Recap, Then Moving On

I'm back from spring break. Like most people, I'm probably not ready to be back from what little bit of free time I had, but then I remember how much time I actually have left in school. As of right now, I have approximately fifty-one days left until graduation. That's only ten days left of class. I figured I can hang in there for that many days.

To remind myself where I've been this year, I decided to look back at the different texts I've read (and documentaries I've watched) since January.

1. The Examined Life
When I watched this film, I remember reacting to each speaker in some way. I either agreed or disagreed with what they said. For some, I couldn't stand the way they spoke while, with others, their speaking style lead me along with their ideals, thus making the ideals make sense to me. I then realized that personality and writing styles affect the way I read a text. In general, this film made me start thinking about the way I view life.

2. Shame of the Nation
This book really upset my way of viewing the school system. However, it did not invite me to start thinking about how to change the way public schools are. 

3. Waiting for Superman

This documentary is also about the school systems in the United States. Unlike Kozol's Shame of the Nation, however, it made me want to take action. It made me want to home school any eventual children I may have. A few weeks ago, my boyfriend and I were talking about school systems and I realize now that, since I watched this movie, I have yet again changed my mind about raising children. Public schools are important. I still think it's ridiculous to have to pay a tuition that is almost the amount people pay for college education in order for a child to go to a private school. However, I decided that public schools still have a chance. Some public schools are better than others. That's a point I believe most people agree with. I am now leaning more to sending my child to a decent public school and being involved in their learning as they grow up.

4. Creating Capabilities

This is a book that I would love to return to when I have plenty of time to digest what Nussbaum is saying. However, the parts that I read did make me think about human dignity, as well as about what elements of her central capabilities I see reinforced or denied everyday in myself and in others. 

5. Cosmopolitanism

Appiah is a prime example of being swept away by the personality and writing style of an author. As I read this, I found myself understanding his points and even agreeing with him in many instances. However, these lifestyle choices (such as living a cosmopolitan lifestyle) can be difficult to weave into everyday life. I remember when he spoke about understanding why certain people view certain behaviors one way while I may disagree. Unless this is in the forefront of your mind, it is much easier to have an emotion reaction than to stop and think about why someone may have done whatever you are reacting to. So, how do we entwine ideals of how to react and how to treat people into everyday interactions?

6. Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?

This was an interesting book for me. I actually found myself disagreeing with what was being said for the first time. Then, I realized that I disagreed more with Tatum's definition of racism than I did anything else. Once I realized that, I started seeing her point in many of her arguments. I agreed with many of Tatum's discussions on the development of people. I found myself thinking about how I view myself and why. It's really something that I have been thinking about for a while: who am I and how do I view myself? Can I change the things about myself that I don't like? These questions are ongoing.

7. Pedagogy of the Oppressed

Oh, Paulo Freire. How you make me and everyone else think. Seriously, though, this is an intense book full of information and invitations to think about how his theories can apply to real life. This is another book that I'd really like to revisit . . . just maybe not when I have too much on my plate. It's a book that takes a lot of time and concentration to get through. 

I believe that brings me up to this week. Tuesday, I watched the first part of Waging a Living. Honestly, from what I saw, I have no desire to watch the rest. I know what it feels like to get paid barely above minimum wage. I actually got angry that the people in the film complained about making eleven dollars an hour. Of course, then I realized that the standard price of living is higher where they live. However, I make less than eight dollars an hour at a job where I leave exhausted, greasy, and sweaty. I'm in a serious relationship with someone who makes barely more than I do and pays child support. Rent in Asheville for a one-bedroom apartment is rarely under $500 per month. I was lucky and found a trailer for $350 per month, but it's old, so my heating bill was well in the hundreds this winter. Working part-time for barely above minimum wage while going to school and trying to make sure I had enough money for rent and bills and groceries and gas meant little to no shopping money. So, unless this film takes a turn of direction and gives advice for getting a decent job and making a comfortable living, I already know how hard it is and don't need a film to tell me.

On a brighter note, I have begun reading Unequal Childhoods and am really enjoying it. Not only is it making me think about the way I was raised - in middle school, either Mom or my neighbor took me to school, then I rode the bus home, where I did homework before going to dance class (my brother also took dance and had similar hours as my classes) - but it's also making me consider how I want to raise my children eventually. From what I've read so far, I can certainly realize that there is no perfect way. I'm reading the chapter about Garrett right now. I certainly think that organized activities are fine, and even good, for children. However, I feel this family is too extreme. Two soccer teams, basketball, baseball, saxophone, and piano for one child? That's a lot. It's exhausting to the child, exhausting to the parents, and frustrating for the younger brothers who may not be as talented in sports. I was raised in a family that loved sports. However, they recognized that I excelled in arts and academics, so they didn't push me to play sports. This family seems to be pushing Spencer to play sports even though he isn't interested, and seem to not praise the fact that he excels in academics as much as they praise his older brother. 

With all things in life, there needs to be a balance. With children, I'm starting to get stronger in my opinion that there should be a healthy balance of school, extracurricular, and family time. When it comes to pushing a child in any direction, people should pay attention to what the child is interested in and excels in and encourage the child in that direction.