http://www.thismagazine.ca

Wow! Margaret Atwood and David Suzuki! Al Purdy! If these heroes like This Magazine I think I will too. Canadian! Yay! Wait a minute...have they become mainstream advertising pop icons when they once stood for advocacy of creative thought? Or am I accustomed to using celebrities in this way? Are movies that feature other cultures like 'Borat' creating a Neo-Racist atmosphere in our blooming garden of multiculturalism?

2006 Winners of the "Racism. Stop it!" National Video Competition

"Even if you just think it, it's still racism." (Silent Racism)
I was thinking of how my parent's generation and older seems to harbour prejudice toward race, while my generation and the children of today are more accustomed to multiculturalism. I think general consensus would be racism is wrong, yet my friend's grandma still says the N word and thinks 'coloured boys' shouldn't be a part of the local hockey team.

The best part of this anti-racism video competition is how all the students involved are growing in their knowledge and understanding of cultural diversity.

My favourite above all was from Winnepeg, "I'm Different."
It showed student testimonials of several etnicities, including caucasian, declaring "I'm different!" in fast edit repetition.

Another one that seemed to get the point across with minimal "backyard home movie" effect was "Grow Up." It was playful in it's use of instant replay and words like "cool."

Also notable was the fact some school ssubmitted videos in both English and French. Nothing says "Acceptance of Multiculturalism" like bilingualism!!!

'White' schools lack interest in racism (BBC)

As I was reading, I thought about how kids find ways to tease other kids because of their names, noticeable features, or just being different in some way ( when I was in school: Gebhart- "gibblefart", 4 eyes for glasses, shouting oxycute them! in regards to poor complexion).

In a community that is predominantly white, kids teasing other kids about race is hardly a giant shock- it's just something that stands out. That being said, if children were raised believing in cultural diversity, and teachers trained in "anti-racist policies" it still may not stamp out the problem of racist bullying and teasing. The article itself says teachers are not as aware as students about what is going on in the first place to counter it.

I do believe awareness of other cultures is very important, and that understanding is the key to stopping fear and hate, but I think this article is arbitrary. I've stood up for minorities when others insult their race, so next time they might just say 'hey skidmarks' instead of a derrogatory remark. Is this getting to the real issue?

Girls and Schooling: Their Own Critique (Smith Bourne and McCoy)

This article made me feel several things.

First of all, it seemed many of the teachers described in a Feminist perspective through focus group interviewing were ‘worst case scenarios’ or a negative-driven portrayal of teachers that are not only male supremists and sex perverts, but racists too.

“He hopes I get raped in the park and he’s there to watch.”

This is not an accurate description of male high school teachers in the 90’s. This is one jackass who should never be allowed to teach again.

The article claims there are more male teachers in high school, that they dominate subjects like math and science or phys ed. I went to high school when this article was published, allow me to list the teachers I had:
Biology 10/20: male/male
Chemistry 10/20: male/male
Math 10/20: male/male
Physics 10/20: male/male
English 10/20/30: male/female/male
Social 10/20/30: female/male/male
Art 10/20/30: female/female/female
Phys. Ed: female
Wood working/Metal working: male
Cooking/sewing: female

Hhhhmmmmmmmm………interesting.
The quote from my high school yearbook: “Thanks to Mr. B, Mr. M, Mr. A for making school fun…” Perhaps I was lucky I never encountered ‘teacher intimidation’ or discouragement, I always found the male teachers to be just as supportive and genuine (with exception to my grade 5 homeroom teacher, but that's elementary).

I agree with the article where it describes students not answering because they are afraid of saying the wrong thing, but I think this is the same for both sexes. I also agree the content of some subjects (particularly history, English and art) leave out significant women, but this is rapidly changing and has come leaps and bounds since 1995.

Teacher Job Fair

as were many PSII students, I was a job seeker and volunteer at the 2007 Teacher Job Fair on Friday...
wow the stuff I collected was so diverse and market driven.
a list of swag:

• bag of microwave popcorn


• box of Kraft Dinner


• box of Smarties (full-sized)


• candies, tins of mints, lollipops


• postcard of the Calgary skyline


• lapel pins


• flashlight keychains


• pencil toppers, psychadelic pencils, pens in boxes, clicky pens, erasers shaped like books, and the most interesting that I'll probably never use, the 3-coloured highlighter triangle

Despite all that money invested in eye-catching consumtion based commodities, the booths I found to attract the most attention throughout the day were ones with cheap pens or nothing but information. In particular, the school district of my hometown, districts near Calgary or Edmonton, and International opportunities. The Resouse Ed guy from Australia never had a moment to himself and I didn't even see pens at that booth.
I also found out you don't have to be Catholic to teach in some Catholic districts. It just helps.

How to Stop Little Girls Dressing Like Whores

Censorship will do nothing.
We need to embrace nudity!
If we were all nude, we may be cold, but there will be no kiddie-push up bras or thong underwear. Skirts will not be too short and there will be no plunging necklines.

