Babies Extra Credit

You The Man Extra Credit

I think that the one man show "Your The Man" focused on the many different aspects of domestic violence. You don't have to be the abuser or the one being abused in order to be apart of domestic violence. As seen in the play none of the characters were directly in the abusive relationship, but they were all affected by it. 'Virgin Larry' was peer pressured into witnessing domestic violence, Jana's father saw what she was going through however didn't know how to approach her, Mitch was the main one trying to get through to Jana, and 'Stan the Man' was basically giving advice on different relationship situations that may lead to domestic violence. All of these characters were affected by domestic violence without really knowing it.


A main dynamic that could lead to staying in a relationship with domestic violence is commitment/love. In Jana's case, she loved her boyfriend so much that she was committed to staying with him. I think that this commitment that one person has can lead to hope. The person getting abused is sop committed to their abuser that the 'hope' that they will change. When Jana is talking with Mitch in the library she lists the bad thing that her boyfriend does in the relationship, however she then goes on to say that he was so loving that she hopes that he can change. She believes that maybe if she stops doing what she is doing, he will stop taking his anger out on her. In the 'Virgin Larry' case, he was so committed to being popular (and apart of the basketball team) that he went against what he knew was wrong and watched a video of his teammate raping a girl. He saw that the girl protested a little, but he still didn't think that his team mate was capable of doing something like that. Since he went along with something he knew was wrong, he had to face the repercussions.


I also think that the person being abused has such a low self esteem that they are committed to the idea of being in love, leading to them staying abusive relationships. Like Jana, they may truly believe that their partner loves them. Despite the abuse going on in the relationship, the companionship with the other person may actually boost their low self confidence. Jana began telling her friend Mitch things like "He didn't mean it" or "He really does love me" to hide her abuse, but also to make herself believe that her boyfriend does really love her (to help boost her self esteem).

I feel the "You The Man" play is very beneficial to teenagers, especially the freshman who were the majority at the play and the discussion. When it comes to domestic violence teenagers think that it cant happen to them. The play is good for people in this age range because it shows domestic violence from so many different point of views (Jana's Dad, Jana's friend, a relationship adviser, Jana's teacher, and a teenager who has witnessed abuse) that were relatable. These point of views of the different characters showed how you can be affected to domestic violence even if you aren't directly apart of it.

HW 54

The results of my Myers-Brigg's test was ESFJ, which stands for Extroverted (59.38%), Sensing (51.28%), Feeling (52.94%), and Perceiving (50%). I feel that this test is somewhat accurate. Based off of my results I feel like they do explain who I am to an extent. The program described me as a "Seller", someone who is sociable and would be a great hostess. They have me down as an extroverted very talkative person, which i feel is not completely true. Yes, I can be talkative at times, but a lot of the time i feel like I'm a more private person. Especially when it comes to meeting new people, and being in a new environment. I also feel like the results where correct when it came to SF. I'm a very emotional person, and sometimes let my emotions take over my decision making.

I think that these results would be more useful if the test was taken multiple times, to see if I got the same or similar results. If these results were to seem accurate, they could explain why i act/feel the way I do, or may clear up my personality.

HW 48

-black male teacher
- rough background
- teaches students what they need to survive


It's Mr. Raymond's first day as a a high school math teacher. As he walks into the building, he can't help but remember his years here. Years of comming just for attendence, and cutting class, until finally he was sent to a detention center for selling drugs outside of school.

(Flash to the empty class room) As he is preparing his class he can't help but think of his purpose here. He knows what his students are struggling with between school and their personal lives. He wants to make sure that what they are learning in his math class will benefit them in the future.

As the year goes on, the students become restless and start to question what the hell is algebra going to do for them in the future?

Mr. Raymond presents students with their first assignment. Pick any career you want and create a monthly budget using the algebraic strategies they've been discussing.

Follow a couple of students journey through the assignment. Those who struggle with it, and then those who are excited about their potential career.

HW 46

During the break instead of reading a novel, I decided to read a few articles and did a interview on my topic. The 3 articles I read were "Schooling in Capitalist America Revisited" by Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis (26pgs.), "Why is Corporate America Bashing Our Public Schools" by Kathy Emery and Susan Ohanian (16pgs.), and "Channel One Enters the Media Literacy Movement" by Steven Manning (4 pgs.).

