Tracking: Why Schools Need to Take Another Route
By Jeannie Oakes

I personally understand what Oakes is trying to explain in this reading. I myself was tracked because of my IEP. I was never allowed to take Honors classes because no teacher would recomend me. That killed my chances of going to my college of choice. Also, being in the Special Education programs, I saw lots of kids talents and abilities get discouraged. The teachers and advisors never seem to get past our learning differences.

I do not think that we need to get rid of the classes and programs we have today. I would never have made it through High School with out IEP. I needed help reading, with language, not with understanding math or science. What really needs to be removed in the mentality that some kids will suceed more than others. Just because a student chooses to be a mechanic does not mean he is less sucessful than another who becomes a doctor.

Aria

By Richard Rodriguez

I did not agree with the Article when I irst started to read it. I am very much an American in the sense that I believe America is an English speaking country. I have no problem with people speaking different languages in public, but I think when you're ordering something from a restaurant or talking to tech support about you computer problem, it should be in English. I understand Rodriguez personal issue with having to had learned English and have it become more natural for him. I do think people should learn another language to expand on there knowledge. I just think America speaks English. People knew that when they came over.

Rodriguez discusses his own issues with dealing with the transition of speaking mainly Spanish to speaking mainly English. He even remembers when he stopped calling it ingles and starting calling it English. He also talks about not knowing what to call his parents, whether he should still call them mama and papa or mom and dad like other children. It is obvious that he resisted the change very much, just as I am aware that I don't like the idea of a Bilingual America.

However, his learning English gave his parents more confidence in themselves. His mother had become more social, and his father spoke of English with less resentment and bitterness than he had previously. Also, in learning English, he was being taught Delpits Code of Power. To be sucessful in America, you must learn English. While he did resist, he was giving a more level playing field.

While learning English had both negative and posituve affects on him, in the long run, he even admits it was a good thing. He is more comfortable with speaking both languages and maintaining his identy as a Spanish speaking American and an English speaking American.

White Privilege

White Privilege
I thought that the entire writing was honest and to the point, both things I find very remarkable. She like Johnson said that we need to say the words in order for something to be done about these hidden problems that are very much out in the open. I thought her list was accurate and eye opening. She points out on number 15 that “I am never asked to speak for all the people of my racial group.” When I read it, I realized that I expect someone who is different than me to speak on behalf of the whole group. I know that I make judgments by what they say on that particular group. I have never been asked to speak for a group unless in a formal situation, in which it was only a 4-H club, but my speech was rehearsed and looked over careful.
I also like number 26 on the list. She says “I can choose blemish cover or bandages in “flesh” color that more of less matches my skin.” Even something as simple as that reinforces the whole idea that whiteness is held higher and more respectively than other people of color. I was astonished at something so small affecting our ideals, but it makes sense. I see that even the little things we do, or don’t do, encourage this mentality.

Intro to me!

Hey there everyone, I am Lydia. First off, forgive me if I have horrible grammer and spelling. I am working on it, but feel free to tell me if I have made a mistake. I am 19 years old and am going to become a Special Education teacher. I actually have no idea what to write about myself, mainly because I am way more interesting in person. But, here goes nothing... I live on a farm when I'm not at school. We have dogs, cats, chickens, cows, horses, rabbits, goats, parrotkeets, a cockatiel and a ferret. And yeah, its alot of work. I show cows in 4-H and know how to horse backride, but have never shown a horse. I currently work as a nanny. I love kids, and as far as I can tell, they like me back, lol. I am very hands on and active, which I think is mostly from my ADD. I actually want to work with Special education kids because I felt that even after I was told I was ADD and dyslexic, no one really helped me to learn to cope and compensate for it. But that is pretty much me in a nutshell!