this i believe

I believe in passion. I don’t necessarily mean love, but I mean true dedication and involvement. A family needs a loving mother or father to be the workhorse of the family. Rough times call upon you and it is up to the members to show who they really are and how much they are willing to do for a cause. Odds may be stacked against me or have me backed into a corner, but I feel that I can pull myself out. I strongly believe that through hard work and determination, the passion and emphasis I can put into something can work me or any other out of whatever hole they might be in. Giving up is not an option for a passionate person. In the words of Neil Young, “It is better to burn out than it is to fade away.” I would rather go down swinging than surrender like a coward. If one possess the will to live another day and fight the good fight, they are passionate. If you have something to say, give a damn about what you’re saying! Make a point. This world is full of people that take shortcuts and look for others to lead. I always see my way through with jobs, I feel the need to be involved and speak up when needed. I always have a point to make because I care. This is passion. I feel emotion is the strongest weapon we can use to fight or defend ourselves when under attack. Dedication, hard work, morals are all shaped by passion. We were given this great gift of life so why would you abuse it. You should put all energy forth into being all you can be. Strive to always accomplish work and do it fully. Passion is one of the strongest emotions. It demonstrates our character and who we are and what we believe in. I want to be seen as someone who is strong, a leader, someone always involved and trying to reach their best. I want to be passionate. This I believe.

Discussing Education

Education. Some of the things we learn we will not always be able to use later in life. Kids question "Why are we learning this?" The truth is we dont necessarily have to be a biology teacher because we are studying a little bit of biology. The reason behind this is to open us up to many new areas and we have the choice which to choose or seek them out if we show interest in one of them. The process of learning all these things at once too is to broaden our areas. We may not become experts on the subject at hand, but we have the basic jist or a familiarity with it. These also expand out mind. They test us mentally and physically. Studying and juggling schedules, learning to be responsible, all the while meeting new people and becoming part of the social world. There are many other things we learn beyond the point of numbers, names, dates, etc. My dad for example, studied business in college and recieved a degree in it. He is now a plumber. You don't know what will happen in life, and sometimes you just fall back into something and its ment to be. The point is going to school doesn't always cover the career we have in mind or the one we don't have in mind, but come across. School is there to provide interests and helps develop critical thinking skills.

Identity Free-Write

who am i? well im mitch. anyway im from oak forest and it use to mean somehting a bit more in highschool because i was proud of it since its small and no one knew of it. all my friends from home are different because they were much better and i always enjoyed telling stories about us to my new friends. i was a somebody once, i was something special because i stood out in the crowd as being unique. now moraine has like 30 districts and people are all like me and now i dont stand out. in class i only do average when i use to be happy and involved, and i was an a student. is this identity? i think standing out gives you one, other wise youre another face in the crowd.

identity is kinda just given to you. i was born on april 30th 1990, same as my cousin, same as hitlers death. i tell you this because he stands out, thats why he has an identity. im sure people kno that fact but they dont kno the day is also my birthday. who identifies this identity? i dont know the governemnt makes me something because truly you can think youre the greatest but how is that? its only in your head unless you soemhow stick out in the world because your famous or involved big time with gov. truly youre nothing but the people you surround yourself with and whether youre made into a big deal by media. so my social security card gives me that. its hard to change the path when youre born into it and grow up with it. its hard to go from one extreme to another. youre born and forced to be on a paper-dates, times, numbers, names etc set you into place. you cant get anything in this country without these things. without youre an outcaste of society, an alien, worthy of punishment and deprivation of many simple needs and most luxuires. to know things is to have an understanding of something beyond whats just being taught. for example, what we learned-were machines in this world, just like how they make us numbers in a line, its called dehumanization. to truly know something is to be outside the machine world and being controlled puppets. being out of line though is seen as bad and youre shunned and punished. need to be aware and educated. you can fnd things through radical theologists who strive not to be average. here i am, average in moraine.

im so behind

I have felt that I have been way behind in class when it comes to this research project and paper we were introduced to. Im not too sure how far along I should be. The most I have come to is what I would like to write about, yet I still need to formulate a good question out of my theme. My theme I think, so long as Mr. McGuire gives it the nod, will be control. I think the idea can be broad enough. The idea first came to me while we were free-writing in class last Thursday. We began talking about identy, and I came to the conclusion that we are pretty much given it or born into it; identity for the most part is out of our hands. I feel there is a way to make change, but it requires serious commitment-this doesnt happpen too often.

Broad ideas I can go into when talking about control:

• Teachers vs. Kids
• Kids vs. Teachers
• Kids vs. Kids
• Admin/Gov/Society vs. Teachers
• Admin/Gov/Society vs. Kids

Hopefully more ideas and time will come to me, and later tonight I will put together some sort of question/theme by the end of the night and be ready for feedback tommorrow.

