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For Thursday's class, I've asked you to listen to this podcast. It's heavy. Rather than have you post before class, Iet's just have a conversation in class. So there is no need to post anything to this discussion board prior to class. You'll have time in class to post to this discussion board as preparation for a whole class discussion.
Here's the question I'm going to ask you to write/talk about: Who really cares about reading and writing assignments at Harper High given all the other things that are going on at that school? And, yes, it's a trick question, because, if you can't tell already, my answer is ALWAYS that we should always care about reading and writing assignments no matter what. Funny Story: A few years ago I had a group of First Year Students who were not the greatest students on the face of the planet, but were fun and funny and even though they made me pull my hair out a lot--a lot, a lot--we had a pretty good time and remember that these are kids identified as "at-risk" readers and writers, which is why they ended up in my class in the first place. One day near the end of the semester while I was sort of scolding, but not scolding them about how they needed to take themselves seriously and not treat their writing like it was nothing and in my frenzy to convince them, I ran out of breath. These guys looked at me and what I thought they were doing was sort of writing me off, but what they were actually doing was taking me seriously. And one of my students sort of looked at me sideways and said, "You know, I thought in the beginning this was going to be some kind of Freedom Writers situation. But this is real sh_t." Proudest teaching moment of my entire life.
20 Comments
Sara McNaughton
2/25/2021 07:00:47 am
This podcast hit home for me. Going into my senior year of high school, one of my classmates lost his life to a gun accident. It moved my school and made senior year hard for our graduating class. School felt unsafe and weird at times. When I heard the number of students that died at Harper Hill, I could not imagine how devastating that must be for the whole school community. I saw first-hand the impact that losing one student to gun violence had on a school community---I could not imagine losing 20 (I cannot remember the exact number from the podcast).
Courtney Beale
2/25/2021 07:00:51 am
To start off, I want to say that this podcast really made me think about how grateful I am to have the education, resources, and most of all, safety in my life. I ended up talking to a few of my colleagues at the writing studio about how we don't realize how lucky we are to have the opportunity to go to school, participate in after school activities like sports and clubs, and also feel safe enough to walk home without the fear of getting shot at. Before listening to this, I was aware that children and families that live in poverty don't have access to the same education as we do, but the fact that these students only have a focus on surviving is extremely heartbreaking. Listening to this podcast gave me a new perspective. It made me think about the different extremes that students encounter in areas that aren't my own. I will definitely be listening to the second part of this during my free time.
Stasia Wing
2/25/2021 07:00:52 am
I think that reading and writing, just like you, is very important in all schools. However, after listening to the podcast on Harper High School it is definitely the least of their worries. Unfortunately at Harper High there is a struggle with shootings and gang affiliations among students. One part that really stuck out to me was that a police officer interviewed for the podcast something along the lines of that "even if a kid doesn't want to be a part of a gang they are anyways just because of the block they live on." This really broke my heart, because as a person who hates conflict I couldn't imagine the amount of pressure these kids face with their harsh reality. I also feel for their parents heavily as well because I in no way would want to see, or know that my child has do deal with the aggressiveness of gangs in and out of school. I loved seeing just how open and honest the teachers and administration were at Harper High. They really wanted these kids to have the best high school experience. Also recognizing they are living in a dangerous world and that the fear of getting shot is more important than a writing assignment. It is really unfortunate that these kids have to worry about this. The fact that once they get into their junior year it is inevitable that they have an affiliation and have a great chance of being shot at is so upsetting. This is not one of those things that should be a right of passage for 16 year olds. They should be spending their time planning who they are going to go to the football game with or even the homecoming dance.
