Reading #1 - Teacher's Pet
http://www.chronicle.com/article/Teacher-s-Pet/236182/
Critical Race Theory
- A theoretical framework in the social sciences focused upon the application of critical theory, a critical examination of society and culture, to the intersection of race, law, and power.
- A fictional character from the American musical drama “Empire”. Cookie is one of the main characters within the series and the ex-wife of a former drug dealer turned hip-hop mogul.
- In an intellectual setting where disciplinary boundaries are easily crossed, students learn to practice creative democracy—the concepts, techniques, and commitments that will be required if the world's people, with their multiple and conflicting interests, are to live together peacefully and justly. The mission of The New School for Social Research derives from American progressive thinkers, the legacy of the University in Exile, and the critical theorists of Europe.
- During the interwar period, the School consisted of dissidents who felt at home neither in the existent capitalist, fascist, nor communist systems that had formed at the time. Their writings pointed to the possibility of an alternative path to social development.
- Philosopher, Political theorist
- Insisted that men, not man live on earth and inhabit the earth.
- Roots in present experience
- Hands-on projects
- Develops problem-solving and critical thinking
- Developing skills that will be needed in future society
- Greek philosopher and scientist who taught Alexander the Great
- Views on physical science profoundly affected medieval scholarship
- Influential in a variety of areas
- Early Christian theologian and philosopher
- Writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and Philosophy
- One of the Church fathers
- A trait that is (or has become) more harmful than helpful, in contrast with an adaptation, which is more helpful than harmful. All organisms, from bacteria to humans, display maladaptive and adaptive traits.
Reading #2 - The Invisible Student: Understanding Social Identity Construction within Performing Ensembles
The Invisible Student |
The whole topic of the article is an interesting one. I have often tried to think of solutions to this problem – one that has always existed and always will. It is really interesting to hear about ways in which teachers can help individuals who find it difficult to fit in. It was also encouraging to see that many teachers care more about their students than simply their academics. Jason’s teacher wanted to see him do well socially, as well as academically. I really appreciated the idea of getting peers involved in breaking down barriers.
It surprised me to read that students who fail to fit in the same way as others will begin to feel badly about their self-worth in other areas as well. For example, since Jason had a hard time talking to his fellow classmates, he began to feel badly about his performance in the ensemble, even though he could play the music very well.
It is frustrating to me to read that even students with the best intentions can get dragged down by the group they are a part of. When it becomes normal and even “cool” to bully or ignore those who are different, students who are usually friendly and inclusive can begin to ignore the issues around them. It also frustrated me to learn that there are cases of depression, abuse, and failing academic achievement that could be avoided by the simple act of stepping slightly out of your comfort zone to welcome someone in who does not seem to have very many friends.
I would like to thank the author for his encouraging words to teachers, and his ideas for steps that can be taken toward a solution to this troubling issue.
It surprised me to read that students who fail to fit in the same way as others will begin to feel badly about their self-worth in other areas as well. For example, since Jason had a hard time talking to his fellow classmates, he began to feel badly about his performance in the ensemble, even though he could play the music very well.
It is frustrating to me to read that even students with the best intentions can get dragged down by the group they are a part of. When it becomes normal and even “cool” to bully or ignore those who are different, students who are usually friendly and inclusive can begin to ignore the issues around them. It also frustrated me to learn that there are cases of depression, abuse, and failing academic achievement that could be avoided by the simple act of stepping slightly out of your comfort zone to welcome someone in who does not seem to have very many friends.
I would like to thank the author for his encouraging words to teachers, and his ideas for steps that can be taken toward a solution to this troubling issue.
Reading #3 - Think Everything’s “Normal?” Then It’s Time To Reconsider And Promote A New Narrative Of Disability
http://organizingchange.org/think-everythings-normal-then-its-time-to-reconsider-and-promote-a-new-narrative-of-disability/
Rather than breaking down this response to the reading in four separate categories, I am going to put them all into my response to the author. All four categories will, I’m sure, become clear.
Dear Author,
After having read your article on disabilities, I have a few questions for you.
First, I would like to say that I appreciate your point that society is afraid of people that are not exactly like them. It is true that we often are afraid of disabilities, because many of us have not been in those types of situations, and we cannot imagine what it must be like. We often assume what is best for a person, when we have never experienced what they are experiencing. We should learn to accept people for the way they are rather than always trying to change them.