Take It Like A Man

So we watched a movie Tuesday and were told to observe details and take notes. The movie was called "Highschool" by Frederick Wiseman which was released in 1968. The main thing I felt represented the theme was rules. Right or wrong you must follow them, winning or losing. There was a scene in which a boy was respectively arguing a detention he had recieved for merely being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He said last time he kept his mouth shut and took one, but this time it was too far and thought he should be repaid for taking it even though the teacher was wrong (meaning he would have this one waved). The principal told him it builds character or something and that you have to respect authority and be a man and take it-which he does. Another thing taught to them was how to act. The one girl was in trouble for trying to be idealistic without intention wearing a short dress to prom. She was told theres a right time and place for being unique, but not in school. This shows how they try to make us all alike. Along with that, many scenes show kids without faces or cuts from shoulder down, legs, or waist, etc. This shows how theyre faceless and all the same. One of the teachers is also showing the girls how to dress. She tells the girl she is too fat for a dress, and another she wore something that covers her well because she knows she has a weight problem. Then she shows the girls how to sit and walk and turn. Rules are rules. A boy during his lunch hour was on the phone when the teacher says get off. Lunch is lunch time not time for the phone. This shows doesnt matter what the circumstance you follow what they say.

remembering aug-oct

Due to excessive work on my portfolio I have been unable to publish a blog the past week or so. Upon finishing the final project and handing it in, I would like to point out some of the main things we did these past weeks.
-Free writing
-Opened up to opinioated writing forms
-Read Rich, Freire, Kohn, Gatto, Pratt, and a few others
-Watched the Binta video
-Learned how to make good arguments
-Self taught class tips for writing
-Peer edited/whole class workshops
-Met Mr. McGuire in a few meetings to discuss work
-Learned to make and opertate blogs
Along with many other details to go along with these days, I come to realize we live life around assertions, and for education to mean anything to me, I must put forth my own time and go beyond abstract ways most teachers teach, and ask what or why and how inorder to bring true meaning to lessons. From the project experience I also learn that time is a valuable thing. Working independently, one must come to a point of self control and realize its time to buckle down. Spacing out work, for example, is crucial in accomplishing work-not only finsihed products but high quality ones that have been refined. You can also see this literally by the gap in between blog posts. Waiting to the last minute is not the best answer.

Changing School

So I read Gatto's "7 Lesson School Teaching" and his "Against School" and it left me wondering. In the first article he talks about the 7 things that are really taught in schools and then he briefly explains it a little more in depth. Basically it keeps people from truly growing up human, its a plan to maintain society, and the cost is so much less that the powerful interest cannot afford to let it happen, finally my favorite point, school is a 12 year jail sentence. Okay so i just briefed the few points he makes, but what do we do to change it. Around sophmore year in highschool i began to think a bit differently about my education and the thought of being forced into something pointless. Normally this isnt me, I was all A's in class during grade school and somewhat quiet about standing out. Years of sitting there and taking it really got to me i suppose and then re learning the same thing again later in highschool makes me think, whats the point? I think the other reason i started to think differently was because i went to a highschool i did not want to go to and with people i did not like. I tended to do as little as possible not just because of boredum but a general dislike for having to sit there and look at things ive been shown before. Now the past few weeks with being told kids are containers and now this guys point about how the world has a hold on us and keeps us locked in positions, i totally see where he comes from, moreso then Freires more extreme points. It angers me more but where do we go from here? trying to overthrow and change this were outcast and end up being one of those bums on the side of the street. he leaves us without solution. if i want to learn then i have to go about it myself? so where does that leave me? its highschool again where im against not only school but the rest of the kids around me only this times i drop out of school and i have this secret idea and im against the world with only a few others? learning on my own, what the hell good does that do, i dont recieve a degree and any oppertunity at any decent job so thats where i get being a bum theory. so what, now i know the secret but i still have to go through this sentence like an ass and put up with it and then go through my life like every other idiot in the world. theres no chance to change this world we live in, youre just seen as a crackpot who rants too much and thats because the gov and schooling whoever has already brainwasshed these ideas in your head and nothing can be changed.

Students Teach

So me and my group have been assigned to teach what to do when writing a conclusion. It is suppose to be an easy way to learn in a sense and taught in such a way similar to Freire's so that that it isnt taught as if we were filling containers. We decided to have a cheat sheet for the students and spell out the word conclude and write what each letter stands for. Grant it that this is not the most creative way to teach, but take in consideration that three guys came up with this, to be honest I am suprised my group even accomplished the assignment. We figure its something different rather then reading out of some book, its a visual aid for some students, they would have their own copy (if we copy enough on time) and it relates to what needs to be done when writing a conclusion in an easy way to remmeber it.
Cant change your initial point
Overview of what you said-summerize
Never forget to restate thesis
Creat new meaning for something old
Leave reader with powerful final thought
Utilize moment to fill any holes
Demonstrate solution to problem/question/thought raised
Explain points made

Fear Reading Frier

There is no fear reading friers paper any longer due to the fact my group summerized "The Banking Concept". We pretty much all understand it and discussed it today, sharing our few bullet points combining them together to better understand it. Personally, I believe that our work was most crucial. Illustration may have helped at times, some of the words the others defined were okay too, but in second was the question masters. I dont know that is the term for it but that is what Im going on especially since Im in the mood to play some circle of death if you know it, if not we wont go into it. I will post a few of these key points in case anyone else is reading this and needs help remembering.