Or, we need to have members of the sex trade, preferably teen runaways, come talk to students. Teen moms and rape victims would be good speakers too. Let the kids find out first hand what blow jobs and attention from men is really all about. Let's hear the testimonials of prostitutes who no longer feel human or rape victims who wish they would have been lucky enough to be murdered. Dressing like a sex object makes you one. Period.

Or, to stop the 'fad' of slutty student dressing, there is one last way.
Make it uncool to dress that way. Show them how trashy it looks! Hang your g-string out and don't bother with a shirt- a bra is good enough. If you dress like this- guys too- I'm sure everyone will agree on the value of school uniforms. Give them porno for free reading and in no time they will no longer be curious about sex!

Seriously though, the film today made me more angry and disgusted at the world than I have been in a long time. I came home and screamed until my throat was too sore to continue. I may be a bit of an extremist, but to remedy this problem we need to line up everyone without the basic moral value of decency and have them executed. Or blot out the sun and live as mole people without the sense of sight. As an artist I would sacrifice vision to have little girls feel good about themselves without looking like whores.

Boob Tube and Children's Brain Drain (Oldenburg)

Larger than Life:

When Oldenburg writes in the late 90's, "TV's with screens whose diagonals measure 27 inches and may soon stretch to 6 feet," it sounds like exaggeration, but the truth is that nowadays they are up to NINE FEET.

How can this not affect the minds of viewers?

I think it is more than a correlation between the 'remote control' generation and the epidemic of attention deficit disorders, decline of language skill, analytic skill, persistence, memory, creativity and being generally 'mentally unprepared.'

TV wastes time and makes you lazy. Like everything, take in moderation.

Stuff I Like

Scroll to the bottom to check out some stuff that reflects my identity...

How TV Influences Your Kids (Anderson)

I appreciate how this writer points out that parental involvement with television watching can stop negative behaviours, and if parents discourage aggressive behaviour their kids won’t be like the majority of aggressive children who watch too much violent TV. Parents should be a part of their children’s lives, absolutely.

Young children like the toddler described in the article can be easy to monitor TV consumption and prevent aggression, but I would say teens resist this type of authority and will find a way to view pornographic crime-glamourizing music videos and gory restricted movies and in turn be affected by this cultural influence.

The truth is that TV pop culture will be out of the parent’s control, although they’d like to think censorship keeps kids from harm, when it really makes it more desirable. That’s what I think anyway.

The Trouble with Television (Winn)

Many adults see TV as bad for kids. They may say it is too violent, sexually explicit and generally unsuitable, wishing the programming could be innocent, educational and censored. Rather than a worthwhile way to spend one’s time it is used as a “time-filler… tranquilizer… problem solver… procrastination device… punishment… and reward.”

TV stops families from participating in other activities. Children would rather gape mindlessly at the flickering box, leading to laziness, isolation and loss of imagination and creativity. The article also mentions TV’s link to loss of parental authority.

I agree that TV viewing is a serious addiction. I myself do not have cable and find my time filled with art, writing, and socializing, I don’t have time to waste absorbing what the media wants me to think or buy. On the other hand, TV shows are so easy to fall in to, if the set is on I may find myself starting to stare although I don’t really want to.

Why Kids Need Violent Entertainment (Jones)

Some of us grew up thinking violence, fear, greed and rage should be overcome or ignored. As humans, negative emotions are as important as positive ones and should not be disregarded. Violence in entertainment is one way to channel these feeling in a safe way rather than have them bottle up and become worse. The author mentions he withdrew into passivity and loneliness so as not to give in to his natural feelings that he was taught to deny. One can assume after years of hiding negative emotions they could manifest as serious mental problems, lack of social skills, or mass murder tendencies. I like the part of the article where the child is afraid of climbing trees until he reads Tarzan. In keeping kids from violent media, we are not saving them from becoming threats to society, rather forming them into passive, distrustful and easily manipulated adults.

Social Context Homework: Advertising in the Media

1. Magazine

Photo Life, January 2007
“The Art, Culture, and Science of Photography”

The lifestyle being portrayed is one of luxurious ease, depicting well-off single adults, who have access to unlimited commodities. There is an emphasis on ‘professionalism,’ innovative technology, nature, and obtainable perfection. One ad invites the reader into a world of narcissistic individualism with the line, “add your own special touch.”

The people in the ads are mostly women or just manicured hands holding photography equipment. The subject matter includes weddings, young children, and mothers photographing their children at the zoo. The only ad with a man shows a very expensive camera, a leather day planner and an expensive laptop showing an image of a man, alone, in his 20s or 30s leaning against his convertible sports car, “for those who appreciate excellence and demand performance.”

The ethnic groups depicted in the magazine are not diverse at all. They are all Caucasian except for one African American woman taking a photo of herself holding a microphone as her fans cheer for her.

The products in the magazine are being promoted by showing the equipment as something necessary for good photography. It would seem as though the magazine ads are geared towards women by the subject content.