This being said, I completely disagree with many of the things you said about the education and health industries. If everyone is different, why do you suggest that we hold them all to the same standards of education? You mentioned that schools today have special curriculum for those with learning disabilities, which have lower standards, longer time for tests, etc. If they are unique and should embrace the way they are, why try to force them into the same box as the others? Why hold them to the same standard when some of them simply do not have the same mental capacity as others? These programs are made in order to accommodate to their learning capabilities so that they are able to reach their full potential.
You mentioned that the health industry simply tries to “fix” those with disabilities rather than finding ways for them to embrace their unique way of living. Do you suggest that someone who previously had no disability, but was injured in an accident and was crippled mentally or physically, should simply embrace their new life and forget about any method of treatment in order to restore their previously healthy body? In that case, why do we even have a medical system at all, if every disability is another “ingenious” (to use your wording) way of living?
You mentioned that “we as a society are responsible for ending discrimination/hate crimes, supporting independent living programs, ending the culture of “normalcy” etc. Continuing on with your way of reasoning, if we must encourage people to resist what society calls “normal”, and urge them to simply be themselves, why would we try to eliminate those people who do what we call “discriminate”? What if it is simply part of who they are? What if they are simply “discriminators by nature”? Is this then the exception to the rule?
Let me clarify – I am by no means saying that discrimination and hate crimes are fine. I am trying to point out the flaw in your reasoning. A doctor who has spent his whole life trying to find a cure to a specific disability is not someone that needs to be seen as suppressing people from being who they are or trying to shove everyone into the same box of “normalcy”. You won’t like how I am going to refer to this, but the cold hard reality is that many disabilities are terrible, painful, difficult, and heartbreaking both for the disabled person and for their loved ones. Being paralyzed from the neck down is not nice. You are completely unable to do some of the simplest things by yourself, and no matter how hard you try, you are never going to be able to care for yourself completely.
You seem to push very hard for disabled people to be self-sufficient. Then why do you discourage them from accepting medical help, so that their body can be healed and restored?
I would like to conclude by saying that if a person has a disability, and the doctors tell them that they are going to be that way for the rest of their life, it is important for us to accept and love them for who they are, rather than being frightened of them, and feeling sorry for them. Every effort should be made for them to be able to care for themselves and embrace who God has made them to be. We as a society can learn a lot from such people. However, if a situation arose where new research was conducted, and there was opportunity for that person to become fully functional once again, I would rejoice with them and their family at the opportunity, and be immensely excited for them to be able to do the things that they have been unable to do for so many years.
There is a story in John 9 that I would like to share with you.
“Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.”
This man was born blind for a reason. Not because of some sin he or his parents had committed, but that Christ’s glory might be seen through him. I believe there is a reason for everything, including every disability. We should not mope around because God has put something into our lives that we wish we did not have. We should glorify Him, because He has a perfect plan and a reason for every happening under the sun.
Dear Author,
After having read your article on disabilities, I have a few questions for you.
First, I would like to say that I appreciate your point that society is afraid of people that are not exactly like them. It is true that we often are afraid of disabilities, because many of us have not been in those types of situations, and we cannot imagine what it must be like. We often assume what is best for a person, when we have never experienced what they are experiencing. We should learn to accept people for the way they are rather than always trying to change them.
This being said, I completely disagree with many of the things you said about the education and health industries. If everyone is different, why do you suggest that we hold them all to the same standards of education? You mentioned that schools today have special curriculum for those with learning disabilities, which have lower standards, longer time for tests, etc. If they are unique and should embrace the way they are, why try to force them into the same box as the others? Why hold them to the same standard when some of them simply do not have the same mental capacity as others? These programs are made in order to accommodate to their learning capabilities so that they are able to reach their full potential.
You mentioned that the health industry simply tries to “fix” those with disabilities rather than finding ways for them to embrace their unique way of living. Do you suggest that someone who previously had no disability, but was injured in an accident and was crippled mentally or physically, should simply embrace their new life and forget about any method of treatment in order to restore their previously healthy body? In that case, why do we even have a medical system at all, if every disability is another “ingenious” (to use your wording) way of living?
You mentioned that “we as a society are responsible for ending discrimination/hate crimes, supporting independent living programs, ending the culture of “normalcy” etc. Continuing on with your way of reasoning, if we must encourage people to resist what society calls “normal”, and urge them to simply be themselves, why would we try to eliminate those people who do what we call “discriminate”? What if it is simply part of who they are? What if they are simply “discriminators by nature”? Is this then the exception to the rule?
