Final presentation PART 2
Introduction
This blog post is a recapitulation of part 2 of my final presentation video for this course. I will summarize my learning over the course Concepts of Educational Inquiry (ED 800). I will give a brief summary of the books listed below and provide a link to my video that summarizes my learning related to the topics of each and share with you the connections that I have made across the units. The first book is Ain’t No makin it, by Jay MacLeod. Next, there’s Troublemakers by Carla Shalaby. Then I will summarize In Pursuit of Knowledge by Kabria Baumgardner. After that, Protecting the Promise by Timothy San Pedro. Finally, I will discuss Pedagogy of Resistance by Henry Giroux.
Ain’t No Makin’ It
Written by Jay MacLeod
The topic of Social Reproduction is examined through Jay MacLeod’s Ethnographic study in this first book. He conducts a study of young men growing up in a low-income housing project. He follows their progression into adulthood. The impact of social class is explored as it applies to academic aspirations and later to finding employment as an adult. There is an interaction between the inequalities faced by the young men and their individual ability to make decisions that influence their own level of success. I learned that the social class of the two groups (Hallway Hangers and Brothers) played a significant roll in how the young men approached life and growing into adulthood. It was not always the case that those who were white would somehow enjoy the benefits of stable jobs, good family life, and productive futures. In some cases, their habitus worked against them. That is to say, if they grew up in a low income family who placed little or no value on education, then there was a strong possibility that they would do the same based on the familiarity of the process. For example, Jinx is a member of the Hallway Hangers (white group) and he has potential but refuses to utilize it in exchange for continuing with the familiar behavior of hanging out with “his boys.”
In this book, the topic of schools as Socializing Institutions is examined through Carla Shalaby’s Portraiture. Disruptive behavior in the classroom is explored in this study of schools as socializing institutions. This unit studied educational justice and explored the push back by some families and communities against conventional perspectives on young learners who are typically perceived/ labeled as troublemakers. The research aligns with and advocates for compassionate and transformative approaches to the dynamics of the classroom. I learned that classroom culture can clash with family culture. This causes a barrier for young learns as they try to navigate the contrasting notion of what is expected of them at home and what is expected of them in school. I was not surprised to learn that there are systemic factors that contribute to disruptive behavior in some young learners. For example, students who face discriminatory practices may act out as a response. This was shown in the portraiture of Zora. She is a young learner who comes from a culturally mixed family. The belief systems that were taught to her from her family did not coincide with those systems that the majority (white children) in her classroom, were brought up on. As a result, she was discriminated against based on her families differences. This created a view that she was, somehow, a troublemaker and nonconformer.
In this book the topic of Educational Activism is examined through Kabria Baumgartner’s Historical Analysis. Throughout the book the idea of “Purposeful womanhood” reoccurred as a call to action for those who opposed racism and unfair practices, such as when women of color attempted to get an education. In addition to fighting for the right to be educated, many of the women of color also had to prove that they had some sort of measurable worth. They worked hard to overcome the stereotypes about women (i.e. uneducated, without skills, without ambition). The book took a look at the Canterbury Female Seminary in the first part and the Young Ladies Domestic Seminary. These private female seminaries where known for producing educated women of color. They encountered violence and ridicule as a result of wanting to establish a purpose in life.
In this book the topic of Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy is examined through Timothy San Pedro’s Indigenous Research Methodologies. Blending ethnographic research and personal narrative helps the author(s) illustrate the intricacies of Indigenous education. The relationship between a mother and her children is vital for the transmission of knowledge from generation to generation. In this book I learned that keeping cultural traditions strong in the community was a significant responsibility of the mother and this would sometimes necessitate being aggressive against the local governments and those in power over the Indigenous communities. For example, Demetrius mentioned that school was uninteresting because he did not see a representation of himself in the things that were being taught. Pushing back against the Western curricula is one way that the leaders in the community exerted their collective powers over local government/ lawmakers. I also learned about the 4R’s, responsibility, respect, reciprocity, and relationality. I felt that the book was insightful in shedding light on the challenges and triumphs that come along with preserving the promise of Indigenous education.
In this book the topic of Critical Pedagogy is examined through Henry A. Giroux’s Philosophy of Education. He explains that the achievement of Critical Pedagogy depends on Critical Consciousness. Being aware of the negative forces in the world and work to eradicate them. The forces of Trumpism and White Supremacy calls for the explicit need for Critical Pedagogy. He also illustrates how Pedagogy of Resistance can be a tool for fighting back against those negative forces. I learned that there are many philosophers who actively think, talk, and write about topics in pedagogy. Giroux’s argument seems to center on education being significant in the fight against ignorance. At first glance, I felt that was a given. As I read and analyzed more of his writing, I though more deeply about his argument. He also posits that education is taking away individual freedom. I am not sure if I agree with this 100% because for some groups, not having the education will lessen your freedoms.