2. Child-Oriented Website

www.YTV.com

The depiction of adults on this website (based on the television channel) is young, youthful, ‘role models.’ For example, one tv host for this channel is shown as a carefree, Peter-Pan type character whose age is undetermined and interests seem immature:

Name: Simon
Occupation: ZAPX host
Age: Old enough to see a PG movie!
Trademarks: Shaggy Hair, Goofy laugh, jumping over things

Or Ajay, who would miss his teddy bear if he were stranded on an island.

I was pleased with the portrayal of schools, libraries, and books on the website. After following a few links I found an advice column and one question was what to do about grouchy teachers, and the advice was to be well behaved! There are several links to reading game reviews and reading information on tv shows and characters. There are also promotional ads for an upcoming literacy event:

“Celebrate ABC CANADA Family Literacy Day, Saturday, January 27, 2007!”

Products being promoted to children included Chef Boyardee convenience food and
toys based on tv shows. The look of the site and content indicated to me it was more geared toward boys. The colours and shapes are loud and active, and there is only one female shown, yet several males.

3. Television Commercial

What product is being advertised? Subway convenience food

How is the product promoted? Interviews with ‘real’ Canadian people in the Subway store who testify to the quality and flavour of the sandwiches

What lifestyle is portrayed? Cape Breton easy-goingness, enjoying the taste of bacon

Gender roles: both sexes enjoy the “gigantic cornucopia of awesomeness” at Subway

The Explosion of Teen Magazines In and Out of Schools (Manohar)

Teens are now a major group of consumers. A product that adolescent girls are interested in is the genre of teen magazines written about beauty, fashion, and boys. I remember reading these magazines when I was a teenager, Cosmo and Seventeen.

Approval and the obsession of fitting in is how the article explains the consumption of these magazines. The article also states girls read these magazines to learn about adult issues and femininity. When I read them I would feel depressed, angry, and not fitting in because the content was geared towards rich, popular, girlie-girls. I boycotted these magazines for myself in favor of the Utne Reader or National Geographic by the time I was in high school.

When provided with the choice to read a popular teen magazine or something more substantial, the article claims teens found the ‘non-commercial feminist magazines’ to be boring. It should be about variety and choice, but dry content is just not as appealing as glossy photos of celebrities.

Manohar also describes different ways to integrate magazines into the classroom in subjects such as math, health, social, and language arts. If youth are interested in these magazines, I believe they should not be discouraged from reading. Rather, they should be taught how to be aware of the negative aspects of reading the magazines such as unrealistic expectations of self-image.

Hidden Curriculum in Harry Potter

much of children's literature is based in schools:

it provides a frame for the characters to experience life and rebellion,

exploring the (conflicts/friendships) of (peers/teachers)

to critique relationships between children and adults.

I am not at expert in the subtle nuances of British boarding school,
but the students at Hogwarts definitely have a hidden curriculum.

I was thinking about Harry's perception of his ancient-haunted-magic-castle
and dreary-Dursley homelives in terms of feeling safe and comfortable.

I was thinking about his growth and development under wise guidance
of Dumbledore and singled out negative treatment from Snape.

Most of all, after reflecting on this article, I thought about Harry forming
his own Defense Against the Dark Arts secret club in the secret rooms
of the castle in response to lack of proper instruction.

On a final note, I can't wait for Order of the Phoenix to come out this summer.

What is the School’s Hidden Curriculum Teaching Your Child? (Ausbrooks)

This article discusses the idea of what the student learns just by being in the school, with little connection to what the lesson plan objectives state. When you think back to your own school days it is what happens between learning we remember: friends and leisure, the social context of learning.

The term ‘hidden curriculum’ is used throughout the reading to refer to social development through peer interaction. The hidden curriculum is what creates a particular ‘learning environment,’ which takes place in classrooms, hallways, assemblies, and anywhere students gather with the possibility for peer interaction.

There are two ends of the scale of the hidden curriculum. The best, with growth, opportunity, and acceptance, is created by providing a comfortable, structured, and safe atmosphere. Alternately, the student can experience discouragement, negativity, and exclusion fueled by the trauma of adolescence in an atmosphere where there is insecurity.

Physical aspects of any school building convey a message about the type of atmosphere the students are learning in. This includes everything from classroom configurations and the colour of the walls, to display cases, art exhibitions and whatever is being shown as important. A school that cares about kids will make everyone feel at home.

Based on my own experiences as a student and student teacher, I completely agree with the article. I would definitely say popular culture, as well as peer interaction, has a lot to do with the lives of students. It is possible to ‘reveal’ this hidden curriculum by making lessons that strive to have objectives like acceptance and cooperation.

First Day

I am creating this blog to record my responses to reading in the class Education 3603. It was very easy to set up, and I think it is an excellent outlet for my writing habit. I started a blog once and made a one line entry, "do i have to call it blog...it really doesnt take much longer to say web log and maybe i want to call it e-diary. so there." haha. I didn't make any more entries.