Olivia Halpin
2/25/2021 07:01:02 am
After listening to this podcast I thought that reading and writing assignments are very important especially with everything going on (gun violence) at Harper High School and the surrounding neighborhoods. The classroom should be a space where the students can feel safe to learn and grow. Unfortunately outside of the classroom and school is the unsafest places for these students because of all the related gang violence. When asked how to avoid gang violence students stated to get involved in after-school-activities, stay at school as late as possible and do not leave your house once you get home. The unwritten rules the students followed to survive stood out to me a lot in this podcast:
Megan Canterbury
2/25/2021 07:01:04 am
I appreciate social workers so damn much. Listening to Anita cry when she's fearing for her own wellbeing, the wellbeing of her family, and the students she works with everyday was devastating. "stay out of the neighborhood" she was warned by students. The school itself - the fact that the principal said "I can't pay you but your presence is needed" broke my heart. The effort all these people put into these students, not only related to classwork but their lives at home is so admirable. Writing and reading to me seems more important than ever at this school. For children to have school as a safe space, is so important. And by reading they're able to escape their own realities and dream big. Just like the picture of Jamaica inspired one student to "chase the sunset," by reading about other places he can do just that, without leaving the block. Writing, too, can be a very safe space to let out your emotions and feelings. Growing up with survival as your main daily focus can limit a child's ability to speak openly, not wanting to get anyone in trouble or start a war. But by writing they're able to escape that, think things through, formulate thoughts and opinions, imagine world's bigger than the street they're limited to - it's so very important. And college may just be the only way out for some of these students. If they're able to get through high school, learn basic reading and writing skills - they just might make it out of the hood and off to safer spaces. After Anita asks the reporter what happens to the cousin in the book he wrote and finds out she made it out and is working at a bank her response is: "I need to see where education works and success happens."
Danielle Delaroca
2/25/2021 07:01:16 am
This podcast was definitely a powerful piece. Like Megan said, I was so invested in it. The part that stood out to me the most was the part when Ira Glass said "Though, if you're picturing some kind of chaotic, depressing, ghetto high school in the middle of all of that, Harper is anything but. Amidst boarded up houses and vacant lots, it is a four story, yellow brick building. The grounds are neat and beautiful. The halls, walls, classrooms, cafeteria-- everything is well taken care of. There's order. Between passing periods, the halls are kept clear. It's clean. You can tell the staff likes the kids. Even the security guards-- there are 16 for a student body of just 550 or so. They joke around." And unfortunately, he was right. I WAS picturing a depressing school. But school shootings could, sadly, happen anywhere so why was I, along with many others most likely, picturing a sad, old, school? Another thing was hearing about the social work at the school and how much those in that office really helped their students. It made my heart shatter when Anita down though about how they are just kids who are not bad, but she felt that no matter how much she or anyone does, no matter how much they wish things would get better, there will inevitably, there will be more violence. :(
Maria Pestilli
2/25/2021 07:01:31 am
This listening assignment hit me hard. What I heard from it was just devastating. But it makes me believe even more in the idea that schooling is important. Even in as tough an area that Harper High School is in that doesn’t mean there isn’t a space for learning. It is important for all students to learn about writing and reading because if they become proficient at it, it can open so many doors for them. Not only does it prepare students for higher education, if they chose to do so, it also is an asset in the workplace. A student who can read and write well has a leg up on many different types of jobs. To hear what the kids at Harper go through in a year is heart breaking to me. I listened to part of part two- and the-way students talked about their situation was extremely upsetting. They talked about being in a gang and violence like it was just another Tuesday to them and the sad thing is, it is a normal day for them. If I end up working in a school district in a tough area, I hope that I can reach my students in a way that makes them feel safe. Even in an area as unsafe as they are in, as a teacher I want to make my classroom to feel like a safe space to my students and I want my students to feel like they can come to me for help. I wish the world was a place where kids didn’t have to go through things like the Harper kids have gone through but that is simply not how the world works. All I can do is focus on being a good educator who not only teaches their students to the best of their abilities but also makes the students feel like they are safe, even if its just for the hour of the class. This assignment just made me sad to be honest.
Angel Walsh
2/25/2021 07:01:41 am
I was honestly kind of shocked listening to this podcast. I knew that gun violence is huge amongst Chicago schools, but what I did not expect was the amount of students it affected. The podcast focused more on the violence and the response and action that the school takes to ensure the safety of the students. It did not really talk much about the academic side of things, which shows how much the violence affects the academic side of things. I think that the educators and admins there really do their best to make sure that each and every students feels safe and protected their, so that they can learn and not be in fear. I also found the story of Deonte interesting. Most of the podcast was about violence and shootings. Deonte was not involved with any of the gangs, and it made him isolated. Which I am sure affected his academics as well.