The main article I read was " Schooling in Corporate America Revisited". the article is basically the revisions of their original book ("Schooling in Capitalist America"), with new evidence that supports or goes against their previous views. Their objective was for education to help make a better economy for everyone without the different prejudices. They were hoping that learning opportunities wouldn't limit people from obtaining the education they wanted. America is still struggling to obtain these objectives. These objectives are looked through human development, inequality, and social change to see how education is affected.

Parts of this article relate to my topic because it shows how public education fails in some ways. The article basically gave me another point of view on schools. Besides explaining how society has an effect on education, it also explained the social aspect of school. How family income offers advantages and disadvantages when it shouldn't. Also how schools in America really only prepare students for 'the hierarchical structure of the modern corporation'.

I totally agree that schools just prepare us for the adult work environment. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but isn't school supposed to be about learning about various topics so you you can be an 'all- around smarter person)? Preparation for working is all hat matters. It seems like less time is focused on the curriculum of school, and more on the social aspect of it. The ideas of respect , authority, compromise, and many other communication skills come from being in school (If not already being taught at home). Being able to succeed in any type of workplace seems to be the focus of schools in America.

HW 45 - More Big Thoughts on Schools

From these texts on Sizer and Hirsch, both were founding fathers of two forms of education. Hirsch who focuses on elementary schools, believes in testing and knowing the facts. He believes that first grader should be able to "read and know basic number facts by the end of the first grade". This doesn't seem hard to do, since most first graders (that i know) are able to do this. Sizer however believes that students should be able to leave high school with a higher understanding of things, and a valuable worker in the community.

I agree with Hirsch's technique and think that it works for the age group he is targeting. In elementary school kids are still eager to go to school. They haven't yet started to feel that they hate school and its pointless. I think that since they are still in the process of becoming independent from their parents, they are more eager to learn and go along with what they're learning.

Even though I don't fully agree with Sizer's point of view, I think that it fits society now. Today knowing the facts are enough of a challenge. It seems like now a days everyone is being challenged to question things and know how to think deeper about a situation. I don't think that taking a test or drilling math facts will help contribute to something like problem solving. I think it is beneficial for the student to think deeper or about different aspects of a topic rather than just knowing the facts.

This argument that Hirsch and Sizer have been having for years seems silly to me, because they can be combined. Hirsch's technique works for the younger kids because it doesn't seem like much on a challenge. However, as they get ready to leave elementary school and get ready to head middle school they are still gaining independence. As they get older they can be challenged with deeper thought. They can still learn the facts about a topic, but should then be eased into thinking about the significance or alternatives of the topic.

HW 44- Big Expectations For School

Everyone has big expectations of school myself included. School is supposed to be a learning environment where you learn things form American History to calculus. However, a lot of the time I am not learning to better myself, but rather to just push through. A lot of the time I feel like I go to school, do the work, and make sure I understand the material because that is what I'm supposed to do. That's what I'm supposed to do if I want to go to a good college, and get a decent paying job. In other words I do this so i can achieve the basic American idea of success.

I feel like education in America is set up for me to ignore this feeling, but still keeps me going with this plan that the norm is supposed to follow. I get this from the liberal arts Op-Ed piece as well. Last year as I was getting my college list together, I was trying to decide if a big university of a small liberal arts school was the best for me. I kept hearing that liberal arts colleges would provide me with a 'well rounded education' that I would need as an adult. This article seems to focus how the liberal arts education route will help the student in their career. Besides enhancing critical thinking and communication skills, basic learning skills are needed in the work force. On one hand I feel like liberal arts is a great way to develop thinking skills and make the smarter. However I feel like they are a part of the setup as well. Yeah, they are trying to create better development, but it seems like this only so we can get a good job. I'm not sure whether I think liberal arts schools are good or bad. I think that it's just another way to make us think that it's a better institution than what was previously offered, basically it's preparing us for the same thing, but in a different way.

As I was reading the Op-Ed article on liberal arts colleges, they mention how their schools prepares students to be better employees. The opinion piece about separate schools for employees and entrepreneurs by Robert Kiyosaki (author of "Rich Dad, Poor Dad"). I never considered that school is preparing us to be good employees instead of good business leaders/owners. By giving this option, I think that everyone is going to feel like they are too good for being an employee. I feel like everyone is going to aim to become an entrepreneur, who will be willing to work as an employee anymore? I do agree that American education needs an 'injection on innovation' to make it a better system, but I don't think that this is the innovation it needs.