Let me clarify – I am by no means saying that discrimination and hate crimes are fine. I am trying to point out the flaw in your reasoning. A doctor who has spent his whole life trying to find a cure to a specific disability is not someone that needs to be seen as suppressing people from being who they are or trying to shove everyone into the same box of “normalcy”. You won’t like how I am going to refer to this, but the cold hard reality is that many disabilities are terrible, painful, difficult, and heartbreaking both for the disabled person and for their loved ones. Being paralyzed from the neck down is not nice. You are completely unable to do some of the simplest things by yourself, and no matter how hard you try, you are never going to be able to care for yourself completely.
You seem to push very hard for disabled people to be self-sufficient. Then why do you discourage them from accepting medical help, so that their body can be healed and restored?
I would like to conclude by saying that if a person has a disability, and the doctors tell them that they are going to be that way for the rest of their life, it is important for us to accept and love them for who they are, rather than being frightened of them, and feeling sorry for them. Every effort should be made for them to be able to care for themselves and embrace who God has made them to be. We as a society can learn a lot from such people. However, if a situation arose where new research was conducted, and there was opportunity for that person to become fully functional once again, I would rejoice with them and their family at the opportunity, and be immensely excited for them to be able to do the things that they have been unable to do for so many years.
There is a story in John 9 that I would like to share with you.
“Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.”
This man was born blind for a reason. Not because of some sin he or his parents had committed, but that Christ’s glory might be seen through him. I believe there is a reason for everything, including every disability. We should not mope around because God has put something into our lives that we wish we did not have. We should glorify Him, because He has a perfect plan and a reason for every happening under the sun.
Reading #4 - Community Music Making: Challenging the Stereotypes of Conventional Music Education
r4_-article.pdf |
Veblen, K. (2012). Challenging the stereotypes of conventional music education. Community Music Making, 8, 123-131.
Music is such a beautiful gift, and should be shared with every man, woman, and child in the world. Music is a subject that everyone should learn about and an experience that everyone should enjoy. Creating and producing music is a very special thing, but creating and producing music in a group, together as a team, is even more so. This is one thing that is so special about the idea of community music.
This article addressed some very interesting views of the way community music can be used. It surprised me to read that there exist today music groups who have formed for the purpose of bring some sort of social justice, or groups that have formed to help prisoners in rehabilitation and healing. It should not surprise me, since I realize the amazing effects music can have, but I am very excited to know how people are taking these ideas and putting them into effect.
It is exciting to read about the innumerable areas that music can celebrate – ethnic origins, religious groups, festivals, non-profit organizations, and more. Music seems to be able to not only fit into almost any situation, but be indispensable to it. It is so amazing to know that anyone, no matter their finances, background or skill, could find a musical group where they find themselves comfortable.
When I think of the amazing power of music to transform lives, I get discouraged when I hear about the lack of support there is for organizations that are trying to make a difference. No matter how much it tries to prove itself indispensable, it always seems to be way down on the list of priorities when it comes to education and where students should spend their time.
I think that the amount of opportunities there are for people to learn about and participate in music is absolutely wonderful. How should these opportunities be organized? What qualifies someone to teach them? What compensation do they receive? These are questions are ones that remain unanswered. There has not as of yet been found a perfect solution. There are many music teachers today who work incredibly hard for very little compensation, simply because there exists inside of them that passion for music which comes from their knowledge about the life-changing effects it can have on so many individuals from so many different backgrounds. These are the kinds of people that make the world a better place. What can we do for them?
Music is such a beautiful gift, and should be shared with every man, woman, and child in the world. Music is a subject that everyone should learn about and an experience that everyone should enjoy. Creating and producing music is a very special thing, but creating and producing music in a group, together as a team, is even more so. This is one thing that is so special about the idea of community music.
This article addressed some very interesting views of the way community music can be used. It surprised me to read that there exist today music groups who have formed for the purpose of bring some sort of social justice, or groups that have formed to help prisoners in rehabilitation and healing. It should not surprise me, since I realize the amazing effects music can have, but I am very excited to know how people are taking these ideas and putting them into effect.
It is exciting to read about the innumerable areas that music can celebrate – ethnic origins, religious groups, festivals, non-profit organizations, and more. Music seems to be able to not only fit into almost any situation, but be indispensable to it. It is so amazing to know that anyone, no matter their finances, background or skill, could find a musical group where they find themselves comfortable.
