Searching for propaganda the other day, I found some interesting articles on my topic. Funny how I couldn’t find them before when I was doing the actual research for the paper -_-.
I found a MCS research, evaluation, and assessment site, with results on the TCAP and ACT tests. I checked the TCAP first, and the site provided me with a list of schools and their results.
For example, A.B. Hill school only scored 47% proficient in 2003, and has only increased to 51% since 2006. The next school on the list, Alcy, scored an 80% in 2003, but has dropped to 75% in 2006. I thought our schools were looking bad based off these first two results, but looking further down the list, we really aren’t doing so bad.
For example, Bruce went from a 46% to an 80%. Carnes went from a 37% to a 73%. Fairley Al. went from a 39% to an 80%. These are some pretty drastic changes in only 3 years. Maybe our schools are more on top of it than everyone thinks.
While it does look like most of the schools are doing increasingly better, there are still quite a few who are barely improving at all. This gives me some good information for both sides of the issue.
It was said in class Tuesday that a good argument brings up both sides of the spectrum, and this is definitely true. I will definitely use this for the ‘our schools are doing better than you think’ side.
Source: http://memphisdemo2.extranet.urbanplanet.com/sites/974cdc6f-b867-4129-8e23-506faae79343/uploads/Tbl_2_Grade_5__2003-04_to_2005-06__2-20-07_.pdf
Friday, February 8, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Propaganda Searching
Well I’m searching for some propaganda and I came across this Memphis City School Teachers website that had the slogan: Be the difference in our city schools. Apply now.” That doesn’t seem like much, I’m not even 100 percent sure it’s propaganda, but it stroke as a little odd. A picture on the main page also said: “How will you change Memphis? Teach.” It seems like propaganda for teachers. To me, these quotes say that Memphis City School Teachers really do change and empower students to be better people. Now, I’m not saying they don’t, I’ve never been taught by a City School teacher, but this goes against what I have heard about Memphis City School teachers.
In class a couple of weeks ago one student in our class talked about how his Spanish teacher didn’t really teach and he wasn’t able to learn any Spanish (I’m not entirely sure that’s all correct, but I think that’s what he said). I have always heard of public school teachers being like this. Not really teaching the kids or challenging them. Of course, it’s probably just a stereotype.
As I got more to thinking about it, I was just going to discard that ‘propaganda’ about the teachers. But then I remembered the school shooting that happened a couple of days ago. If the Memphis City School teachers are really doing their job, then why are we having things like school shootings and violence? Maybe it was mostly home or parental issues, but the teachers count too. Shouldn’t teachers be doing the job of helping teach kids about violence?
If anyone has their own ideas or experiences about City School teachers feel free to leave a comment (I need it). Are they really as bad as I hear?
In class a couple of weeks ago one student in our class talked about how his Spanish teacher didn’t really teach and he wasn’t able to learn any Spanish (I’m not entirely sure that’s all correct, but I think that’s what he said). I have always heard of public school teachers being like this. Not really teaching the kids or challenging them. Of course, it’s probably just a stereotype.
As I got more to thinking about it, I was just going to discard that ‘propaganda’ about the teachers. But then I remembered the school shooting that happened a couple of days ago. If the Memphis City School teachers are really doing their job, then why are we having things like school shootings and violence? Maybe it was mostly home or parental issues, but the teachers count too. Shouldn’t teachers be doing the job of helping teach kids about violence?
If anyone has their own ideas or experiences about City School teachers feel free to leave a comment (I need it). Are they really as bad as I hear?
Monday, February 4, 2008
Percival Everette's Book Reading
Well I just got back from the book reading by Percival Everett a few hours ago. Honestly, it wasn’t as bad as I’d thought it would be. I mean when you say the words ‘book reading’ together, it usually doesn’t entitle anything fun. But it was interesting.
What I liked about it was, number one, he wrote fiction, and number two, the novel he read parts of was non-linear and total brainstorming. It was interesting to hear how someone else freely thinks and writes instead of being subjected to a boring account of some historical event (not that history is bad, but it can be made really boring). It was definitely different.
For example, he dropped the f-bomb repeatedly in one of his segments. The most memorable quote was the opening: “I come from a nation of stupid fucks.” Now that’s a keeper.
I liked the readings, but the part I liked best was actually the Q & A at the end. I’ve never heard an author answer questions like that, so getting insight as to how their mind works or what they think was cool. I got a lot of good quotes from that like, they way a writer writes is the way he understands the world. Or to write you need to stop thinking and play. Or writing is a way admitting you don’t know anything (or something like that. I didn’t get it word for word). Just listening to those words really causes me to think. I mean, to write you need to stop thinking and play? Or writing is admitting you don’t know anything? That’s pretty deep.