Sydney Silverman
2/25/2021 07:02:58 am
After listening to the podcast, I had a hard time figuring out who was truly responsible for the students that were considered "at risk." Perhaps it was the teachers fault in some peoples eyes and maybe it could have been the students fault for not trying hard enough. Personally, I do not think either of these options are to blame. To answer the question of who cares about the writing and reading assignments at Harper High school, I still cannot think of the correct answer. Before listening to the podcast, I was going to assume that the school's staff cared very much for the assignments. My professor made a point that we should always care about reading and writing assignments, and I agree with her. I don't think its that no one cares at all about the assignments, but I do think that Harper High school has its priorities over them
Patricia Diaz
2/25/2021 07:03:27 am
Listening to this podcast, my heart broke. The thought of knowing that these students instead of thinking about their future careers or what they have to do for homework tonight have to think about how to survive in their neighborhood does not seem fair to me. What really shocked me is how normal that topic seems to be in the High School. For instance, at the beginning of the assembly meeting, the speaker had to ask the students present to show respect because they just kept talking as if they did not care about the people who died. I think is beautiful how instead of the educators and the school administrations give up on the students, try to give them as much love and care as they can possibly can—this is what these students need. It is really hard to answer who cares about reading and writing in the school because instead of knowing how to read and write, which is part of the curriculum, these students yearn and need knowledge on how to survive. I will say, however, that I do feel deep down that the educators are the ones who care about this aspect because they are the ones who want these students to succeed—to be someone beyond the neighborhood—in order to get out of this neighborhood.
Catie Mullen
2/25/2021 07:04:03 am
After listening to the podcast, it was clear that an obvious main concern and focus in Harper High School is on the students' safety and wellbeing. Administrators and teachers show this through reprimanding with love and always trying to be positive. I noticed when listening to his podcast, that the teachers want to do whatever they can to make this a "normal" learning process for these students. It was said that it is impossible to avoid gang stuff and there are no "nuetrons" anymore like there used be. Just having the teachers be positive and praise the students for the little things, good or bad; whether they got it correct or not, they put in that effort. It's little things like in the podcast one of the teachers said, "thank you for being to class on time." By teachers having strong personal connections with their students it can make a difference.
John Cronin
2/25/2021 07:04:46 am
I feel there are very few kids at Harper High that can afford to completely dedicate them selves to school. There was that one kid in part one who explained the isolation and loneliness that it took to succeed in school. On top of that there are often more important things to think about for these kids like navigating their walks home through the different gang territories.
LT
2/25/2021 07:05:33 am
When I listen to this podcast, I think about what it would be like to teach at a school like this. One of the things I notice is how many black and brown teachers the school employees and I admire that. And I want to be clear, I believe in decentering whiteness and so I don't mean let's make this all about me. And if I was teaching there, that's part of what I would need to remember as a white woman with mostly Black and Brown students--it's not about me. I would need to occupy a space where I am both not a part of the problem and also not imagining myself to be the solution. And I say all that because chances are students would not necessarily trust me. Further, I would want to make sure that my classes were rigorous as hell. Because, as LIsa Delpit, a scholar we will read later in the semester says, when white teachers dumb down curriculum or pass students along, we are not being kind, we are being racist. I would work for representation in the class in terms of reading and writing. And I would also make damn sure that my students understood what needs to happen for them to do well on standardized tests, AP tests, and that they are a well-versed in canon texts as any kid at any posh school. My evaluation would be the difference. My motto for the classroom is this, it's very Rose-centric: Risk, Fail, Recover. There needs to be space in a classroom for all of these things to happen, and the only place that you can make that happen is in assessent and evaluation practices. I also know that it would be a constant battle to get students who have been part of a racist public school system to believe that I wasn't tricking them. I deal with that here at BSU. It can be pretty exhausting, but that's the work.
Vanessa Semeraro
2/25/2021 07:05:50 am
Growing up in public schools during the time of heavy gun violence terrified me. Granted I went to a school that did not have high crime, didn't have much of a thought towards gun violence, but it terrified me every day going to school thinking it could happen to us. This podcast touched on the difficulties faced academically that lead students to feeling troubled, stuck or dumb. A higher education and teachers who genuinley care about each students progress and education creates and environment that is not only safer but also brighter for the child. Learning the basics and building up allows them to provide a better life for their future selves.