When I think of the amazing power of music to transform lives, I get discouraged when I hear about the lack of support there is for organizations that are trying to make a difference. No matter how much it tries to prove itself indispensable, it always seems to be way down on the list of priorities when it comes to education and where students should spend their time.
I think that the amount of opportunities there are for people to learn about and participate in music is absolutely wonderful. How should these opportunities be organized? What qualifies someone to teach them? What compensation do they receive? These are questions are ones that remain unanswered. There has not as of yet been found a perfect solution. There are many music teachers today who work incredibly hard for very little compensation, simply because there exists inside of them that passion for music which comes from their knowledge about the life-changing effects it can have on so many individuals from so many different backgrounds. These are the kinds of people that make the world a better place. What can we do for them?
Reading #5 - Toward Convergence: Adapting Music Education to Contemporary Society and Participatory Culture
Tobias, E. S. (2013). Toward convergence: Adapting music education to contemporary society and participatory culture. Music Educators Journal, 99(4), 29-36.
It is exciting to see that there is so much interest and thought among music educators today about how music education can utilize the modern technology available, and the rapidly changing ways that music is being produced, to promote a participatory culture in which students can learn and be creative in new and exciting ways. The music that youth are listening to is often vastly different from the music they are being taught in school, and it is good to see that there is some recognition that these things can and should be combined. The emphasis on being creative, no matter the resources you have been given, is so important. Students in the classroom should not be totally reliant on technology for their projects, and although it can be very helpful at times, I believe that they should also be able to be creative without it. I also appreciated that the author not only presented a problem, but suggested practical and realistic ways of incorporating his ideas into the classroom.
The idea of allowing students’ access to all kinds of original music, and to do rearrangements, covers, mashups, and remixing, is exciting and filled with endless possibilities. It does present a few problems however, and some of these problems were acknowledged in the article, such as the problem of copyright.
As I read this article, I thought about how vastly different the music industry is today than it has been throughout history. In the days of monarchs, there were endless amounts of funding for distinguished composers to be able to write and produce whatever they wanted, so long as it pleased the king. Patrons would hire musicians for the sole purpose of their personal entertainment. Music was a family profession, very much in the same way that carpentry, printing, or farming was. As much as I am excited to think about the possibilities there would be in this new method of teaching, I wonder what the ramifications will be on original artists who want to make music their full time career. Already now, it is difficult to get started in the music industry. If students were allowed free reign over original music, to make their own covers and put them back on the internet for others to use, would the original pieces get their proper due? Or would they get buried away as thousands of variations and variations of variations got put online? Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Tobias said that “working toward convergence ought to be done thoughtfully and through a critical lens.”
Reading #6 - Another Perspective: The iPad is a REAL Musical Instrument
http://mej.sagepub.com/content/101/1/93.abstract
Williams, D. A. (2014). Another Perspective The iPad Is a REAL Musical Instrument. Music Educators Journal, 101(1), 93-98.
When I initially began looked up this article, and saw the title, my first reaction was highly sceptical and even disbelieving. It wasn’t until I started to read the article that my mind began to open and I realized how closed I had been to new ideas about music and performance. iPads and musical performance somehow didn’t seem to coincide in my brain, and I laughed at the idea. As I kept reading, I realized that I had jumped to some fairly major conclusions before even giving the article a decent chance at proving and defending the ideas it outlined.
I began to reconsider my initial opinions when the author began to compare iPads to other instruments. He chose the oboe, and gave six comparisons showing that they have a lot of similarities and can both be legitimately categorized as musical instruments. He also made a very good point about how it is the person playing the instrument, not the instrument itself, that creates the real music. The instrument is only the tool.
Electronic music is a relatively new development, and like anything, will most likely need some time to prove itself as a legitimate art form that can be appreciated alongside other kinds of music. Music as it is generally taught today doesn’t seem to grip the new generation as well as we would like. This article explained how the iPad can not only be considered a real instrument, but how performances can be approached in a way that connects with the audience and involves even those people who don’t have a lot of musical education.
This article makes the argument that “Helping students become better aural musicians could be the single most important step in helping develop lifelong musical skill.” This is a bold statement, but it definitely has a lot of merit. The music being taught today depends largely on notation and the physical sheet music, rather than the development of the ear and creativity in developing original music. This is where an iPad ensemble group can make great progress where many other ensembles cannot.
