Teaching Throught the Ages

Emerson is talking about how our teaching methods are so standardized that anyone who has the proper and correct set of rules to follow and instructions can be considered an “outstanding teacher.“ He says that even though it is impossible to teach everyone on the same level, our society still tries to. He acknowledges that students cannot be given the kind of instruction and teaching when the teaching is created to be on everyone’s level and designed to leave no one behind.
For the most part, I agree with Emerson’s assessment of the educational system when he says that teaching in the current system has such a “easy application“ that “any tutor or schoolmaster in his first term can apply it.” I think that “No Child Left Behind,“ the state’s standards and core curriculum play a big enough role in today’s educational system that it is no longer as important for a teacher to understand the subject matter they teach, but rather how good they are at teaching what they’ve been presented with. I’m not saying that all teachers have no understanding of their subject because I have plenty that are geniuses in their area of expertise; I’m just saying that in most cases I don’t think complete understanding of a subject is a necessity.
I also think he is right when he says that our societies education goal is to “do for the masses what cannot be done for the masses.” He knows that, in theory, being able to teach everyone equally is the ideal situation. The more the merrier, right? But he also knows that thinking it is possible to teach everyone the same knowledge at the same time and level is foolish; and yet, we continue to try. Is it better to try to equally provide for everyone’s educational needs and desires, even when you’re repeatedly hit with defeat? Or to knowingly leave some behind, simply because they cannot learn and keep up at the same tempo as the smarter children of the group?
He also stresses how there is a difference between actually teaching a child and filling his mind with knowledge the right way, and forcing information down his throat. You can force a child to memorize facts and take tests and read passages, but you cannot force him to understand the knowledge you give him and to take that information on with him and use it. Being able to accomplish that is truly an achievement in my book.

Got Milk?

When we were little, we were always told to drink milk. We were told that it would make us grow up to be, and I quote, "big, tall, and strong." Clearly, I must have skipped out on drinking my milk as a little kid because I wouldn't exacltly classifly myself as tall. However, I do feel that I have healthy bones, which is more important. This "Got Milk" ad (http://adflip.com/addetails.php?adID=13621)  uses ethos, logos, and pathos very effectively.

This ad develops its reputation very quickly. Everyone is familiar with the "Got Milk" campaign; it have been around for practically forever, which encourages people to believe what it says. If something has successfully ran for so long, its logical to assume that it is trustworthy. Also, "Got Milk" is known for using famous people as its spokesperson. Coincidentally, these famous people are generally extremely attractive and in good shape, so people will think, " If I drink milk, I'll start looking like her!" And, quite frankly, everyone always wants to look like the people on the posters.

The ad flat out tells the reader that milk is neccesary for growing kids because it will help them build strong and healthy bones. It also crushes the misconception that once you're grown, milk isn't all that important anymore by saying how after the age of 35 the calcium in milk helps keep bones healthy, which is very important. 

The main way the campaign draws the audiences attention to the poster is by the highly attractive female model they use. Men naturally enjoy looking at her, and after they are done looking at the model, the company hopes they will go on to read the information on the ad. Women see the model and get jealous and want to know what she did to look like that so they can too. Then when they read it and find out about milk, they will start drinking more milk.  

By using the rhetorical stratagies of ethos, logos, and pathos, the "Got Milk" company does a very good and successful job of trying to get more people to drink milk.

But Out. A Whole New Mind.

1. Id like to see my out-of-town family more, but traveling is expensive.

2. I wish I had more time to play music, but the small amount of time I spend at home is spent working.

3. I wish my grades were better, but some of the work is hard and takes a long time.

4. I want to volunteer more in the community, but I don’t know where to go.

5. I'd like to see my friends more, but I’m afraid they are busy.

　
　
　
　
1. I'd like to see my out-of-town family more, and traveling is expensive. So I will start saving up a little bit along so that when I do go out of town to see them, it’s not a big deal.

2. I wish I had more time to play music, and the small amount of time I spend at home is spent working. So I will set aside a specific time each day that I can fully devote to my playing.

3. I wish my grades were better, and some of the work is hard and takes a long time. So I will get over myself and push through the work anyways because I know it will be worth it in the end.

4. I want to volunteer more in the community, and I don’t know where to go. So I will ask around and see if I can find any places local that could use some help.

5. Id like to see my friends more, and I’m afraid they are busy. So I will call and ask them what their plans are for the next week or so, that way I know when they might have some spare time.
　
　