I think what he was trying to say was to just let your heart or your feelings do the writing. Experiment or ‘play’ with words and ideas and don’t get too caught up with ‘Does it make sense?’ or ‘Is that correct?’. Your fiction story would probably be a lot better.
As for the other quote, “Writing is admitting you don’t know anything”, I haven’t come up with a good translation for that one! I’ll think about it more, and if it’s another free blog week I’ll expand on it.
See you guys in class tomorrow!
What I liked about it was, number one, he wrote fiction, and number two, the novel he read parts of was non-linear and total brainstorming. It was interesting to hear how someone else freely thinks and writes instead of being subjected to a boring account of some historical event (not that history is bad, but it can be made really boring). It was definitely different.
For example, he dropped the f-bomb repeatedly in one of his segments. The most memorable quote was the opening: “I come from a nation of stupid fucks.” Now that’s a keeper.
I liked the readings, but the part I liked best was actually the Q & A at the end. I’ve never heard an author answer questions like that, so getting insight as to how their mind works or what they think was cool. I got a lot of good quotes from that like, they way a writer writes is the way he understands the world. Or to write you need to stop thinking and play. Or writing is a way admitting you don’t know anything (or something like that. I didn’t get it word for word). Just listening to those words really causes me to think. I mean, to write you need to stop thinking and play? Or writing is admitting you don’t know anything? That’s pretty deep.
I think what he was trying to say was to just let your heart or your feelings do the writing. Experiment or ‘play’ with words and ideas and don’t get too caught up with ‘Does it make sense?’ or ‘Is that correct?’. Your fiction story would probably be a lot better.
As for the other quote, “Writing is admitting you don’t know anything”, I haven’t come up with a good translation for that one! I’ll think about it more, and if it’s another free blog week I’ll expand on it.
See you guys in class tomorrow!
Friday, February 1, 2008
Memphis Blogs
Okay, it’s Friday night and I’m officially out of things to say. I know all of our blog posts were supposed to be about Memphis blogs this week, so I guess I’ll just talk about Memphis blogs in general.
Before that though, it seems like no one from our class is posting this week. I don’t blame you. I just did 4 blog posts today and it is tiring. I had a ton of work and that 3 page paper we had to do this week. Someday I will learn how to prioritize my life. Someday. But Wendy, can we shorten up on the number of weekly blogs……please? I know I’m fighting a losing battle here…
Back to Memphis blogs, I’ve already stated in comments that they are a little boring. They really do help my report, but it was hard to blog about them this week. I guess not much is going on this week. Well, most of them were about politics, and politics is not my thing. I managed to find a few interesting posts though, or at least interesting enough to blog about. I found a bunch of stuff on the presidential race, but couldn’t talk about that. I don’t keep up with it.
Yes, I’ve reached 200 words, so I’m out.
See you Tuesday.
Before that though, it seems like no one from our class is posting this week. I don’t blame you. I just did 4 blog posts today and it is tiring. I had a ton of work and that 3 page paper we had to do this week. Someday I will learn how to prioritize my life. Someday. But Wendy, can we shorten up on the number of weekly blogs……please? I know I’m fighting a losing battle here…
Back to Memphis blogs, I’ve already stated in comments that they are a little boring. They really do help my report, but it was hard to blog about them this week. I guess not much is going on this week. Well, most of them were about politics, and politics is not my thing. I managed to find a few interesting posts though, or at least interesting enough to blog about. I found a bunch of stuff on the presidential race, but couldn’t talk about that. I don’t keep up with it.
Yes, I’ve reached 200 words, so I’m out.
See you Tuesday.
Watchdog Post
“THE POLITICIANS WANT TO TAKE AWAY YOUR VOTE. THEY WANT TO APPOINT YOUR SHERIFF, YOUR TAX ASSESSOR, YOUR TRUSTEE AND OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS. THEIR PLAN IS CONSOLIDATION AND THIS IS THE FIRST STEP.”
Well, still trying to find Memphis blogs to blog about and I ran across this one. What caught me was the line: “to retain the right to choose your own Sheriff, Tax Assessor, Trustee, Register and County Clerk. Letting the Mayor appoint these important jobs gives any Mayor too much power over your lives and pocketbook.”. I just thought to myself, ‘shouldn’t people get to vote for that kind of stuff anyway?’ I know I’d be displeased being a tax-paying Memphian (and I will be as soon as I actually move out >_<).
I’m all for freedom, so letting the Mayor control me like that would make me a little ticked off. Especially controlling my nonexistent pocketbook.
I think people should sign this petition-‘it’s for a good cause.’ 100,000 signatures is a lot, I hope they make it. More voting could be a good thing, at least it gives people the thought of knowing they can control something. Of course voting does leave the chance of someone uncapable being elected. But I’d rather take that risk personally.