I believe that it is important to be constantly adapting to our surroundings. Interest in music is constantly changing. Rather than clinging to one way of producing music, perhaps we should be opening our minds to those forms of music-making that are automatically looked down upon. Who is to say that it is a “worse” kind of music? There can be great music, composers and performers in each era and genre of music.
I began to reconsider my initial opinions when the author began to compare iPads to other instruments. He chose the oboe, and gave six comparisons showing that they have a lot of similarities and can both be legitimately categorized as musical instruments. He also made a very good point about how it is the person playing the instrument, not the instrument itself, that creates the real music. The instrument is only the tool.
Electronic music is a relatively new development, and like anything, will most likely need some time to prove itself as a legitimate art form that can be appreciated alongside other kinds of music. Music as it is generally taught today doesn’t seem to grip the new generation as well as we would like. This article explained how the iPad can not only be considered a real instrument, but how performances can be approached in a way that connects with the audience and involves even those people who don’t have a lot of musical education.
This article makes the argument that “Helping students become better aural musicians could be the single most important step in helping develop lifelong musical skill.” This is a bold statement, but it definitely has a lot of merit. The music being taught today depends largely on notation and the physical sheet music, rather than the development of the ear and creativity in developing original music. This is where an iPad ensemble group can make great progress where many other ensembles cannot.
I believe that it is important to be constantly adapting to our surroundings. Interest in music is constantly changing. Rather than clinging to one way of producing music, perhaps we should be opening our minds to those forms of music-making that are automatically looked down upon. Who is to say that it is a “worse” kind of music? There can be great music, composers and performers in each era and genre of music.
Pauline Oliveros - Difference Between Hearing and Listening
Not only do we tune out the sounds that are made around us, we tune out the people around us as well. We get so absorbed in our own lives, that we forget the importance of others. Our lives are too important to be bothered to actively search out opprtunities to hear about the joys, sorrows, struggles, and celebrations of others. Because obviously, our lives are much more important than anyone else's. Sometimes we we get so wrapped up in the importance of ourselves that we forget that we can be a blessing to others - or even that they can be a blessing to us. We are selfish people. We forget to listen.
Listen
I didn’t notice.
That question she asked me.
I didn’t focus.
I didn’t listen.
I heard a sound.
In one ear and out the other.
I was bound.
I didn’t listen.
Sometimes I hear.
I’m somewhat aware,
But I didn’t really use my ear.
I didn’t listen.
How much do I miss
When I sit in my space?
A quiet, soft kiss?
God’s amazing grace?
I love myself
I just can’t be bothered
With himself or herself
I just don’t listen.
How much to I miss,
Absorbed in my life?
Someone else’s bliss?
Or maybe their strife?
I’ll tell you my story,
But yours doesn’t matter.
My life is glory,
I won’t listen.
As I’m wrapped up in me,
I miss all of you.
I just cannot see.
I don’t listen.
When I open my ear,
It’s a whole other world.
Things are brought near
When I listen.
The joy of a child,
To cry with a friend,
To hear someone smile
Is to listen.
Open your ears.
Think about others.
Be blessed by their tears.
Be blessed by their fears.
Be blessed by their cheers.
Be blessed by your peers.
They also have ears.
Listen.
That question she asked me.
I didn’t focus.
I didn’t listen.
I heard a sound.
In one ear and out the other.
I was bound.
I didn’t listen.
Sometimes I hear.
I’m somewhat aware,
But I didn’t really use my ear.
I didn’t listen.
How much do I miss
When I sit in my space?
A quiet, soft kiss?
God’s amazing grace?
I love myself
I just can’t be bothered
With himself or herself
I just don’t listen.
How much to I miss,
Absorbed in my life?
Someone else’s bliss?
Or maybe their strife?
I’ll tell you my story,
But yours doesn’t matter.
My life is glory,
I won’t listen.
As I’m wrapped up in me,
I miss all of you.
I just cannot see.
I don’t listen.
When I open my ear,
It’s a whole other world.
Things are brought near
When I listen.
The joy of a child,
To cry with a friend,
To hear someone smile
Is to listen.
Open your ears.
Think about others.
Be blessed by their tears.
Be blessed by their fears.
Be blessed by their cheers.
Be blessed by your peers.
They also have ears.
Listen.