chocolate would bring, they finally took the cups, smiled, and thanked me. The one girl then took a little sip from the Styrofoam cup filled with warmth and a smile immediately crept up and spread across her face.

I could then walk away with a smile across my face too:) I felt so good that even though just for a few moments, they could be slightly warmer. During these cold days coming up and during the winter to come, spread the warmth. Whether with a warm, heart-felt smile or a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, little things can make the cold just a little bit more bearable.

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TED Talk Reflection

For my entire life public speaking has been my worst enemy. My voice used to choke up, my face would be beat red, and my hands would shake uncontrollably. My mind would absolutely blank. To this day, when given an assignment that required any sort of presentation in front of the whole class, my stomach drops, my heart begins to race, and my palms begin to sweat. I cannot help but feel absolutely panicked.

However, coming to college has been such a huge growing period for me. In high school I would have never been able to get up in front of a group of people, without any notes, and get through an entire presentation let alone a six minute TEDtalk! Feeling extremely nervous due to the intimacy of the setting and the vulnerability of not having notes, I started to prepare many days in advance and practiced it for hours and hours. I think that this was the key to the elements of success within my presentation. Since I practiced it endlessly, I felt comfortable with what I wanted to say and could easily recall mistakes I had previously made as well as phrases that were effective.

I think one thing that went fairly well was how I was seemingly comfortable and personable while presenting. Although I was freaking out on the inside with nerves, I composed myself and tried to make it more of a casual talk that connected to the audience rather than just talking at the audience in a distant manner. I did not write a word for word script, which I found to be very helpful. Instead of memorizing an exact script, I became extremely familiar with key phrases I wanted to say, took note of facts I wanted to give, as well as planned out an organizational structure or order to my presentation. I had it planned out, however, it was still natural since I did not know exactly what I was going to say (which was a little terrifying at first).

While watching the video I can honestly say I felt as though I were watching a different person. I was absolutely amazed at how casual I was up there and how seemed like I was actually comfortable. This is such a total transformation and I could not be more proud of myself. A couple months ago I would have never predicted that I would be able to stand up there confidently and talk passionately on a topic that I am extremely interested in. College is really allowing for me to be more comfortable with who I am and I think this new found confidence is helping in my development in public speaking. Although I did get a little unsure of what I was going to say at times, I think that I remained in control and pulled through it.

I loved watching the other TEDtalks! What I liked in other people’s presentations was when I could tell that they were really interested in their topics. When someone is passionate about what he or she are talking about it brings the presentation to a whole new level!

Stasis Theory– the key to successful “framing questions”

For our Unit Four project, “History of a Public Controversy”, a key aspect of setting up the entire text is by starting or incorporating “framing questions”. As Morgan Spurlock introduced his experiment by asking, “Are the fast-food companies solely to blame for this epidemic? Where does personal responsibility stop and corporate responsibility begin?” and other framing questions for his argument, we as a group must also propose our controversy with rhetorical questions that, when asked systematically, help to determine the arguments that are available and also hint towards where we are taking a stand. This can be done with stases.

If we make use of the ancient stases, which can help determine exactly what an argument is about, I think it will be easier to set up the piece. I think if we make use of stases it will help in deciding where to start with an argument – from the reading I gathered that it is useful in finding a path through the many issues that often surround a controversy. If my group is able to begin by considering the issue under each of the four stases: conjecture, definition, quality, and policy and then comparing the arguments generated under each head we will be well under way with being prepared to claim and then defend a proposition.

Stasis theory is used as a heuristic or a means of discovery. And a lot of the time I think that this is the hardest part of formulating an argument or a claim. I think that when questioning the issue at hand we will be able to dig deeper into our understanding of the issue and tweak or alter our take on the controversy. Once on a path, every thing else, the research, the strategy, the design elements will be more attainable as well as clear and defined. Stasis theory, through asking theoretical and practical as well as general and specific questions, will set us perfectly up for asking framing questions. Maybe I have a flawed understanding but from what I could understand, the process of stases and stasis theory is basically formulating framing questions for our argument. They seem to go hand in hand so when trying to define the issues in our argument we are also defining which issue we want to claim and using those questions to prompt the audience.

My group has not yet chosen a controversy as only two of our group members were in class today but I think no matter what the topic, asking the right questions will definitely lead to success in succinct framing questions and then further into a concise, well-supported claim of a controversy and maybe a stand on that controversy.