Maire-Elizabeth Sholes
2/25/2021 07:06:19 am
Reading and writing are important to the futures of all students, but it seems like in Harper High School that reading and writing assignments would be the farthest things from their minds, especially when the principle himself has to pull new students aside to learn about gang affiliations. That Students should have to worry about whether or not their gonna be safe in and around their schools breaks my heart, School should not ever be a place where students are afraid, it's supposed to be a place of safety and education, not a house of fear.
Cedes
2/25/2021 07:13:20 am
"I appreciate you in advance." -Crystal Smith (Social Worker)
Rosalie Barkley
2/25/2021 07:13:39 am
I feel like it could be next to impossible to think about reading Shakespeare or writing an essay when so many horrible things happen every day around you, or when you risk your life just by opening your front door. Something that stuck out to me, however, in the podcast was when a student mentioned wanting to just talk to someone sometimes. The social worker, who I find to be admirable and inspirational on several levels, clearly worked hard to help these students feel like they had someone to listen. I think that through reading and writing, these kids, or any others going through difficulties, could have an outlet for their feelings and experiences. Even though it does not take away the suffering that they are exposed to, it could help them be able to get themselves through it or feel less isolated.
Djenifer Goncalves
2/25/2021 07:15:46 am
After listening to the podcast, I was shocked at how students lived their lives. The one thing that came into mind while I was listening was, “Well, how are they expected to do good in school under such horrible circumstances.” I kept listening to the point where I didn’t even want to know what’s going to happen next. It was frustrating, yet very eye-opening. It made me realize how easy I’ve had it all my life, and I’m so grateful. My heart goes to all of the students that died in the shooting. I sympathized with all of the students, especially Dante (I think that was his name). He accidentally shot his 14-years old brother, and he blames himself for it. I can’t imagine the pain he and his family are going through. The way the school handled the situation was incredible. The way this school handled situations such as shootings, dress code, violence, and gangs is amazing. They even have busses drive down to the student’s house to pick them up for school. You can clearly tell that they care for the education and well-being of their students. When I teach, I have to keep in mind that every student comes from a different place and a different background. I loved how the administrator reached out to students. I loved how the students express how they feel, and what they’re going through. And I love how the teachers/ administrators never gave up on them. When I become a teacher, I want to teach in a diverse community. A community that’s just as open as they are, minus all the mass shootings.
Rachael Sweeney
2/25/2021 07:15:47 am
Professor Torda wasn't kidding, this podcast is heavy! I don't know if anyone else can relate to this, but for some reason when I imagine myself teaching I tend to always mindlessly picture myself at my own high school because that is all I know. Hearing stories like this reminds me of the reality of the differences in different schools, districts, and communities and how privileged I was to go to a nice high school in a nice district. It made me sad to hear that the gang mentality is so normal to these students and even the school police officer. It breaks my heart that students feel the need to join dangerous gangs in order to protect themselves and that gang activity is basically inevitable to them.
Rowan Kelley
2/25/2021 07:29:25 am
Given all the stress and other things occurring at Harper High, it is unsurprising that it doesn’t seem as if reading and writing assignments are important. The students are more concerned with surviving the walk home rather than assignments and have to worry about whether their friends or family will be alive when they get home. It was interesting that Devonte’s grade improved after the trauma of accidentally shooting his brother. The school represented a safe haven for him to thrive, especially considering he had overheard his mother thinking that maybe the shooting wasn’t an accident. I know that Harper High was trying to keep their students safe by sending them home so the school would not be targeted, but from my perspective, it almost sounds like they’re sending them home because they want to keep the school safe rather than their students. It’s a hard circumstance, but as long as the school creates a warm atmosphere for students to thrive and communicate openly, I do think the students would feel more comfortable opening up about what could have been happening at home or in the streets. Although the writing and reading aspect wasn’t touched upon much, I think the best plan would be for the school to somehow incorporate the students real life experiences with their learning. Leave a Reply. |
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