• Teachers talk to fill heads; memorization rather actual learning
• Teachers know all and students are ignorant
• Banking concept is that man can be molded and controlled, filled with info as if a container
• Rather standout, students are taught in a manner to adapt and just flow with world, holding back creativity in order to be dominated/keep world from changing for those in power will not forfeit or teach others how to reach it
• Dehumanization and domestication of society, making men and women objects
• Problem posing, teachers preachto you, solution: create problems student identifies with
• Students are not aware or with it, those who are try to control
• We have to ask why, they wont ask for us and help us

re-re-re-revision

This is just an updated post. I didnt want to have to write about the 10 best argument strategies since we basically covered everything there is to during class. So after revising all 3 papers for the whole class workshop deal, I kind of helped myself. It was a good learning experience. Not only do we offer help for the kid by reading their paper, but it also gave me ideas of my own and new perspectives to think about. I was worried about my writing, but looking at theirs I see they add a few same points I had made and other thoughts I agree with that they had. I felt a little confident and then i revised a 4th paper-mine. I had really been meaning to do that too. I have been so busy and looking at those just put me in the zone. Easy to say things were accomplished tonight, definetly not 100%, but glad to say I made a dent.

Map

So I came in a few minutes late but get the jist of whats going on here. Theres this map on the wall and it says to 'free write' about the picture. So it looks a bit weird, I am now seeing that its the world but upside down. I also come to the conclusion this is a lesson learned sort of thing where we can't automatically assume whats the right or wrong way things are (I have had a similar thing with the upside down map before). So yea we can relate this to that ladies book about how we drench ourselves in assumptions which we assume is wrong because the world is usually the other way around in pictures.

Great idea..Great answers

1.) The end was suprising. You would think that these ideas and ways of life might intrigue and tempt Binta's father. Less work, more money, yet he goes against it and thinks of something out of the ordinary. He truly is happy and pure at heart with his intentions.
2.) He hears of the Souleyman's stories and now he wants to bring someone from tubab back so they can be taught how to live meaningful, simple, but happy lives. It is a good idea, people have to be able to slow down and enjoy life. They are at peace and love one another and all very close while money will only bring about evils such as greed etc that will tear them apart.
3.) He doesn't want her to get ideas and leave. He wants her to stay around and work for him, cook, and take care of him. He believes in those ways and that men are in control. Older adults are like this sometimes, where all the women do is cook and clean and thats about it. Soda wants to be smart like others and learn. Her mother wants her not to be cheated like she was in the market and to grow up and be something.
4.) They will change. Simple and peaceful ways may leave them. They will all be caught in hustle and bustle and nothing is ever good enough. Faimly life would be changed and happieness will cease. They live a good life, and are all close, and it would be terrible to lose.
5.) They may see the goodness in their simple ways. They can look back and remember how small things made them happy and see the beauty in the world. Possibly miss the closer relationships and the love that they can have with one's family and friends.
6.) Focussing on only how to better things and always move up in thw world, they can destroy their country and their personalities. At the same time they can learn to control such things or their old traditional ways. Their can be an even balace of improvement and tradtions though. They need to learn in order to survive but they also need to remember to be as one with eachother and not seperate in order to obtain personal gain.
7.) Learning new things and new ways to cut time just takes away some beauty at times. Constantyl studying only to get a good grade, not to learn. Working more and more for money that people fight about. More and more new activities that take you away from family and lose relationships. Constantly being busy or pulled away from the world, you forget to take a step back and see the wonderful things going on. Lifetime will pass by and you wont realize how fast. Bintas father knew how to be happy and simple and enjoyed every minute while I work and go to class and go out and the days over and down with in what seems like no time at all.

Creative Writing, please don't read this garbage

My name is Mitch Regan and I don't really know what to say, I was never too fond of these types of papers. I suppose Mr. McGuire wants me to write whatever is in my head, and this is, word for word. First off, I really hope we don't have to read these things. So far it has literally been about nothing but me talking to myself. It would be embarrassing to find out everyone wrote about something meaningful and I just sat here and spaced and did the first assignment wrong. I hope we don't turn these things in either. I hope this isn’t taken as a serious piece of writing either, and if so, I'm sorry Mr. McGuire. I've been thinking, maybe it was a mistake coming here, I mean I'm not sure this is what I want to do. I never put much thought into college or going away, and thinking back, perhaps I should have. All my friends are gone now and Kaitlin leaves tomorrow. I am going to be so lonely. I have already been depressed, but now it is time for the last of the last to go. I have a good job, and I'm saving money coming here, ethically its a smart move, but it doesn't change the fact it's still all too new. Until I have more time to sort things out and get well adjusted, I cannot be fully satisfied with my choices. I don't have the money to leave and student loans will only follow me for a long time. My parents are helping me out by paying for Moraine as long as I do good and keep my job. However, if I were to go away, I am on my own budget- wise. I am going to leave so that I can advance in the world by getting a higher degree which in turn will provide a good job. You need a good job in order to not only raise yourself, but a family. I am getting tired of writing.

dos

im not sure if i have to post a second or even a first but i am just in case

blog 1

well, here it is, the first blog