Well, still trying to find Memphis blogs to blog about and I ran across this one. What caught me was the line: “to retain the right to choose your own Sheriff, Tax Assessor, Trustee, Register and County Clerk. Letting the Mayor appoint these important jobs gives any Mayor too much power over your lives and pocketbook.”. I just thought to myself, ‘shouldn’t people get to vote for that kind of stuff anyway?’ I know I’d be displeased being a tax-paying Memphian (and I will be as soon as I actually move out >_<).
I’m all for freedom, so letting the Mayor control me like that would make me a little ticked off. Especially controlling my nonexistent pocketbook.
I think people should sign this petition-‘it’s for a good cause.’ 100,000 signatures is a lot, I hope they make it. More voting could be a good thing, at least it gives people the thought of knowing they can control something. Of course voting does leave the chance of someone uncapable being elected. But I’d rather take that risk personally.
TN Schools Rank 16
“good news i think”
This post at a Field Guide to Urban City Memphis stated that Tennessee ranked 16th in the nation for public education. That’s a pretty good piece of info for my paper. It does go against everything I looked up though XD.
In one of my earlier posts I had stated that I had heard Tennessee fell pretty low in a nation-wide school ranking (we’re talking bottom five here). This was…around 3 years ago I think. Three years is a lot of time to improve, but I’m also hearing and reading that the schools are getting worse. They did just get rid of the Gateway test, so maybe standards are being raised. Either that or all of the other schools in the country are seriously slacking.
Looking at the image thumbnail, Tennessee scored a C+. That’s average, but it could be a bit better. I’m not so much a perfectionist that I’d keep trying to get an A+ or something, but it’s definitely a start.
This is just Tennessee though. What about Memphis schools ranking? I’m sure I can find something once I look it up. I need to find what Memphis schools rank in a state-wide or even nation-wide review. That would definitely help me write more for my report.
This post at a Field Guide to Urban City Memphis stated that Tennessee ranked 16th in the nation for public education. That’s a pretty good piece of info for my paper. It does go against everything I looked up though XD.
In one of my earlier posts I had stated that I had heard Tennessee fell pretty low in a nation-wide school ranking (we’re talking bottom five here). This was…around 3 years ago I think. Three years is a lot of time to improve, but I’m also hearing and reading that the schools are getting worse. They did just get rid of the Gateway test, so maybe standards are being raised. Either that or all of the other schools in the country are seriously slacking.
Looking at the image thumbnail, Tennessee scored a C+. That’s average, but it could be a bit better. I’m not so much a perfectionist that I’d keep trying to get an A+ or something, but it’s definitely a start.
This is just Tennessee though. What about Memphis schools ranking? I’m sure I can find something once I look it up. I need to find what Memphis schools rank in a state-wide or even nation-wide review. That would definitely help me write more for my report.
Voting Post
“decisions, decisions...”
I just read this post over at a Field Guide to Urban Memphis. I completely agree about the voting issue. I’m already 19 years old, but haven’t even registered to vote. And I’ll be honest-it’s a lack of caring. Politics just doesn’t interest me at all. I’m sure I’ll change a little when I really get out there in the working world, but for now I’d rather remain blissfully ignorant (in terms of what’s going on in politics).
Back to the post, I like the part about not voting because of apathy rather than ignorance. What good would I do voting and not knowing what the hell I’m doing? I could very well help someone get into office I wouldn’t even like or agree with. I guess people just do it to say “I’m a citizen. I vote.” or so that they don’t feel useless maybe. Voting is very important, don’t get me wrong, but I’m all for people knowing what and who they’re voting for. The only way to do that is for people to really look at and review the candidates. You’ve got to know what they’re standing for and what they believe. And try not to get it of a cheesy campaign poster.
I just read this post over at a Field Guide to Urban Memphis. I completely agree about the voting issue. I’m already 19 years old, but haven’t even registered to vote. And I’ll be honest-it’s a lack of caring. Politics just doesn’t interest me at all. I’m sure I’ll change a little when I really get out there in the working world, but for now I’d rather remain blissfully ignorant (in terms of what’s going on in politics).
Back to the post, I like the part about not voting because of apathy rather than ignorance. What good would I do voting and not knowing what the hell I’m doing? I could very well help someone get into office I wouldn’t even like or agree with. I guess people just do it to say “I’m a citizen. I vote.” or so that they don’t feel useless maybe. Voting is very important, don’t get me wrong, but I’m all for people knowing what and who they’re voting for. The only way to do that is for people to really look at and review the candidates. You’ve got to know what they’re standing for and what they believe. And try not to get it of a cheesy campaign poster.
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