Doing this experiment helped me realize that the small issues I come to in my life have obvious solutions, if I’ll take the time to think about the situation. Changing some of the things I previously mentioned in my “experiment” will make my life more meaningful. Even though they are just little obstacles and changes, making these small changes will undoubtedly lead me to want to make bigger, more significant ones in my oh-so-left-brained life and encourage me to try to conform to the demands of this “Conceptual Age“ Mr. Pink is so convinced of. Seeing as how I don’t want to be left in the dust when the world goes all creative and emotional on me, I think it’s a good idea to start converting now.
The more I think about it though, the more I agree with Pink’s points. He encourages some very good thoughts throughout the book, and I believe that we ( as a world) are on the verge of monumental changes that I will hopefully be prepared for, thanks to this book.

:Mercy...

What if your mercy comes through raindrops?

What if your healing comes through tears?

What if the thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know you're near?...


What if the trials of this life,
are your mercies in disguise...

"Hate" is the thing with flames

Hate is the thing with flames
That burns on and on
And blisters peoples hopes and dreams
And never stops -at all-

And hottest -in the evening- is felt
And burnt must be the night
That could smother out the midnight flame
That hurt so many's hearts

It's felt all over the distant land
Even in the deepest sea
And yet -never- in a million years
Will it give anything back to me.

"Harlem" Inspired Poem

What becomes of happiness?

Does it bloom
like a spring flower?
Or wilt like a fallen rose?
And then die?
Does it shine like stars?
Or does it lie?

Maybe it just passes on
like a love undone..

...Or does it hold back?

Ismene Character Analysis

       There are rule followers. These are the people who always do what they’re told, whether it’s right or not. In Ancient Greece, women were considered to be worth far less the men; and the rule followers thought that was the way it was meant to be, with no thought of change. Ismene is an example of that person. Ismene is good at heart, but is very unstable and dynamic.
        Ismene wants to help Antigone, just based on the fact that she loves her, but doesn’t want to meet her “doom” and become a “poor [wretch].“ Ismene recognizes the importance of family, but for her, safety comes first. As much as she loves Antigone, she obviously has other priorities. However, when Antigone gets sentenced to death, Ismene realizes how much she wanted to help her in the first place.
       Ismene thinks it is “foolish” that Antigone is willing to risk her life to “bury [her] brother.” Ismene is worried for Antigone’s safety and thinks it best to follow the rules they have been given by Creon. In my opinion, Ismene fears Creon more than the gods. Later on though, Ismene discovers that her life and death do not mean anything to her without Antigone.
       Ismene wants to stand up for herself and her beliefs, but she is only a “women” and she knows that she should “not fight with men.” She lives in a time when women are considered to be very inferior to men. Living in that time, Ismene accepts those beliefs; whereas her sister is more headstrong.
       Terrified of meeting her “doom,” Ismene is scared to go against Creon’s law and “bury [her] brother” since she is merely a “women.” Ismene may know what’s right, but her determination to follow the rules and her fear of the consequences if she doesn’t, forces her to live a very dynamic life and be inconsistent and hesitant when making up her mind.

An Unheard Story

     “Children are suffering from a hidden epidemic of child abuse and neglect.” ("Child Help: Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse")
     When people talk about nation-wide “epidemics,” (for instance, the recent swine flu), it’s something mentioned with horror, terror, and a certain quietness that the whole world seems to hear .  It’s what huge stars talk about on television talk shows, families chat about as they sit down for dinner, children converse about at school,  and soccer moms gossip about over coffee. And yet, who spends their time talking about child abuse?  
     Child abuse and neglect  are a  much larger issue than many people seem to give them credit for. The statistics I saw on this awareness sight just about made my eyes pop out of my head.
     Can you believe that America alone accounts for over 3 million reported cases of child abuse a year? Or that almost 5 children are reported being killed from child abuse every day? And you have to keep in mind that these statistics are a couple of years old and that these are only the reported cases. I can only imagine the number of children that get abused but never get any help because no one knows.  There are likely many more cases today because the number of reported cases continuously increases.

     Child abuse isn’t just being physically hit. It ranges from neglect to physical abuse to sexual abuse to psychological maltreatment to medical neglect. People need to realize the different types so they can become better aware.  
     Being abused as a child doesn’t just affect the child then and there; it causes damage a long way down the road. “Children that have been abused are more likely to become abusive, abuse drugs and alcohol, and even become pregnant as a teenager.” ("Child Help: Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse").
     When children that are abused don’t get the help they need, don’t get noticed, or nothing stops the abuse, their chances of being affected later on in life increases. The mere memory of their childhood is sometimes enough to make people forget who they really are, and when that happens, that person doesn’t just affect themselves anymore, but also their family and loved ones. Child abuse tears families apart: both as it’s happening, and twenty or more years down the road.

     We need to step up and take action to try to stop child abuse and help those who have already suffered. We need to see the signs that are sometimes too obvious,but at other times better hidden. We need to be aware. We need to start saving lives.

"National Child Abuse Statistics: Child Abuse in America." Child Help: Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse. Child Help, n.d. Web. 13 Feb 2011.